Meet Kristen Ferguson | Artist and Art Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kristen Ferguson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kristen, why did you pursue a creative career?
I think I came pre-wired for art. From a very young age, I knew I wanted to be an artist—and an art teacher. I vividly remember how excited I was for art class as a child, and on career day, the only table I gravitated toward was the commercial artist who had set up a display.

My brain has always worked a little differently. While I understand the need to earn a living, I’ve never been motivated by high-income careers. Instead, I’ve been drawn to work that serves a greater good—teaching, especially art education—and to the act of making art itself. Creating and sharing art has always felt less like a choice and more like a calling.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art has always been about perspective—both visually and emotionally. One of my earliest memories that shaped me as an artist came from a childhood assignment: “Draw something from an unusual point of view.” I drew a squirrel looking down the barrel of a shotgun, a reflection of the tension I observed growing up between hunters in my family and my mother’s devotion to animal rescue. That moment planted a seed that still defines my work today: exploring contradiction, empathy, and the layered stories beneath the surface.

I grew up in the northern United States surrounded by dramatic seasonal change, and later found inspiration in Florida’s ocean waves and then the vast skies of Texas. Moving often taught me adaptability, but it also deepened my need for connection—something I consistently found in the natural world. Those experiences shaped how I paint: weaving together memory, emotion, and environment through bold color, light, and movement.

Although I initially earned a degree in Advertising from the University of Texas, I ultimately followed my calling back to art, returning for a BFA in Studio Art and Teaching. I spent 21 years as an art educator, mastering a wide range of mediums and processes. While I was academically trained in realism, I was always drawn to abstraction and its emotional power—bold color, dramatic light, and expressive brushwork influenced by artists like Turner and the drama of the Baroque.

A pivotal shift in my work came during a difficult personal chapter. After relocating to the Houston area amid a family health crisis and unfamiliar surroundings, I found comfort in the immensity of Texas cloudscapes. Painting the sky became a way to process uncertainty and rediscover wonder, reconnecting me to childhood memories of lying beneath a willow tree and watching clouds drift by. What began as survival evolved into a deep love for light.

Today, my work is a study in contrasts—light and dark, chaos and calm, the ordinary and the sublime. I often begin by writing journaled words directly onto the canvas, layering paint, memory, and emotion on top. My work reflects the idea of sonder—the awareness that every life carries depth and complexity—and invites viewers to pause, feel, and turn toward the light.

Professionally, my journey wasn’t easy, but it was steady and intentional. I overcame challenges by staying connected to my purpose, trusting the process, and continuing to create even when the path felt uncertain. The greatest lesson I’ve learned is that growth comes from persistence, curiosity, and honoring your authentic voice.

What I want the world to know about me and my work is that it’s an invitation—to slow down, to notice beauty, and to find hope even in layered or difficult moments. From my studio in El Campo, Texas, I continue to pursue light—both literal and figurative—with gratitude for the depth, contrast, and possibility found in every season of life.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m an artist, so WE MUST hit the museum district! The MFAH or the Menil, or both, depending on time. For the funkier side of my and my friend, we’d go by Texas Art Asylum, then grab lunch (or dinner) at Niko Niko’s.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It’s hard to be an entrepeneur. One’s success is not done alone. Books like “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield provide immense motivation. Artist friends that are willing to tell you “no, you’re not done yet” or “STOP, you’ll overwork it” – valuable, honest constructive criticism, can never be taken for granted.

My amazing spouse, Shawn – supportive and understanding, my rock. Hauler of the all the stuff to art festivals, problem solver extraordinaire and generally just an amazing guy to have at my side on this journey.

Website: https://www.kristenfergusonart.com/

Instagram: @Kristen_Ferguson_Art

Linkedin: Kristen Ferguson

Facebook: @Kristen-Ferguson-Art