July 15, 2025 • 37 mins
In this inspiring episode of Boulevard Beat, Meghan and Liz sit down with Kristi Kohut—founder of Hapi Art and a celebrated visual artist known for her joyful use of color and pattern. Kristi opens up about her journey from growing up near a forest preserve in suburban Chicago to becoming one of today’s most sought-after contemporary artists.
Kristi talks about the importance of art in the home, how to begin an art collection that feels personal, and the power of letting intuition lead your choices—whether you’re decorating or creating. Kristi shares how Instagram helped launch her career, her thoughts on accessible art, and what it’s like balancing motherhood, business, and creativity.
Whether you’re a designer, collector, or someone curious about how to add art to your life, this episode is filled with insight, encouragement, and a touch of the bold joy that defines Kristi’s work.
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Or you can use this link- https://houseofblum.com/discount/beat15!
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Episode Website https://www.blvdbeat.com/about
Kristi talks about the importance of art in the home, how to begin an art collection that feels personal, and the power of letting intuition lead your choices—whether you’re decorating or creating. Kristi shares how Instagram helped launch her career, her thoughts on accessible art, and what it’s like balancing motherhood, business, and creativity.
Whether you’re a designer, collector, or someone curious about how to add art to your life, this episode is filled with insight, encouragement, and a touch of the bold joy that defines Kristi’s work.
- Start with What You Love
Kristi encourages new collectors to trust their gut. Whether it's color, emotion, or memory, if a piece speaks to you, that’s the perfect place to begin. - Art Should Be Accessible
Through her own journey—launching on Instagram and selling directly—Kristi believes beautiful, meaningful art shouldn't be reserved for galleries alone. There’s room for everyone to be a collector. - Your Home Should Reflect You
Art is a powerful way to infuse personality into a space. Kristi discuss how a single piece can transform a room and tell your unique story. - Creativity is a Daily Practice
Kristi shares how she carves out time to create regularly, often drawing inspiration from nature, color, and her own emotional landscape. Even 20 minutes of focused time matters. - Balance is Always Evolving
As a mother, business owner, and artist, Kristi talks candidly about the ebb and flow of balancing it all—and giving yourself permission to not do it perfectly.
Save 15% site wide at www.houseofblum.com with promo code beat15!
Or you can use this link- https://houseofblum.com/discount/beat15!
Connect with the Hosts https://www.instagram.com/boulevardbeatpodcast/
Connect with Meghan Blum Interiors https://www.instagram.com/meghanbluminteriors/
Connect with House of Blum https://www.instagram.com/shophouseofblum/
Connect with Krissa Rossbund. https://www.instagram.com/krissa_rossbund/
Connect with Liz Lidgett https://www.instagram.com/lizlidgett/
Episode Website https://www.blvdbeat.com/about
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Welcome to boulevard Beat, a podcast where life and style intersect.
I'm designer Megan Bloom along with my co hosts, editor CHRISA.
Rossbund and gallery owner Liz Legit. This podcast focuses on
the daily highlights instead of the hustle, interviews with taste makers,
and personal conversations on how to highlight achievable style you
constrol one street at a time, boulevard Beat proves the one.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
You should take.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Today's guest is someone whose.
Speaker 4 (00:38):
Work I personally admire and have loved using in my
own home and projects. Christy Kohat of Happy Art.
Speaker 5 (00:44):
Christy is a visionary.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
Artist whose bold use of color and pattern brings so
much joy and energy to every space her art touches.
She's built an incredible following by sharing her work directly
with the world, redefining what it means to be an
accessible modern artist. In this episode, we talk about the
power of trusting your instincts when collecting art, how creativity
shows up in everyday life, and while living with pieces
(01:07):
that speak you truly transforms a home.
Speaker 5 (01:10):
Let's dive in.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Well.
Speaker 6 (01:11):
Welcome Christy, I am very excited to talk with you
today and learn more about your beautiful art work. I'm
fortunate enough to have a piece of yours in my home,
and I've also used it in some of my clients'
houses as well. So I'm excited to have this conversation.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Oh, it's wonderful to be here. It's so lovely to
connect with you. Honored that you have a piece of
my work, and I've enjoyed working with you in the past.
It'll be wonderful to have a conversation about.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Art well, Christy.
Speaker 6 (01:38):
We like to start each episode by having our guests
tell us about the street where they grew up.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
What's your story.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Okay, So I grew up on Charles Street in a
small town not too far from where I am now.
The house that I grew up in was at the
end of a street and it was right next to
a forest preserve. So my memories as a child, and
this is growing you know, growing up in the eighties
when things were a little bit different. We would head
(02:05):
outside in the morning and get the be back in
time for dinner basically, and we were free to rome,
which was wonderful, being able to be in nature and
explore and have all that right there. So I think
from a young age, I've always loved being outside, and
I've always loved creating art. I had a desk right
(02:26):
in front of my window that overlooked the street that
I grew up on, and I can remember sitting there
for hours with my watercolor palette and just painting and creating.
And that's probably one of my very fun memory of
growing up.
Speaker 7 (02:39):
I love picturing little Christy doing that, and like you know,
it's really the seed of who you are today as
an artist. One thing that I always think is really special,
especially for artists, is for you to just give us
a little bit of your elevator's speech about who you
are today and then what your artwork is like.
Speaker 5 (02:58):
I'd love to hear it in your own words.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Sure. So today I am an artist and founder of
Happy Art, the studio that I created for not only
my original artwork, but also for reproductions as well as
a home line. I've always believed that, and I know
you feel this way too, Liz, which is one of
(03:20):
the reasons I love working with you. That art should
be for everyone. Art should not be limited to this
small percentage of people that happen to be exposed to
the art world. I think it's important to open it up.
So we've always had that philosophy, and not everyone can
afford the expensive original and as an artist, we can
(03:41):
only create so many originals. So being able to have
the original work, find our prints and then just items
that bring color and joy into your world through the
home line has always been a part of it. So
that's what I do today. I've been doing this, gosh,
since my son was born is when I really started
focus on So it's two thousand and seven, almost twenty
(04:03):
years now. It's crazy how time flies. And I love it.
It's a passion, it's a love, and I love creating
and hopefully bring in a bit of that joy that
it gives me happen to the world.
Speaker 7 (04:14):
I think that that's the thing that originally drew me
to your work, And honestly we have been working together
in some capacity for probably a decade, which seems impossible
but also very cool, and I just love I think
the word joy is what comes to mind immediately. It's
something that I look for in all of the artwork
(04:35):
at the gallery, but yours, I mean, it is unabashedly
joyful and you go for it. I mean, it's got
the color and it's got the sparkle some of the time,
and it's got the texture, and it's got just like
that shimmer that really pulls people in and makes them smile.
I see it happen when it is in my home.
(04:57):
I see it happen when it's in the gallery. It's
just automatically gives you this feeling when you see your work.
And so I love working with it. I love working
and living around it.
Speaker 6 (05:05):
Well, and I think, just like you said, to the
joy but the name of your business, the artwork makes
you happy.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
It really does. Yet that's why I love it too.
Speaker 6 (05:13):
I mean, if I had to have a word to
describe it, it's just like it puts me in a
good mood, which I think is what art should.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Do and is awesome.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Yeah, it is amazing, like the power of like art,
and I think color can evoke emotion and feeling and
lift you up out of the every day. That really
means a lot to hear you guys say that. That's
what drives me. It's why I do what I do,
and it brings me a lot of joy. So it's
you know, as I said, like if it to know
that it extends to the viewer. That means a lot.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Have you always worked in a lot of color?
Speaker 6 (05:44):
Has that always been kind of your philosophy's brighter colors?
Speaker 3 (05:47):
I would say colors is definitely the thread that goes
through all of my work and its ability to, you know,
as I said, evoke emotion, and different combinations can have
different feelings, almost like the notes in a song and
how you put that together. I think and evoke different feelings,
but definitely I've always been bulled them. Once in a while,
(06:09):
I'll do something a little bit more neutral, and it
is interesting with that too, because you can still use color,
but maybe in a more subtle way. I do like
that challenge, but I am drawn to more vibrant color
for sure.
Speaker 7 (06:23):
Okay, you knew as a young child that you wanted
to be an artist. Was there ever a time where
you stopped working with your artwork and then you had
to like kind of bring yourself back to it. What
made you make that leap from your first career in
advertising to where you are today?
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Oh, good question, and the answer is yes, absolutely so.
I think when I was younger, I loved art. I
wanted to create art. It was you know, it was something.
