Krysia WoodsMAPLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY

My mother was an artist in Australia, so I

was brought up in a home filled with art. I was

always highly creative, but I ended up studying

pharmaceuticals in college. Then, when I was

in my late 20s, my mother was dying, and I

began to paint again in order to reconnect

with her through her passion for art.

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shutting out THE WORLD

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I immediately sold all of my work and went on to become the first Australian resident to be contracted by the Wentworth Gallery in America. In 1999, I moved to the United States permanently. After having my second son, I threw myself into my painting once again, selling my work around the United States and to clients in Europe.

I create colorful paintings in acrylic on large stretched canvas. To keep my work fresh and inspiring, I usually work on a number of pieces at one time rather than taking one painting from start to finish. This gives me the chance to return to each piece with fresh eyes.

I love to paint all that is beautiful to me, whether it be the face of a child, the perfection of a flower, or the textural decay on an old piece of

furniture. I enjoy the excitement of translating something beautiful onto a blank canvas, and I love the almost spiritual immersion I experience in the actual process of shutting out the world and painting. It is my meditation and it transports me in time.

For years I was known for my colorful still-life paintings. Each piece had a secret in it, which I would not divulge to the buyer until one year after purchase. I always believe that any interpretation made by the person who buys a painting is more important than the intention of the artist.

When I travel to different locations, I take as many photos as I can to capture as much information as possible. Then I compile bits of that information from many different photos and different light sources to

Plastic shutters placed next to a beach scene centered on the old workbench give the illusion of an external window.

After painting this antique Lloyd Loom chair black and white, Krysia decided to use it as storage in this tight, little corner.

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create something that will work on its own as a painting.

My latest collection of paintings is inspired by the wonderful summers I spent in the Hamptons and in Nantucket. The local architecture, vegetation, light, and color of these places are so very different from what I was brought up with in Australia. In these paintings, I have created a graphic element for the sky, giving it an almost three-dimensional effect and a life of its owna sense of looking through a window or lattice.

I have my own studio space located on the top floor of my home. It is a dream and a luxury, as I have had to paint in many tight, makeshift spaces over the years. I also have clients come from everywhere to view and commission my work, so I really need the office and gallery space, too.

I bought this home for the abundance of wall space (for hanging my paintings) and for the large area on the top floor (which I could use as

Krysia is seen here on the cover of a popular Australian magazine.

This workbench is used for framing prints.

The desk wall of Krysias office displays many of the magazine covers and newspaper articles that have featured her work.

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a studio space). I needed to have my work space separate from my home life but still close enough for me to connect to my family. In fact, my favorite thing about my studio is that it removes me from the world but not from the people I love. My husband and sons can walk in anytime and be a part of my creative world.

The rooms that became the studio were previously guest bedrooms, and both already had good natural light.

Then, when I converted the space, I put in more electrical outlets and flooded the main area with halogen lights and dimmers. The studio also has an enormous amount of storage space, which is well used, given that I am prolific and usually have many canvases and props on hand.

My studio space is a reflection of my whole life. Many magazine covers and newspaper articles featuring my work hang on the wall. Press received

from various exhibitions, awards, and interviews bring back memories of the artistic road I have taken. I also surround myself with objects from my travels and with photos of the people who mean everything to me. These serve as a daily reminder of all that I have become while creating my life.

I am most sentimental about a cover I was on for an extremely popular Australian magazine. I had done the interview and never thought that I would be given the cover story. The day the magazine came out was one of joy and sadness, as it was also the day my mother died. In the interview, I had talked about how my mother had inspired me in my life, and it coincidentally came across as a huge tribute to her.

Left: This painting, titled Hampton Lane, was inspired by summers Krysia spent in the Hamptons.

Krysia uses an antique carpenters toolbox to hold her selection of paintbrushes.

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I have had a number of successful and diverse career re-inventions which allow me to continue to live my life with passion and color, but also allow me to express myself creatively each day with my painting, writing, and professional speaking. The paintings shown in this article form part of my exhibition, Fresh, which will be held at the Denise Bibro Fine Art Gallery, in Chelsea, New York City, for the month of May. I am also writing my first book TURN ON YOUR CREATIVE BRAIN. s

KRYSIAD.COM

Above, left: Krysia has a small office space off of her studio.

Above, right: In 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused extensive damage to Krysias studio. During the repairs, she covered the holes in the ceiling of the office area with black-and-white fabric, which remains there today.

Right: Part of Krysias most recent series, this painting was inspired by her time spent in Nantucket.

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