Kristal Melson
VISUAL ARTIST & ILLUSTRATOR
We’ve spent months facing uncertainty, wrapped in grey fleece. How about starting 2022 on a high note for a change? Reset with Joy Dressing: featuring outfits that bring happiness and new beginnings, and loved by our #LBCommunity. As we usher in the Lunar New Year, let's talk to Kristal, the amazing artist behind our first NFT, Tiger Bloom.
Introduce yourself and tell us how a typical week goes for you!
Hi! I'm Kristal Melson, commonly known as Krisonautopilot. I am an artist and I split my time creating work for brands and publications and my personal work. A typical week for me would be sketching and painting, in both digital and traditional mediums. I'm also mom to my 3 year old boy and a girl turning 2 in April, so I balance my time between the kids and personal work as best I can!
What does 'New Beginnings' mean to you?
Since becoming a mom, I've put them as my focus and spent the last year trying to get back to creating work with kids, and regaining confidence in my work.
A lot of mothers go through this sense of loss of their old selves, so I think new beginnings to me would be this reemergence, or reinventing of myself as an artist and mother.
"Make new choices that nourish you to feel your best."
What are you looking forward to most this new year?
Excited to paint more, and especially large pieces which have been a bit of a challenge with toddlers running around.
What are some things that you’ll like to challenge yourself with this year?
I hope to paint more walls, and perhaps bigger projects that require more dedication or even sculptural work. Hope to explore how my drawings translate into the 3D form more.
"To me, joy dressing is picking clothes that make you feel energized, and that mirror your attitude."
What is your favorite thing to do and how can you make more time to do it this year?
Paint, paint and more paint. Hopefully with the kids getting older, I can also be more focused on my personal art.
How are you going to live this year differently from the last?
I'm relearning to prioritize my needs more, which took a bit of a back seat last year, I think a lot more mindfulness about the work I make will be more fulfilling in the longterm.
What does Joy Dressing mean to you and why did you choose this outfit?
To me, joy dressing is picking clothes that make you feel energized, and that mirror your attitude.