It was fearless. There was never like a doubt in
my mind. And then as you get older, all of
a sudden you start to hear those voices, whether it's
(07:00):
you know, an our teacher, you know, what is this this?
This isn't good enough, or you start comparing your work
to others. You start hearing you can't be an artist.
That's not a real career. Artists, you know, starving artists.
You need to go get a real job. And I
think that started to impact who I was as I
was growing up, and I ultimately went and studied advertising,
(07:21):
and I fell in love with advertising, loved working in
that business. I started out on the client side and
it ended up switching to the creative side, and I
was an art director and that's where I spent my twenties.
I mean it was a very natural, natural extension, I guess,
of that love of art. And then when my son
(07:42):
was born, I was staying home with him, and I thought,
what better time to make this leap than to do
it right now and go for it, and put in
a studio in my house and just started painting. And
I think initially it was with no other object to
other than I felt this drive to create. Let's create
(08:03):
to be creative. And once I started, I couldn't stop.
Once I pick up that brush, I just kept going.
And before I knew it, I'm like, Okay, there's a
lot of art around my house and my family's gonna
get pretty tired of it, so I better find an
outlet for this so I can justify making more. And
I started putting my work out into the world at
(08:24):
that point, and that's kind of where it all started.
Speaker 7 (08:27):
I think we hear that a lot when we talked
to artists that whenever they first make that commitment to
really do it, it just starts to flow and there's
no like turning off that faucet at that point. It's
just like, once that energy is truly like being released
and you're doing what you were meant to do in
the world, there's no way to turn it off. And yes,
at some point you're gonna run out of wall space.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
You're absolutely going to be like, you've got to get
some of this army to please get this out of
the house.
Speaker 7 (08:55):
Yeah, the intention isn't always to like make it your career, right,
but it is to like really some creativity into the
world and out of your body and all of that and.
Speaker 5 (09:03):
Then and then it just naturally flows that way. Sometimes absolutely,
and it's a little bit.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
I mean, there's a lot of fear in making art.
There's a lot of fear, especially when you're getting started.
You know, that imposter syndrome, feeling who am I to
do this? And am I any good? And you have
to make a lot of bad art, you know, to
get to that point where you start to find your confidence.
And you know there definitely was a lot of fear
and intimidation in that. You said it very well, like
(09:31):
once you start going, then the faucet opens up. Sometimes
taking that first step and just moving forward and pushing
through it.
Speaker 6 (09:39):
Do you still find that fear creeping up sometimes? Or
have you overcome that once in a while.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
I will. I try not to let it get me,
and I think the biggest thing is pushing through. I
mean sometimes I'll go into if I finished a project
and there's a blank canvas staring at me in my studio,
it's intimidating. It's intimidating stare it a blank canvas. I
find the best thing to do at that point is
(10:04):
just to start, and it doesn't have to be good,
but just start and just start creating and start playing
and just to get that forward motion, because I mean,
I feel like any creative will tell you fear is
part of the process. Yeah.
Speaker 7 (10:17):
I had someone once tell me too that they were
no longer afraid of making bad art.
Speaker 5 (10:23):
And once that.
Speaker 7 (10:25):
Was out in the world too and they started thinking
that way, they were like, then I was just free
to make because when you kind of take away like
the bad and.
Speaker 5 (10:33):
The good away from it.
Speaker 7 (10:35):
I try not to at the gallery to ever say
like that's a bad piece or that's a good piece.
Sometimes it's not successful for what the artist was trying
to achieve. That happens, but you know, when you kind
of take the bad and the good out of it,
then you just make Yes.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
Absolutely. I think Andy Warhol has a great quote and
I'm going to butcher it, but I mean it's something
basically like when you're deciding if it's good or not,
let the world decide, but in the meantime, just keep
making more art. And I think that really is is
a way to do it.
Speaker 5 (11:02):
I love that idea.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (11:05):
Well, and I think that's what's neat about it too,
is that even the piece that doesn't speak to you,
it probably speaks to somebody else and it's meant to
find them.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
Yeah, it is so subjective. And probably see this all
the time when your people come into your gallery, Like
the pieces that people are drawn to, I'm always amazed.
Speaker 7 (11:21):
Oh yeah, Like sometimes people will walk in and we'll
have had the piece in the gallery for some time
for whatever reason.
Speaker 5 (11:26):
It's not because it's an unsuccessful piece. But honestly, I
just I.
Speaker 7 (11:30):
Always say, I'm like very woo woo about this because
I'm like, oh, You're who I've been looking for. You're
the client. Like, it wasn't meant for anybody else. It
wasn't supposed to sell before now, so it's it's my
job as a gallery owner to get it to the
right person, right and like getting in front of those eyes.
And the other thing too that I think is so
interesting is because you have this background in advertising and
(11:53):
you are very good about sharing your artwork and talking
about your artwork in a way that doesn't always come
naturally to artists. Do you feel like you bring that
career in to what you're doing now.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
It definitely influences me in a lot of positive ways.
I know it's not the traditional path, but I'm so
grateful that I had those experiences both in the creative process.
I feel like I learned a ton with the creative process,
pushing through that fear making a ton. I mean, we
would create so many different ideas when we be working
(12:25):
on a campaign, and ninety nine percent of them would
get torn up. Yes, but you had to go through
that to get to the one. So I think that's
influenced me. And then also just understanding branding and marketing
and messaging. If art schools would you would teach branding,
marketing business to artists, I think it would be such
(12:47):
a service.
Speaker 5 (12:48):
You know, it's interesting.
Speaker 7 (12:48):
My husband is a creative director for an advertising agency,
and so I'm just like nodding along with you because
the amount of times that he comes and tells me
his idea that he's about to pitch the client, I'm like,
this is that's awesome. I'm like, this is electric. I
cannot believe you thought of this. And then the client
kind of like waters it down. And this you know,
it tells you know and tells you no and tells
(13:10):
you no. It's not great right when that happens, but
it gives you this also, this freedom and this like
thick skin that you're like, well, you can tell me no,
it doesn't change the fact that it's a good idea.
It doesn't change the fact that it's a good piece
of artwork. That artwork just isn't for them.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
Absolutely, you develop a resilience, you develop the fear of
putting your work out there and if it gets rejected, okay,
let's go make more, let's start again. And that's huge.
I mean, it's it's definitely a good skill to have one.
Then I'm continuing to work on sometimes.
Speaker 5 (13:44):
But but for sure, okay away from the advertising thing.
Speaker 7 (13:47):
But your work is so vibrant and joyful when we're
talking about that, but what inspires your color choices and
your artistic themes and like you, how do you get
from the idea stage to actually getting it on paper
in your mind?
Speaker 3 (14:00):
So, I mean, there's definitely is the dreaming idea stage,
and that can look like you're doing a whole lot
of nothing. I always laugh, it's in the morning is
my most quiet time, and I'll be sitting looking out,
you know, into the backyard, watching watching the birds and
the trees, and I'm sitting there, You're you're dreaming up
(14:20):
ideas and it looks like I'm just sitting there. But
you have to let the ideas come to fruition. And
then I go through a period of experimental play. I
guess I would say where try not to have you know,
too many rules or structure or pressure to you know,
for it to become something I think in the play.
Then things start to happen and ideas come out. I'll
(14:43):
take those seeds of ideas and sometimes they'll they'll sit
in my studio for a year or two and nothing
will happen with them. Sometimes they come out and a
painting will come out, like right from that. You just
don't really know. But I try to keep everything contained
in my studio so can go back and revisit it
and just see, you know, as the ideas come together.
(15:05):
It's very intuitive. Color choices are very intuitive, but it's
also you know, feeding my head with inspiration and going
out into the world and seeing color choices that inspire me,
making note of that, and then trial and error and
then knowing when to stop. But when it comes together,
that's also part of the challenge too.
Speaker 6 (15:24):
Christie, you took an unconventional route by connecting directly with
collectors on Instagram. What was that experience like and how
did your social media shape your career?
Speaker 3 (15:34):
So yes, I definitely took an unconventional route, you know,
when I realized, okay, I need to get some of
those artwork out of here, and I started approaching galleries
and the response I was getting was pretty much crickets.
Yet you know, the drive and the passion for creating
art was there. So it was a matter of okay,
(15:56):
I have to figure this out. Let's figure something out.
