About

KRISTEN E CARLETON

Born 1984 ~ youngest of seven, I grew up in the prairies of Alberta and acquired a Bachelor of Fine Art Degree with Distinction from the Alberta University of the Arts in 2009 (Painting major/Ceramics minor). I later became a Reiki Master and moved to Vancouver Island in 2018 in furthering inspiration. I currently work in a highly creative machine shop and am studying to become a Certified Art Therapist at the Canadian International Institute of Art Therapy (CIIAT).

As a plein-air enthusiast, I use acrylic paint employing watercolour techniques, however more often invented/unconventional applications of media, without the use of an easel (one example of this would be to apply individual dots with the opposite end of a brush, a fine tip skewer, or q-tip). I explore diverse ranges of scale and material (be it canvas, wood, or alloy), differentiating rhythmic designs that morph within a vacuum of detailed unity. Consistent themes are that of intention, metaphor, bipolar dichotomy rooted in philosophy, and organic expansion supported by meditative practice, breathwork, and mindfulness. My aesthetics evolve as a visual diary evoking emotion, provoking thought, and memory; grounded in healing & letting go, yet finding a healthy balance of control to witness what comes about mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physiologically. 

My hope for any audience is that they maintain autonomy in what they see and feel; that each artwork can sustain a timeless versatility and remain fresh yet familiar upon each glance.

With sincerest gratitude and compassion, I acknowledge this blessed opportunity to live and practice mindfully on the unceded territory of the Lkwungen (Lekwungen) peoples, and the Songhees, Esquimalt, and W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations.