Meet Kristin Freeman | Contemporary Artist & Muralist

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

Hi Kristin, what role has risk played in your life or career?
My Art career wouldn’t be where it is today without taking risks. Though I feel afraid at times, I try my best to face those fears head-on by choosing risks that propel me forward towards my goal. Failure is a possibility of course, but I try not to see failure as dark or shameful. To me failing at something means I was out there trying. It’s a necessary step on my road to success. The more I’ve failed, the more I’ve faced my fears, the more I’ve grown, and the fewer regrets I have in life. There’s a cost in risk-taking and the reward is great; the cost of avoiding risks far exceeds the prior in my opinion. I certainly wouldn’t recommend saying yes to every risk out there. Listen to your intuition and trust yourself to choose which risks to take. There’s the unknown, and you’re out there afraid and excited and you just go for it. You just try it. I can look back at my successes and failures and really see the beauty in them all. I think you have to be comfortable with a certain amount of vulnerability and risk to be an Artist because creating in and of itself is risky. It’s new, every single time. You can’t control how others will react to your artwork, or even how you will. You just have to trust yourself and create again and again. I wouldn’t be a muralist today if I hadn’t taken a risk years ago by trying something new and painting my first mural along with other more experienced artists. I was quite afraid and inexperienced, but I did it anyway. The rest is history.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve known it’s my purpose to be an Artist since I was a child. Growing up I was challenged with mild dyslexia and feeling shy around people I didn’t know well, and so school was not the most comforting environment for me. Art, on the other hand, came naturally to me at an early age. Creating was a way for me to express myself fully and feel joy. I could escape the pressures of school and studies and dive into my own imaginative world. Art class was the one place I felt I truly belonged, where I wasn’t judged by a rigid, one-size-fits-all school system that just didn’t work for me. Art was my language. I often felt different. I wanted to be silly, sing, and write funny poems and short stories. My family nurtured creativity at home and was a great influence. Though I knew it was my purpose to be an artist, I chose not to pursue an Arts degree out of fear of not being able to make a living. Years later, feeling unfulfilled in my work, my husband and I both quit our jobs to travel around the United States and abroad. Upon arriving home, I set out to start my business as a full-time painter. It hasn’t been easy at all, but it has been so incredibly rewarding. I hope to encourage all of you to stay brave in an often scary world and to not betray who you truly are because of outside pressure or judgment. This is why my artwork kristinfreemanart.com is a celebration of those who dare. I admire authentic individuals who lean into their truest selves with love and compassion. I create in various media, including murals, painting, and writing. As a muralist, I’m most proud of my recent partnerships with awesome brands like Shopstyle, Stitch Fix, SXSW, Lamar Union Plaza, Kiki Nass boutique, The Cathedral, AtxGals, and Gumbys Pizza. I love creating fun, bold, custom murals, and canvas art to fit my client’s needs and set them apart. To balance my commercial art, I continue to work on personal work. One of my most fulfilling experiences as an Artist was sharing my solo show, The Artist Within, featuring painted portraits of living artists in my life. It was so meaningful to work with others who I admired for their deep connection with and love of creating. I’m so grateful to share my other passion business with you all, ImperfectInk.com Imperfect Ink is a writing platform for sharing your unsent, anonymous handwritten letters. It’s about opening up and finally having the conversations you’re afraid to have in person. It’s in beta and open to the public, so check it out and see what people are talking about. My hope is to bring us together through Art, celebrate our differences, and lean into our truest selves with excitement.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Houston has the most incredible museums! I could spend so much time viewing the various collections. I especially love Rothko Chapel, the Menil Collection, the Museum of Fine Art, the Contemporary Arts Museum, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and NASA. For a night out, drinks on Washington, or Dinner at Pappasitos or Pappas Steakhouse is always a win. You can’t forget an Astros game of course and a day trip to Galveston for a walk on the beach!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my dear friend Gina Martinez who helped me at the beginning of it all, my artist friends Miles Starkey with Hope Outdoor Gallery, and Monica Ceniceros with AtxGals. Thank you for sharing your passion for art with such joy and love. It’s been an exciting journey with you all!

Website: https://kristinfreemanart.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinfreemanart/
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-artist
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kristinfreeart
Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/kristinfreeman

Image Credits
Kristin Freeman