And especially at that time, I mean, the art world
was not was almost against being online and against being
on social media. I think things have changed in the
past five years, but you know, social media was popping up,
blogs were big. So I started putting my work online
on social media, built a website. You know, thought, if
(16:17):
I can get it out there, and you know, it's
a little bit like matchmaking and expose it to as
you know, however many people as I can, will things
start to click. And so I started putting it out
there and wanted to be able to go directly to collectors.
You know, the stuffy gallery vibe, which is the antithesis
of what you do, Liz, thank you. You know, intimidating
(16:41):
feeling I didn't want. I think art should be joyful
and anyone should be able to have access to that
and be able to connect with work. So I put
it out there, and you know, the result was better
than expected. It was it was amazing to be able
to connect with collectors directly and connect with other creatives,
and it just kind of started snowballing from there, and
(17:03):
I built my website and it's been wonderful to work
mainly with the collectors directly and to share my work,
and then to get to work with wonderful people like you,
Liz Well.
Speaker 7 (17:16):
Yeah, Instagram connected us. I mean it did from the
you know, in the beginning. I think now there are
still certain artists that don't want to be online, and actually, weirdly, galleries.
I mean, the art world can be seen as so
cutting edge and then so slow moving. When we started
six years ago, we didn't have an e commerce website
(17:37):
that quickly changed because of the pandemic, and we saw that,
you know, people couldn't be coming into us like that.
We needed to give them away to shop, but it
just wasn't done right. And I think there's something some
artists and some galleries are like, well, gosh, I don't
want to state what my prices are, and I think
that now I'm like, no state what your prices are.
I have no time for this piece. Is one price
(18:00):
for you and one price for you or do you
even get the ability to purchase it? Again, this is
a different level. I mean that now happens at you know,
one hundred thousand.
Speaker 8 (18:10):
Dollars plus artwork, but even galleries like ours that works
on work that's like two hundred to twenty five thousand,
there was like, well, we want to play with the
big dogs, so we're not going to put our prices
up either.
Speaker 5 (18:23):
We're going to emulate what they do.
Speaker 7 (18:25):
And it's so misguided in my opinion, because when you
open your arms and you start sharing and truly being
honest and communicate, and you share your work and your
process and who you are as an artist or a person,
that's when people want to connect, and you are really
valuing the connection directly with the client. There is a
(18:47):
level of trust that ends up happening there too, because
they really know you. They know that Christy is going
to oversee the shipment of the artwork and is going to.
Speaker 5 (18:56):
You know, all of the things.
Speaker 7 (18:57):
Right, So now I see it as like the superpower
that we have that we actually can connect directly with
the client that way. And social media is basically what
changed all of that. So when I see galleryes still
not having an e commerce website, not posting prices, you'll
see a lot.
Speaker 5 (19:16):
Of like an email link. They'll have it online, but
you'll get an email link and it's like email us
to inquire. Well, no, that is friendly.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
It's interesting. I love what you're saying because art is
an emotional connection, and the process of viewing, purchasing art
should be an emotional connection as well, and it should
be a pleasant one. It shouldn't be an intimidating one.
And it should be transparent. Put the prices out there,
(19:46):
put all the information out there. Be transparent. Make it friendly,
don't make it more intimidating, you know, take down those walls.
And I think it is interesting to see how that
kind of stodgy, typical model and this one works so
much better because we're human beings. We're human beings wanting
to connect emotionally.
Speaker 7 (20:05):
You're my art world sister, like we just have like
the very same thoughts on all of this. But the
other thing that I love is waking up and seeing
a purchase happened at three am because people couldn't sleep
and they had an emotional connection and they had the
ability to purchase right then and there.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
Yes, and it doesn't matter where they are. They can
be anywhere in the country. They don't have to be
down from you, right.
Speaker 5 (20:27):
We get a lot of international ones too. I'm sure
you do. Yeah, I'm sure you absolutely.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Yeah. I mean to be able to you, haven't you know,
in order from Hong Kong and then you're shipping it
out the next day and connecting with the collector and
hearing about how they discovered you. It's magical and that
couldn't happen twenty years ago. I mean, I think we're
very fortunate in the fact that to be an artist
and to be a gallery owner in this time, in
this day and age, is there's a lot of benefits
(20:54):
to that. There's things that wouldn't have been possible years ago.
Speaker 7 (20:57):
You've talked a little bit about the business side of things,
and you talked about reaching out to galleries. What were
some of the biggest challenges in turning your art into
a successful business.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Well, I think I was a little bit naive when
I started, which might have been on my side because
I wasn't focused on I was focused on making art
as opposed to I'm going to build a business. And
I think having that naive mindset in just that I.
Speaker 9 (21:22):
Want to make art and Okay, I need to get
this out there and I want to make more art,
and then it kind of just it took on a
life of its own, and I think the business aspect
kind of came in once I realized, Okay, you know.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
We've got something going on here, and all of a sudden,
you know, you wake up one day and there's a
team of people and you're working with all these other
people and you're trying, you know, to deliver on that promise,
that reason for why I got started. And I'm like, Okay,
now I have a business. We need to focus on
those things and how do we do that and how
do we do it well? And I'd say that, you know,
(21:58):
the biggest challenge is the balancing of all the different roles.
Being an artist, you wear a lot of and then
you wear a lot of hats. All of a sudden,
you're a marketer, you're a business owner. You're dealing with shipping,
you're dealing with framing and quality and how do we
bring the best quality materials so collectors are just thrilled
(22:20):
when they open that package. You know, you're dealing with
all the facets of the business, and I think that
is a thing that I try to keep balanced really well,
because you want to do the business side well, but
you also don't want to move so far away from
the creative process of the work suffers well.
Speaker 6 (22:39):
And that happens that I'm sure with all three of
our businesses that yeah, you can all of a sudden
realize I had gotten to create recently, you know, just
because you get in the weeds of all the other
stuff that has to happen to run a business.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
Absolutely, absolutely, no, it's so true. And I think it's
kind of like like this wave, right you're kind of
like breathing in, breathing out, And sometimes I have to
take a step back and say, Okay, I'm going to
pull back on these things so I can focus on
the creative process and focus on creating the work. And
then other times you're like, okay, we need to work.
There's these collaborations coming up in these wonderful opportunities, and
(23:11):
you need to shift the focus to that, so I
think it's a constant give and take. Like you said that,
all of us feel as creatives and business.
Speaker 6 (23:19):
Owners, christy are and interior design obviously kind of go
hand in hand.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
They're very important to both of our work.
Speaker 6 (23:25):
And having your work in beautiful homes and things like that,
it's neat to see that your work's been featured in
al decore and architectural digests and more. How do you
see art influencing into your design trends today?
Speaker 3 (23:39):
I feel like there's a bigger embracing of boldness and
color and art. I feel like it's becoming less intimidating
to people. We're kind of moving away from the really
neutral palette and I think people need color and joy
especially today, right We all need that, So I feel
like people are embracing it more. And maybe it's just
(24:00):
like seeing the possibilities because you can go online and
get inspired by interior designers such as yourself and see
what you create and realize, Okay, I can live with color,
and if I'm intimidated, the space can be more neutral,
and you can have an all white room if you
want and put in that pop of color with art,
(24:22):
and that can really change the energy of the space,
and I think just kind of invoke that emotion and joy.
Art has an ability to not only do that, but
because it's so personal, because you're connecting with a piece,
it shows a bit of your personality and it's something
that's not man made, it's something that's one of a kind.
(24:43):
What do you guys think? Are you noticing any trends
with interior design?
Speaker 2 (24:47):
I agree with you on the boldness.
Speaker 6 (24:49):
I mean, I think that for so long it was
so neutral and matchy, matchy, and I think both in
my work and just what I see as well, is
that little punch of boldness that color can do and
artwork can do.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
So I definitely agree with you on that.
Speaker 6 (25:04):
I think though bold artwork can also be intimidating for
people sometimes as well, like to think how is this
going to impact the room?
Speaker 2 (25:13):
Do you have any advice for people so it doesn't
become overwhelming?
Speaker 3 (25:17):
Well, I always say, go for it, go big, go
for color. You won't regret it. I mean it's amazing,
and I mean I do. I love, like I said,
I love to connect with collectors directly and I'm always
happy to like provide ideas on what piece might work
for them in their space or what size, And it's
(25:39):
always interesting for me to see the transformation from I
have no idea, you know, what to get, or I'm
worried how this is going to feel? Am I going
to love it? You know after six months? Is it
going to be too big? Is it going to be
too small? And just seeing that transformation that happens is
always so powerful and amazing to see. And you know,
(25:59):
the beauty of art is you can go for the
four x six large colorful piece and it's one of
my favorite things to do, but you'll have to completely
jump that far in right, you can find a smaller
piece and kind of dip your toe in a little bit.
