ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Working with crayons, Kristina Nelson creates fine artwork portraying wildlife, portraits, places and objects in the contemporary realism genre. With a degree from the Minneapolis College of Art & Design, she taught art and English in Guadalajara, Mexico in 2006 to Mexican elementary children. This venture left her with few resources to pursue her own art interests, but she had ready access to most everyone’s first art instrument - the crayon. She pursued the potential for fine art with just crayons and paper. Upon her return to the States, she providentially met up with crayon artist Don Marco. Kristina was impressed by his mastery of the medium. Don decided to give her crayon art lessons - glad that she had independently discovered the potential for crayon herself. After a rigorous year studying with Don, Kristina established her own studio. She now sells prints and Original drawings online and in Duluth, MN. She signed her work "Tiona Marco" in honor of her art teacher from 2006 - November 2009. The name combined her parents' names, her name, and Don Marco's last name. Since people mistakenly thought she was his granddaughter, she reverted back to signing artwork with her real name to avoid any confusion.
Want to visit her teacher's website? Click Don Marco.
ARTIST RESUME
Featured in the Duluth News Tribune. "Crayon artist says she's not just crazy for Crayolas." December 2009
CLICK "Duluth News Tribune: Kristina in Studio" to see pictures from the article.
Opens a crayon gallery in the DeWitt Seitz Marketplace Building in Duluth, MN April 2009
Participates in the Northern Lights Foundation auction in Duluth, MN February 2009
Participates in Art Fair at St. Kate's St. Paul, MN July 12th, 2008
Featured Artist in the Living Stones News Magazine December 2008
Featured Artist on Fox News Television Broadcast Channel 21 September 20, 2007
Featured Artist in the Living North Magazine September 22, 2007
Featured Artist On the Road with Jason Davis Television Broadcast ABC News Channel 5 June 17, 2007
Artist Finalist DECC Duluth Superior Community Foundation Exhibition Duluth MN May 2007
Participates in the Silent Auction of 5 Fledgings 200 Limited Edition First Witness Child Abuse Resource Center Duluth MN May 2007
Opens an art studio in Superior Wisconsin March 2007 thru August 2008
Works as an Elementary Art Teacher Lincoln School in Guadalajara, Mexico August 2005 - April 2006
Graduates with B.S. in Visualization from the Minneapolis College of Art & Design Art Minneapolis MN June 2005
EMAIL Kristina:
Working with crayons, Kristina Nelson creates fine artwork portraying wildlife, portraits, places and objects in the contemporary realism genre. With a degree from the Minneapolis College of Art & Design, she taught art and English in Guadalajara, Mexico in 2006 to Mexican elementary children. This venture left her with few resources to pursue her own art interests, but she had ready access to most everyone’s first art instrument - the crayon. She pursued the potential for fine art with just crayons and paper. Upon her return to the States, she providentially met up with crayon artist Don Marco. Kristina was impressed by his mastery of the medium. Don decided to give her crayon art lessons - glad that she had independently discovered the potential for crayon herself. After a rigorous year studying with Don, Kristina established her own studio. She now sells prints and Original drawings online and in Duluth, MN. She signed her work "Tiona Marco" in honor of her art teacher from 2006 - November 2009. The name combined her parents' names, her name, and Don Marco's last name. Since people mistakenly thought she was his granddaughter, she reverted back to signing artwork with her real name to avoid any confusion.
Want to visit her teacher's website? Click Don Marco.
ARTIST RESUME
Featured in the Duluth News Tribune. "Crayon artist says she's not just crazy for Crayolas." December 2009
CLICK "Duluth News Tribune: Kristina in Studio" to see pictures from the article.
Opens a crayon gallery in the DeWitt Seitz Marketplace Building in Duluth, MN April 2009
Participates in the Northern Lights Foundation auction in Duluth, MN February 2009
Participates in Art Fair at St. Kate's St. Paul, MN July 12th, 2008
Featured Artist in the Living Stones News Magazine December 2008
Featured Artist on Fox News Television Broadcast Channel 21 September 20, 2007
Featured Artist in the Living North Magazine September 22, 2007
Featured Artist On the Road with Jason Davis Television Broadcast ABC News Channel 5 June 17, 2007
Artist Finalist DECC Duluth Superior Community Foundation Exhibition Duluth MN May 2007
Participates in the Silent Auction of 5 Fledgings 200 Limited Edition First Witness Child Abuse Resource Center Duluth MN May 2007
Opens an art studio in Superior Wisconsin March 2007 thru August 2008
Works as an Elementary Art Teacher Lincoln School in Guadalajara, Mexico August 2005 - April 2006
Graduates with B.S. in Visualization from the Minneapolis College of Art & Design Art Minneapolis MN June 2005
Photo courtesy of Ashtyn Hnatek
EMAIL Kristina:
colorcrayonart@gmail.com
(The following is no longer her primary email address:)