And the scale of art is always so interesting because
(26:19):
sometimes that smaller piece that you have in a very
special place that can really have a big impact on
you and it doesn't have to be overwhelming what I have.
Speaker 7 (26:30):
The other thing that I want to talk about is that,
and it's something that I'm very interested in right now,
is like what are other ways and just the original
piece of artwork hanging on the wall that you can
bring art into your home and you've done that through
like wallpaper and fabrics and you took over the Kelly
Clarkson green Room, which is so freaking cool because every
time I'm like on Instagram and I'm like Christy, what
(26:52):
I see in are a celebrity posting themselves in front
of that room. It's just so cool that you're you
are also thinking about like, Okay, they may not be
able to buy the original artwork right now, but maybe
they'd be interested in upholstering some pillows or a sofa
or something like that with my fabric and like bringing
in that.
Speaker 5 (27:10):
So I think it's so cool. I mean, you're thinking.
Speaker 7 (27:12):
About how art can sit on many surfaces in a home.
Speaker 3 (27:17):
Absolutely, and I think it's I mean, it's it's wonderful
to have that opportunity. And if you are nervous to
start with a pillow or to start with a small
piece of art, and then I find that people are like, Okay,
so I really like this. Okay, let's see let's do
something else. And each time it kind of builds up
and you realize the power that you know, living with
(27:40):
things that you find beautiful or that add joy or
that you connect with it really richest things. And it
becomes it's like that's a backdrop to your you know,
your your life, and if it can lift you up
and add some joy to your world, then it's absolutely
worth it.
Speaker 7 (27:58):
Your art ready happiness. How do you stay creatively energized
and maintain that joyful aesthetic.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
I am just driven by what fills me with joy
when I'm creating it, so I tend to you know,
maybe some artists will start and they'll work on a
piece from start to finish, and it's very linear. I
tend to be a little bit all over the place,
and I have multiple multiple projects and pieces is going
(28:27):
on at once, and if I'm not feeling inspired or
something just isn't feeling right, I will set it to
the side and start working on something else, even if
it's just a little bit of play. And then you
quickly find that once you start doing that, at some
point you're going to get energized again. And then maybe
I'll move back to the piece that I was struggling
with and all of a sudden, it'll it'll come together.
(28:48):
So it's very intuitive, like finding inspiration being out in nature,
just being exposed to things that kind of fill you
with I don't wonder and curiosity where it's you know,
nature are going to a museum, being outside, just being
exposed to things that inspire you definitely drives my process.
Speaker 6 (29:10):
You've talked about nature throughout this conversation several times and
how it influences your work. How do you actually interpret
that nature into your work?
Speaker 3 (29:19):
Oh, okay, so I think it kind of depends what
I'm working on nature just overall from color, I mean,
it is absolutely incredible to me the range of color
and pattern in nature. I mean to think of like
an orchid and how many varieties of orchids there are
out there, and the colors that just occur naturally. Or
(29:42):
a beetle, you know, if I don't know if you
have you guys seen the beetles that exists in the world,
or that can be the most vibrant, metallic colors or
have the coolest on them. I mean, not like the
typical gross beetle that you think of, you know what
I mean, they talk so exotic and gorgeous. Or even science,
I mean looking like zooming into science class in high
(30:04):
school and you would see the makeup of something and
the colors and the pattern that exists at a microscopic level.
There's so much inspiration out there, so the color and
the pattern will definitely influence my work. When I get
into my three D bloom series, you can see it
a little bit more clearly because I try to bring
in the patterns or butterflies, flowers, so it almost becomes
(30:29):
like this whimsical garden. Yeah, but it's it's definitely it
is the muse to my work, and I continue to
explore and find new new things that inspired me.
Speaker 7 (30:40):
Okay, when you are in the studio and you're not
in nature, what does your typical day look like?
Speaker 3 (30:45):
Well, typical day can be gosh, it can be a
range of everything. Wearing all those hats, right, So yeah,
today I had an interior designer and a collector by
the studio and we were talking about a project we
were collaborating on, and I was new work, so that
was a lot of fun. And then it's getting to
work on the art and I start creating and finishing
(31:07):
up projects. I've got a commission that I've been working on,
and from there, it could be doing a wonderful podcast
with you guys, hopping on a phone call, everts call
with a brand that a collaboration is going on. You
kind of get the range of of everything. No, two
days are the same, and I think that's that's part
(31:28):
of what energizes me and I love and it's it's
always interesting to see how different things will influence each other.
Speaker 5 (31:34):
Even as I was asking you that, I was like, wait,
what's a typical day, right? Such a is there?
Speaker 3 (31:41):
I don't the typical day is No.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
Sometimes what you think is going to happen and it
goes a different direction. It's so true.
Speaker 3 (31:52):
Yeah, and we roll with it, right, Yeah, totally.
Speaker 2 (31:55):
You talked about collaborations.
Speaker 6 (31:57):
Do you have any dream collaborations that you love to
pursue or have a partnership with.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
Ooh. I think one thing that I'm dreaming of right
now is the idea of and it's kind of like
you reference the Kelly Clarkson Show collaboration. I think one
thing that I really loved about that is I was
able to create almost like an installation of my work, right,
so the idea of the viewer and surrounding them almost
(32:24):
like you're stepping into one of the paintings. It's that
we kind of talked about scale like a small artwork
versus the grain of scale would be to surround yourself
and I don't know one thing I've been dreaming of
is like, how could I bring artwork to life and
do a full scale installation so you almost are stepping
into that magical world. And that would be a dream
(32:45):
collaboration to do something like that.
Speaker 5 (32:47):
That's cool.
Speaker 7 (32:48):
I mean it makes me think of like the yu
Yoi Kasama Infinity rooms where you walk into those little
boxes and her lights and her dots and her circles
just completely around you for like two minutes that you
get to.
Speaker 5 (33:03):
Hear your little time session in those rooms.
Speaker 7 (33:06):
I took my son into one at Crystal Bridges the
other weekend, and this was something that he could just
like be overwhelmed in awe of and it was just
so cool to see it through his eyes and also
know that I'm feeling the exact same thing.
Speaker 3 (33:20):
It is really really incredible and how powerful. I mean,
if they can live the best, right, it's the best.
And seeing watching kids have such a I mean, there's
such an innocence to them and they're not you know,
they don't have a lot of preconceived notions, right, you're
just experiencing it. That raw feeling of awe that had
to be really cool to see.
Speaker 5 (33:38):
Yeah, it was awesome. But it is that cool idea
of like what can we do?
Speaker 7 (33:43):
And I also as whether you're an interior designer or
your gallery owner or whatever, whenever a client goes have
at it, go at it and just take it over
and what you think.
Speaker 5 (33:55):
Is what I want.
Speaker 7 (33:56):
And it really feels like that green room is like
were like, Christy, go at it.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
That is exactly what happened, and it it was so
it was, I mean, and they're like the warmest, most
fun engaging team the creativity. It's it's been such a
wonderful partnership. And then to get to do it again
in New York and each room could be different, I
mean that was that was a lot of fun, and
like you said, they were just like whatever whatever, have
(34:23):
at it. Dream the creative to tell a creative person
that it's it doesn't act better, right, And I.
Speaker 6 (34:30):
Love it too because it's like their energy comes off
on you and then you're able to give that to
them too.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
And yeah, the designs come out so much better when
that happens.
Speaker 3 (34:38):
It's so true. I just finished a collaboration. It was
for Kipspace show House, which Meggan I'm sure you're familiar with,
and Nikki Lee volunteer or she approached me and asked
me to create a piece for her space. It was
such an incredible process because she shared her vision with
me and pushed my work in a different direct. But
(35:00):
to collaborate with someone and then see it all come
to life was it was really really cool.
Speaker 6 (35:06):
Christy Well, we always kind of like to wrap up
our episodes with a few questions that are.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
Similar as well. I'd love to hear about the beat
that keeps you going.
Speaker 5 (35:15):
I think it's this.
Speaker 3 (35:16):
I mean, honestly, it's this invisible force. I don't know
sometimes where it comes from. And I think inspiration is
like that too, And sometimes like where do ideas come from?
Is there this collective consciousness out there that you know,
all of a sudden, if you're open, an idea you
know can come to you and pop in your head.
I think staying in tune with that and I don't know.
(35:39):
I can't help it. I just love I love creating art.
I love being creative. It's a part of who I am.
I don't think I could stop if I tried.
Speaker 2 (35:50):
Finally, what's your perfect boulevard?
Speaker 3 (35:52):
Look like? My perfect boulevard would be this magical dream
world full of color and flowers and butterflies and just
something we're kind of like those rooms we were talking
about where you would step into it and get lifted
out of the every day and just experience wonder and joy.
Speaker 5 (36:15):
I love that you're.
Speaker 7 (36:15):
Making me think of like the yellow brick road and
like how intense all of the colors are around them,
like after they come out of that black and white world,
and like that's what's making me feel that way.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
A feeling of that PNUS for sure. Well, thank you, Christy.
Speaker 6 (36:30):
This has been so wonderful talking to you and hearing
your perspective and getting to know more about your beautiful artwork.
Speaker 3 (36:37):
It's been such a pleasure speaking with both of you.
What a joy. I always love connecting. It's been wonderful.
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 4 (36:46):
Thank you for listening to this week's episode of Boulevard Beat.
Speaker 3 (36:49):
If you enjoyed this episode, please follow along and leave
a review on.
Speaker 4 (36:53):
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen so you never
miss an episode, And of course, follow your hosts on
Instagram Megan Bloom Interiors at Chrissa Rossbund and at Liz Legit.
Speaker 6 (37:04):
We'll be back next week as we take a stroll
down another boulevard,
Welcome to boulevard Beat, a podcast where life and style intersect.
I'm designer Megan Bloom along with my co hosts, editor CHRISA.
Rossbund and gallery owner Liz Legit. This podcast focuses on
the daily highlights instead of the hustle, interviews with taste makers,
and personal conversations on how to highlight achievable style you
constrol one street at a time, boulevard Beat proves the one.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
You should take.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Today's guest is someone whose.
Speaker 4 (00:38):
Work I personally admire and have loved using in my
own home and projects. Christy Kohat of Happy Art.
Speaker 5 (00:44):
Christy is a visionary.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
Artist whose bold use of color and pattern brings so
much joy and energy to every space her art touches.
She's built an incredible following by sharing her work directly
with the world, redefining what it means to be an
accessible modern artist. In this episode, we talk about the
power of trusting your instincts when collecting art, how creativity
shows up in everyday life, and while living with pieces
(01:07):
that speak you truly transforms a home.
Speaker 5 (01:10):
Let's dive in.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Well.
Speaker 6 (01:11):
Welcome Christy, I am very excited to talk with you
today and learn more about your beautiful art work. I'm
fortunate enough to have a piece of yours in my home,
and I've also used it in some of my clients'
houses as well. So I'm excited to have this conversation.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Oh, it's wonderful to be here. It's so lovely to
connect with you. Honored that you have a piece of
my work, and I've enjoyed working with you in the past.
It'll be wonderful to have a conversation about.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Art well, Christy.
Speaker 6 (01:38):
We like to start each episode by having our guests
tell us about the street where they grew up.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
What's your story.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Okay, So I grew up on Charles Street in a
small town not too far from where I am now.
The house that I grew up in was at the
end of a street and it was right next to
a forest preserve. So my memories as a child, and
this is growing you know, growing up in the eighties
when things were a little bit different. We would head
(02:05):
outside in the morning and get the be back in
time for dinner basically, and we were free to rome,
which was wonderful, being able to be in nature and
explore and have all that right there. So I think
from a young age, I've always loved being outside, and
I've always loved creating art. I had a desk right
(02:26):
in front of my window that overlooked the street that
I grew up on, and I can remember sitting there
for hours with my watercolor palette and just painting and creating.
And that's probably one of my very fun memory of
growing up.
Speaker 7 (02:39):
I love picturing little Christy doing that, and like you know,
it's really the seed of who you are today as
an artist. One thing that I always think is really special,
especially for artists, is for you to just give us
a little bit of your elevator's speech about who you
are today and then what your artwork is like.
Speaker 5 (02:58):
I'd love to hear it in your own words.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Sure. So today I am an artist and founder of
Happy Art, the studio that I created for not only
my original artwork, but also for reproductions as well as
a home line. I've always believed that, and I know
you feel this way too, Liz, which is one of
(03:20):
the reasons I love working with you. That art should
be for everyone. Art should not be limited to this
small percentage of people that happen to be exposed to
the art world. I think it's important to open it up.
So we've always had that philosophy, and not everyone can
afford the expensive original and as an artist, we can
(03:41):
only create so many originals. So being able to have
the original work, find our prints and then just items
that bring color and joy into your world through the
home line has always been a part of it. So
that's what I do today. I've been doing this, gosh,
since my son was born is when I really started
focus on So it's two thousand and seven, almost twenty
(04:03):
years now. It's crazy how time flies. And I love it.
It's a passion, it's a love, and I love creating
and hopefully bring in a bit of that joy that
it gives me happen to the world.
Speaker 7 (04:14):
I think that that's the thing that originally drew me
to your work, And honestly we have been working together
in some capacity for probably a decade, which seems impossible
but also very cool, and I just love I think
the word joy is what comes to mind immediately. It's
something that I look for in all of the artwork
(04:35):
at the gallery, but yours, I mean, it is unabashedly
joyful and you go for it. I mean, it's got
the color and it's got the sparkle some of the time,
and it's got the texture, and it's got just like
that shimmer that really pulls people in and makes them smile.
I see it happen when it is in my home.
(04:57):
I see it happen when it's in the gallery. It's
just automatically gives you this feeling when you see your work.
And so I love working with it. I love working
and living around it.
Speaker 6 (05:05):
Well, and I think, just like you said, to the
joy but the name of your business, the artwork makes
you happy.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
It really does. Yet that's why I love it too.
Speaker 6 (05:13):
I mean, if I had to have a word to
describe it, it's just like it puts me in a
good mood, which I think is what art should.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Do and is awesome.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Yeah, it is amazing, like the power of like art,
and I think color can evoke emotion and feeling and
lift you up out of the every day. That really
means a lot to hear you guys say that. That's
what drives me. It's why I do what I do,
and it brings me a lot of joy. So it's
you know, as I said, like if it to know
that it extends to the viewer. That means a lot.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Have you always worked in a lot of color?
Speaker 6 (05:44):
Has that always been kind of your philosophy's brighter colors?
Speaker 3 (05:47):
I would say colors is definitely the thread that goes
through all of my work and its ability to, you know,
as I said, evoke emotion, and different combinations can have
different feelings, almost like the notes in a song and
how you put that together. I think and evoke different feelings,
but definitely I've always been bulled them. Once in a while,
(06:09):
I'll do something a little bit more neutral, and it
is interesting with that too, because you can still use color,
but maybe in a more subtle way. I do like
that challenge, but I am drawn to more vibrant color
for sure.
Speaker 7 (06:23):
Okay, you knew as a young child that you wanted
to be an artist. Was there ever a time where
you stopped working with your artwork and then you had
to like kind of bring yourself back to it. What
made you make that leap from your first career in
advertising to where you are today?
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Oh, good question, and the answer is yes, absolutely so.
I think when I was younger, I loved art. I
wanted to create art. It was you know, it was something.
It was fearless. There was never like a doubt in
my mind. And then as you get older, all of
a sudden you start to hear those voices, whether it's
(07:00):
you know, an our teacher, you know, what is this this?
This isn't good enough, or you start comparing your work
to others. You start hearing you can't be an artist.
That's not a real career. Artists, you know, starving artists.
You need to go get a real job. And I
think that started to impact who I was as I
was growing up, and I ultimately went and studied advertising,
(07:21):
and I fell in love with advertising, loved working in
that business. I started out on the client side and
it ended up switching to the creative side, and I
was an art director and that's where I spent my twenties.
I mean it was a very natural, natural extension, I guess,
of that love of art. And then when my son
(07:42):
was born, I was staying home with him, and I thought,
what better time to make this leap than to do
it right now and go for it, and put in
a studio in my house and just started painting. And
I think initially it was with no other object to
other than I felt this drive to create. Let's create
(08:03):
to be creative. And once I started, I couldn't stop.
Once I pick up that brush, I just kept going.
And before I knew it, I'm like, Okay, there's a
lot of art around my house and my family's gonna
get pretty tired of it, so I better find an
outlet for this so I can justify making more. And
I started putting my work out into the world at
(08:24):
that point, and that's kind of where it all started.
Speaker 7 (08:27):
I think we hear that a lot when we talked
to artists that whenever they first make that commitment to
really do it, it just starts to flow and there's
no like turning off that faucet at that point. It's
just like, once that energy is truly like being released
and you're doing what you were meant to do in
the world, there's no way to turn it off. And yes,
at some point you're gonna run out of wall space.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
You're absolutely going to be like, you've got to get
some of this army to please get this out of
the house.
Speaker 7 (08:55):
Yeah, the intention isn't always to like make it your career, right,
but it is to like really some creativity into the
world and out of your body and all of that and.
Speaker 5 (09:03):
Then and then it just naturally flows that way. Sometimes absolutely,
and it's a little bit.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
I mean, there's a lot of fear in making art.
There's a lot of fear, especially when you're getting started.
You know, that imposter syndrome, feeling who am I to
do this? And am I any good? And you have
to make a lot of bad art, you know, to
get to that point where you start to find your confidence.
And you know there definitely was a lot of fear
and intimidation in that. You said it very well, like
(09:31):
once you start going, then the faucet opens up. Sometimes
taking that first step and just moving forward and pushing
through it.
Speaker 6 (09:39):
Do you still find that fear creeping up sometimes? Or
have you overcome that once in a while.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
I will. I try not to let it get me,
and I think the biggest thing is pushing through. I
mean sometimes I'll go into if I finished a project
and there's a blank canvas staring at me in my studio,
it's intimidating. It's intimidating stare it a blank canvas. I
find the best thing to do at that point is
(10:04):
just to start, and it doesn't have to be good,
but just start and just start creating and start playing
and just to get that forward motion, because I mean,
I feel like any creative will tell you fear is
part of the process. Yeah.
Speaker 7 (10:17):
I had someone once tell me too that they were
no longer afraid of making bad art.
Speaker 5 (10:23):
And once that.
Speaker 7 (10:25):
Was out in the world too and they started thinking
that way, they were like, then I was just free
to make because when you kind of take away like
the bad and.
Speaker 5 (10:33):
The good away from it.
Speaker 7 (10:35):
I try not to at the gallery to ever say
like that's a bad piece or that's a good piece.
Sometimes it's not successful for what the artist was trying
to achieve. That happens, but you know, when you kind
of take the bad and the good out of it,
then you just make Yes.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
Absolutely. I think Andy Warhol has a great quote and
I'm going to butcher it, but I mean it's something
basically like when you're deciding if it's good or not,
let the world decide, but in the meantime, just keep
making more art. And I think that really is is
a way to do it.
Speaker 5 (11:02):
I love that idea.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (11:05):
Well, and I think that's what's neat about it too,
is that even the piece that doesn't speak to you,
it probably speaks to somebody else and it's meant to
find them.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
Yeah, it is so subjective. And probably see this all
the time when your people come into your gallery, Like
the pieces that people are drawn to, I'm always amazed.
Speaker 7 (11:21):
Oh yeah, Like sometimes people will walk in and we'll
have had the piece in the gallery for some time
for whatever reason.
Speaker 5 (11:26):
It's not because it's an unsuccessful piece. But honestly, I
just I.
Speaker 7 (11:30):
Always say, I'm like very woo woo about this because
I'm like, oh, You're who I've been looking for. You're
the client. Like, it wasn't meant for anybody else. It
wasn't supposed to sell before now, so it's it's my
job as a gallery owner to get it to the
right person, right and like getting in front of those eyes.
And the other thing too that I think is so
interesting is because you have this background in advertising and
(11:53):
you are very good about sharing your artwork and talking
about your artwork in a way that doesn't always come
naturally to artists. Do you feel like you bring that
career in to what you're doing now.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
It definitely influences me in a lot of positive ways.
I know it's not the traditional path, but I'm so
grateful that I had those experiences both in the creative process.
I feel like I learned a ton with the creative process,
pushing through that fear making a ton. I mean, we
would create so many different ideas when we be working
(12:25):
on a campaign, and ninety nine percent of them would
get torn up. Yes, but you had to go through
that to get to the one. So I think that's
influenced me. And then also just understanding branding and marketing
and messaging. If art schools would you would teach branding,
marketing business to artists, I think it would be such
(12:47):
a service.
Speaker 5 (12:48):
You know, it's interesting.
Speaker 7 (12:48):
My husband is a creative director for an advertising agency,
and so I'm just like nodding along with you because
the amount of times that he comes and tells me
his idea that he's about to pitch the client, I'm like,
this is that's awesome. I'm like, this is electric. I
cannot believe you thought of this. And then the client
kind of like waters it down. And this you know,
it tells you know and tells you no and tells
(13:10):
you no. It's not great right when that happens, but
it gives you this also, this freedom and this like
thick skin that you're like, well, you can tell me no,
it doesn't change the fact that it's a good idea.
It doesn't change the fact that it's a good piece
of artwork. That artwork just isn't for them.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
Absolutely, you develop a resilience, you develop the fear of
putting your work out there and if it gets rejected, okay,
let's go make more, let's start again. And that's huge.
I mean, it's it's definitely a good skill to have one.
Then I'm continuing to work on sometimes.
Speaker 5 (13:44):
But but for sure, okay away from the advertising thing.
Speaker 7 (13:47):
But your work is so vibrant and joyful when we're
talking about that, but what inspires your color choices and
your artistic themes and like you, how do you get
from the idea stage to actually getting it on paper
in your mind?
Speaker 3 (14:00):
So, I mean, there's definitely is the dreaming idea stage,
and that can look like you're doing a whole lot
of nothing. I always laugh, it's in the morning is
my most quiet time, and I'll be sitting looking out,
you know, into the backyard, watching watching the birds and
the trees, and I'm sitting there, You're you're dreaming up
(14:20):
ideas and it looks like I'm just sitting there. But
you have to let the ideas come to fruition. And
then I go through a period of experimental play. I
guess I would say where try not to have you know,
too many rules or structure or pressure to you know,
for it to become something I think in the play.
Then things start to happen and ideas come out. I'll
(14:43):
take those seeds of ideas and sometimes they'll they'll sit
in my studio for a year or two and nothing
will happen with them. Sometimes they come out and a
painting will come out, like right from that. You just
don't really know. But I try to keep everything contained
in my studio so can go back and revisit it
and just see, you know, as the ideas come together.
(15:05):
It's very intuitive. Color choices are very intuitive, but it's
also you know, feeding my head with inspiration and going
out into the world and seeing color choices that inspire me,
making note of that, and then trial and error and
then knowing when to stop. But when it comes together,
that's also part of the challenge too.
Speaker 6 (15:24):
Christie, you took an unconventional route by connecting directly with
collectors on Instagram. What was that experience like and how
did your social media shape your career?
Speaker 3 (15:34):
So yes, I definitely took an unconventional route, you know,
when I realized, okay, I need to get some of
those artwork out of here, and I started approaching galleries
and the response I was getting was pretty much crickets.
Yet you know, the drive and the passion for creating
art was there. So it was a matter of okay,
(15:56):
I have to figure this out. Let's figure something out.
And especially at that time, I mean, the art world
was not was almost against being online and against being
on social media. I think things have changed in the
past five years, but you know, social media was popping up,
blogs were big. So I started putting my work online
on social media, built a website. You know, thought, if
(16:17):
I can get it out there, and you know, it's
a little bit like matchmaking and expose it to as
you know, however many people as I can, will things
start to click. And so I started putting it out
there and wanted to be able to go directly to collectors.
You know, the stuffy gallery vibe, which is the antithesis
of what you do, Liz, thank you. You know, intimidating
(16:41):
feeling I didn't want. I think art should be joyful
and anyone should be able to have access to that
and be able to connect with work. So I put
it out there, and you know, the result was better
than expected. It was it was amazing to be able
to connect with collectors directly and connect with other creatives,
and it just kind of started snowballing from there, and
(17:03):
I built my website and it's been wonderful to work
mainly with the collectors directly and to share my work,
and then to get to work with wonderful people like you,
Liz Well.
Speaker 7 (17:16):
Yeah, Instagram connected us. I mean it did from the
you know, in the beginning. I think now there are
still certain artists that don't want to be online, and actually, weirdly, galleries.
I mean, the art world can be seen as so
cutting edge and then so slow moving. When we started
six years ago, we didn't have an e commerce website
(17:37):
that quickly changed because of the pandemic, and we saw that,
you know, people couldn't be coming into us like that.
We needed to give them away to shop, but it
just wasn't done right. And I think there's something some
artists and some galleries are like, well, gosh, I don't
want to state what my prices are, and I think
that now I'm like, no state what your prices are.
I have no time for this piece. Is one price
(18:00):
for you and one price for you or do you
even get the ability to purchase it? Again, this is
a different level. I mean that now happens at you know,
one hundred thousand.
Speaker 8 (18:10):
Dollars plus artwork, but even galleries like ours that works
on work that's like two hundred to twenty five thousand,
there was like, well, we want to play with the
big dogs, so we're not going to put our prices
up either.
Speaker 5 (18:23):
We're going to emulate what they do.
Speaker 7 (18:25):
And it's so misguided in my opinion, because when you
open your arms and you start sharing and truly being
honest and communicate, and you share your work and your
process and who you are as an artist or a person,
that's when people want to connect, and you are really
valuing the connection directly with the client. There is a
(18:47):
level of trust that ends up happening there too, because
they really know you. They know that Christy is going
to oversee the shipment of the artwork and is going to.
Speaker 5 (18:56):
You know, all of the things.
Speaker 7 (18:57):
Right, So now I see it as like the superpower
that we have that we actually can connect directly with
the client that way. And social media is basically what
changed all of that. So when I see galleryes still
not having an e commerce website, not posting prices, you'll
see a lot.
Speaker 5 (19:16):
Of like an email link. They'll have it online, but
you'll get an email link and it's like email us
to inquire. Well, no, that is friendly.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
It's interesting. I love what you're saying because art is
an emotional connection, and the process of viewing, purchasing art
should be an emotional connection as well, and it should
be a pleasant one. It shouldn't be an intimidating one.
And it should be transparent. Put the prices out there,
(19:46):
put all the information out there. Be transparent. Make it friendly,
don't make it more intimidating, you know, take down those walls.
And I think it is interesting to see how that
kind of stodgy, typical model and this one works so
much better because we're human beings. We're human beings wanting
to connect emotionally.
Speaker 7 (20:05):
You're my art world sister, like we just have like
the very same thoughts on all of this. But the
other thing that I love is waking up and seeing
a purchase happened at three am because people couldn't sleep
and they had an emotional connection and they had the
ability to purchase right then and there.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
Yes, and it doesn't matter where they are. They can
be anywhere in the country. They don't have to be
down from you, right.
Speaker 5 (20:27):
We get a lot of international ones too. I'm sure
you do. Yeah, I'm sure you absolutely.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Yeah. I mean to be able to you, haven't you know,
in order from Hong Kong and then you're shipping it
out the next day and connecting with the collector and
hearing about how they discovered you. It's magical and that
couldn't happen twenty years ago. I mean, I think we're
very fortunate in the fact that to be an artist
and to be a gallery owner in this time, in
this day and age, is there's a lot of benefits
(20:54):
to that. There's things that wouldn't have been possible years ago.
Speaker 7 (20:57):
You've talked a little bit about the business side of things,
and you talked about reaching out to galleries. What were
some of the biggest challenges in turning your art into
a successful business.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Well, I think I was a little bit naive when
I started, which might have been on my side because
I wasn't focused on I was focused on making art
as opposed to I'm going to build a business. And
I think having that naive mindset in just that I.
Speaker 9 (21:22):
Want to make art and Okay, I need to get
this out there and I want to make more art,
and then it kind of just it took on a
life of its own, and I think the business aspect
kind of came in once I realized, Okay, you know.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
We've got something going on here, and all of a sudden,
you know, you wake up one day and there's a
team of people and you're working with all these other
people and you're trying, you know, to deliver on that promise,
that reason for why I got started. And I'm like, Okay,
now I have a business. We need to focus on
those things and how do we do that and how
do we do it well? And I'd say that, you know,
(21:58):
the biggest challenge is the balancing of all the different roles.
Being an artist, you wear a lot of and then
you wear a lot of hats. All of a sudden,
you're a marketer, you're a business owner. You're dealing with shipping,
you're dealing with framing and quality and how do we
bring the best quality materials so collectors are just thrilled
(22:20):
when they open that package. You know, you're dealing with
all the facets of the business, and I think that
is a thing that I try to keep balanced really well,
because you want to do the business side well, but
you also don't want to move so far away from
the creative process of the work suffers well.
Speaker 6 (22:39):
And that happens that I'm sure with all three of
our businesses that yeah, you can all of a sudden
realize I had gotten to create recently, you know, just
because you get in the weeds of all the other
stuff that has to happen to run a business.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
Absolutely, absolutely, no, it's so true. And I think it's
kind of like like this wave, right you're kind of
like breathing in, breathing out, And sometimes I have to
take a step back and say, Okay, I'm going to
pull back on these things so I can focus on
the creative process and focus on creating the work. And
then other times you're like, okay, we need to work.
There's these collaborations coming up in these wonderful opportunities, and
(23:11):
you need to shift the focus to that, so I
think it's a constant give and take. Like you said that,
all of us feel as creatives and business.
Speaker 6 (23:19):
Owners, christy are and interior design obviously kind of go
hand in hand.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
They're very important to both of our work.
Speaker 6 (23:25):
And having your work in beautiful homes and things like that,
it's neat to see that your work's been featured in
al decore and architectural digests and more. How do you
see art influencing into your design trends today?
Speaker 3 (23:39):
I feel like there's a bigger embracing of boldness and
color and art. I feel like it's becoming less intimidating
to people. We're kind of moving away from the really
neutral palette and I think people need color and joy
especially today, right We all need that, So I feel
like people are embracing it more. And maybe it's just
(24:00):
like seeing the possibilities because you can go online and
get inspired by interior designers such as yourself and see
what you create and realize, Okay, I can live with color,
and if I'm intimidated, the space can be more neutral,
and you can have an all white room if you
want and put in that pop of color with art,
(24:22):
and that can really change the energy of the space,
and I think just kind of invoke that emotion and joy.
Art has an ability to not only do that, but
because it's so personal, because you're connecting with a piece,
it shows a bit of your personality and it's something
that's not man made, it's something that's one of a kind.
(24:43):
What do you guys think? Are you noticing any trends
with interior design?
Speaker 2 (24:47):
I agree with you on the boldness.
Speaker 6 (24:49):
I mean, I think that for so long it was
so neutral and matchy, matchy, and I think both in
my work and just what I see as well, is
that little punch of boldness that color can do and
artwork can do.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
So I definitely agree with you on that.
Speaker 6 (25:04):
I think though bold artwork can also be intimidating for
people sometimes as well, like to think how is this
going to impact the room?
Speaker 2 (25:13):
Do you have any advice for people so it doesn't
become overwhelming?
Speaker 3 (25:17):
Well, I always say, go for it, go big, go
for color. You won't regret it. I mean it's amazing,
and I mean I do. I love, like I said,
I love to connect with collectors directly and I'm always
happy to like provide ideas on what piece might work
for them in their space or what size, And it's
(25:39):
always interesting for me to see the transformation from I
have no idea, you know, what to get, or I'm
worried how this is going to feel? Am I going
to love it? You know after six months? Is it
going to be too big? Is it going to be
too small? And just seeing that transformation that happens is
always so powerful and amazing to see. And you know,
(25:59):
the beauty of art is you can go for the
four x six large colorful piece and it's one of
my favorite things to do, but you'll have to completely
jump that far in right, you can find a smaller
piece and kind of dip your toe in a little bit.
And the scale of art is always so interesting because
(26:19):
sometimes that smaller piece that you have in a very
special place that can really have a big impact on
you and it doesn't have to be overwhelming what I have.
Speaker 7 (26:30):
The other thing that I want to talk about is that,
and it's something that I'm very interested in right now,
is like what are other ways and just the original
piece of artwork hanging on the wall that you can
bring art into your home and you've done that through
like wallpaper and fabrics and you took over the Kelly
Clarkson green Room, which is so freaking cool because every
time I'm like on Instagram and I'm like Christy, what
(26:52):
I see in are a celebrity posting themselves in front
of that room. It's just so cool that you're you
are also thinking about like, Okay, they may not be
able to buy the original artwork right now, but maybe
they'd be interested in upholstering some pillows or a sofa
or something like that with my fabric and like bringing
in that.
Speaker 5 (27:10):
So I think it's so cool. I mean, you're thinking.
Speaker 7 (27:12):
About how art can sit on many surfaces in a home.
Speaker 3 (27:17):
Absolutely, and I think it's I mean, it's it's wonderful
to have that opportunity. And if you are nervous to
start with a pillow or to start with a small
piece of art, and then I find that people are like, Okay,
so I really like this. Okay, let's see let's do
something else. And each time it kind of builds up
and you realize the power that you know, living with
(27:40):
things that you find beautiful or that add joy or
that you connect with it really richest things. And it
becomes it's like that's a backdrop to your you know,
your your life, and if it can lift you up
and add some joy to your world, then it's absolutely
worth it.
Speaker 7 (27:58):
Your art ready happiness. How do you stay creatively energized
and maintain that joyful aesthetic.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
I am just driven by what fills me with joy
when I'm creating it, so I tend to you know,
maybe some artists will start and they'll work on a
piece from start to finish, and it's very linear. I
tend to be a little bit all over the place,
and I have multiple multiple projects and pieces is going
(28:27):
on at once, and if I'm not feeling inspired or
something just isn't feeling right, I will set it to
the side and start working on something else, even if
it's just a little bit of play. And then you
quickly find that once you start doing that, at some
point you're going to get energized again. And then maybe
I'll move back to the piece that I was struggling
with and all of a sudden, it'll it'll come together.
(28:48):
So it's very intuitive, like finding inspiration being out in nature,
just being exposed to things that kind of fill you
with I don't wonder and curiosity where it's you know,
nature are going to a museum, being outside, just being
exposed to things that inspire you definitely drives my process.
Speaker 6 (29:10):
You've talked about nature throughout this conversation several times and
how it influences your work. How do you actually interpret
that nature into your work?
Speaker 3 (29:19):
Oh, okay, so I think it kind of depends what
I'm working on nature just overall from color, I mean,
it is absolutely incredible to me the range of color
and pattern in nature. I mean to think of like
an orchid and how many varieties of orchids there are
out there, and the colors that just occur naturally. Or
(29:42):
a beetle, you know, if I don't know if you
have you guys seen the beetles that exists in the world,
or that can be the most vibrant, metallic colors or
have the coolest on them. I mean, not like the
typical gross beetle that you think of, you know what
I mean, they talk so exotic and gorgeous. Or even science,
I mean looking like zooming into science class in high
(30:04):
school and you would see the makeup of something and
the colors and the pattern that exists at a microscopic level.
There's so much inspiration out there, so the color and
the pattern will definitely influence my work. When I get
into my three D bloom series, you can see it
a little bit more clearly because I try to bring
in the patterns or butterflies, flowers, so it almost becomes
(30:29):
like this whimsical garden. Yeah, but it's it's definitely it
is the muse to my work, and I continue to
explore and find new new things that inspired me.
Speaker 7 (30:40):
Okay, when you are in the studio and you're not
in nature, what does your typical day look like?
Speaker 3 (30:45):
Well, typical day can be gosh, it can be a
range of everything. Wearing all those hats, right, So yeah,
today I had an interior designer and a collector by
the studio and we were talking about a project we
were collaborating on, and I was new work, so that
was a lot of fun. And then it's getting to
work on the art and I start creating and finishing
(31:07):
up projects. I've got a commission that I've been working on,
and from there, it could be doing a wonderful podcast
with you guys, hopping on a phone call, everts call
with a brand that a collaboration is going on. You
kind of get the range of of everything. No, two
days are the same, and I think that's that's part
(31:28):
of what energizes me and I love and it's it's
always interesting to see how different things will influence each other.
Speaker 5 (31:34):
Even as I was asking you that, I was like, wait,
what's a typical day, right? Such a is there?
Speaker 3 (31:41):
I don't the typical day is No.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
Sometimes what you think is going to happen and it
goes a different direction. It's so true.
Speaker 3 (31:52):
Yeah, and we roll with it, right, Yeah, totally.
Speaker 2 (31:55):
You talked about collaborations.
Speaker 6 (31:57):
Do you have any dream collaborations that you love to
pursue or have a partnership with.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
Ooh. I think one thing that I'm dreaming of right
now is the idea of and it's kind of like
you reference the Kelly Clarkson Show collaboration. I think one
thing that I really loved about that is I was
able to create almost like an installation of my work, right,
so the idea of the viewer and surrounding them almost
(32:24):
like you're stepping into one of the paintings. It's that
we kind of talked about scale like a small artwork
versus the grain of scale would be to surround yourself
and I don't know one thing I've been dreaming of
is like, how could I bring artwork to life and
do a full scale installation so you almost are stepping
into that magical world. And that would be a dream
(32:45):
collaboration to do something like that.
Speaker 5 (32:47):
That's cool.
Speaker 7 (32:48):
I mean it makes me think of like the yu
Yoi Kasama Infinity rooms where you walk into those little
boxes and her lights and her dots and her circles
just completely around you for like two minutes that you
get to.
Speaker 5 (33:03):
Hear your little time session in those rooms.
Speaker 7 (33:06):
I took my son into one at Crystal Bridges the
other weekend, and this was something that he could just
like be overwhelmed in awe of and it was just
so cool to see it through his eyes and also
know that I'm feeling the exact same thing.
Speaker 3 (33:20):
It is really really incredible and how powerful. I mean,
if they can live the best, right, it's the best.
And seeing watching kids have such a I mean, there's
such an innocence to them and they're not you know,
they don't have a lot of preconceived notions, right, you're
just experiencing it. That raw feeling of awe that had
to be really cool to see.
Speaker 5 (33:38):
Yeah, it was awesome. But it is that cool idea
of like what can we do?
Speaker 7 (33:43):
And I also as whether you're an interior designer or
your gallery owner or whatever, whenever a client goes have
at it, go at it and just take it over
and what you think.
Speaker 5 (33:55):
Is what I want.
Speaker 7 (33:56):
And it really feels like that green room is like
were like, Christy, go at it.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
That is exactly what happened, and it it was so
it was, I mean, and they're like the warmest, most
fun engaging team the creativity. It's it's been such a
wonderful partnership. And then to get to do it again
in New York and each room could be different, I
mean that was that was a lot of fun, and
like you said, they were just like whatever whatever, have
(34:23):
at it. Dream the creative to tell a creative person
that it's it doesn't act better, right, And I.
Speaker 6 (34:30):
Love it too because it's like their energy comes off
on you and then you're able to give that to
them too.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
And yeah, the designs come out so much better when
that happens.
Speaker 3 (34:38):
It's so true. I just finished a collaboration. It was
for Kipspace show House, which Meggan I'm sure you're familiar with,
and Nikki Lee volunteer or she approached me and asked
me to create a piece for her space. It was
such an incredible process because she shared her vision with
me and pushed my work in a different direct. But
(35:00):
to collaborate with someone and then see it all come
to life was it was really really cool.
Speaker 6 (35:06):
Christy Well, we always kind of like to wrap up
our episodes with a few questions that are.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
Similar as well. I'd love to hear about the beat
that keeps you going.
Speaker 5 (35:15):
I think it's this.
Speaker 3 (35:16):
I mean, honestly, it's this invisible force. I don't know
sometimes where it comes from. And I think inspiration is
like that too, And sometimes like where do ideas come from?
Is there this collective consciousness out there that you know,
all of a sudden, if you're open, an idea you
know can come to you and pop in your head.
I think staying in tune with that and I don't know.
(35:39):
I can't help it. I just love I love creating art.
I love being creative. It's a part of who I am.
I don't think I could stop if I tried.
Speaker 2 (35:50):
Finally, what's your perfect boulevard?
Speaker 3 (35:52):
Look like? My perfect boulevard would be this magical dream
world full of color and flowers and butterflies and just
something we're kind of like those rooms we were talking
about where you would step into it and get lifted
out of the every day and just experience wonder and joy.
Speaker 5 (36:15):
I love that you're.
Speaker 7 (36:15):
Making me think of like the yellow brick road and
like how intense all of the colors are around them,
like after they come out of that black and white world,
and like that's what's making me feel that way.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
A feeling of that PNUS for sure. Well, thank you, Christy.
Speaker 6 (36:30):
This has been so wonderful talking to you and hearing
your perspective and getting to know more about your beautiful artwork.
Speaker 3 (36:37):
It's been such a pleasure speaking with both of you.
What a joy. I always love connecting. It's been wonderful.
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 4 (36:46):
Thank you for listening to this week's episode of Boulevard Beat.
Speaker 3 (36:49):
If you enjoyed this episode, please follow along and leave
a review on.
Speaker 4 (36:53):
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen so you never
miss an episode, And of course, follow your hosts on
Instagram Megan Bloom Interiors at Chrissa Rossbund and at Liz Legit.
Speaker 6 (37:04):
We'll be back next week as we take a stroll
down another boulevard,
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