Kristine Reiner is a freelance artist and painter from South Dakota, USA, who is known for her contemporary paintings with roses. In today's Designer Interview Kristine tells us more about her artistic inspirations and what made her fall in love with art. 

How did your brand begin?

Kristine’s Artwork started during my college years, back in 2012.

When did you first fall in love with designing and knew you wanted to become a designer?

I’ve always loved bright colours but my first art experience wasn’t until my last year of high school. I took one art class which helped me choose a career in design.

I started my design career at the University of Sioux Falls. I majored in graphic design and media. I remember sitting in class learning about typography, branding and printmaking thinking, “That’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to be a designer.” Design is all around us, in everything we do. It’s a basic human necessity that many people don’t realize. I wanted to influence the world through colour, line, and themes. The hardest thing about choosing a career in design is understanding your value.

I’m a bit of a computer nerd. I loved how digital design was fluid and expanding. Since leaving college I’ve continued to develop into more computer science areas like website design, graphic design, and animation, and now I’m learning how to code.

Where do you draw inspiration from for your designs?

Inspiration comes from every aspect of my life. It’s crazy how little human interactions or emotional situations can fuel my creativity. The digital world is also a large resource for my work it helps me when compiling my ideas. Art and design are limitless, I seek out other creatives from all walks of life to see what they are doing.

Our world is not black and white, it’s a colourful explosion. Social media and technology have been huge resources for inspiration, very rarely do I have to spend time looking for things to create. When I scroll my apps I often take mental notes on what looks interesting or what ideas I might want to try later.

Are there any specific manufacturing/crafting techniques you use?

Sustainability is a large part of my creative mentality. I try to stay away from things that are hazardous to the environment. I do not appreciate large-scale, toxic production methods. When I create or update a product I try to keep it as eco-friendly as I can.

Most of the materials I use are donated to me like leftover house paint or other materials that shouldn’t go into a landfill. It’s important for me to leave this world better than I found it, no matter what the circumstance.

Are there any celebrities you would love to see wearing your designs?

There is one artist I truly admire: Macklemore has been a huge creative influence and inspiration in my life. We’ve had similar struggles in life, so I feel I can relate to his music. I love how he uses his platform to better lives.

Have you been featured in any exhibitions?

I’ve been featured in several shows and a few solo exhibitions. I try not to let the features grow my ego, as long as people feel something when they look at my work that’s all that matters to me. Features include: British Vogue, Vanity Fair, Harper’s Bazaar, Home and Garden, plus several other magazines and websites.

Do you have any exciting future plans and where do you see your brand in 5 years?

My next five years will hopefully involve a few large-scale projects that touch on social issues. Most of my works have meanings behind them highlighting injustices of the world. I’m a soon-to-be-mom, so it’s wild to think about what I’ll be creating during the new stages of motherhood.

As an artist, I believe it’s my responsibility to say things many others cannot. I am lucky to use these talents in a creative, unique way that can bring people together who may have never thought much about a certain idea or topic.

If you could travel to one place in the world right now, where would it be and why?

London. Growing up in the US I’ve always dreamed of travelling across the pond. It’s fascinating how close together everything is. I would love to spend a few months travelling around exploring all the different cultures and seeing gorgeous works of art.

What music inspires you to create new designs?

Music is such a powerful tool when I create, I enjoy a wide variety of artists. My go-to is something that has a strong message attached to it. Macklemore, Lana Del Ray, Harry Styles, and Mayday Parade are my favourites.

What drew you to JewelStreet?

JewelStreet caught my attention after I was featured in Harper’s Bazaar. I loved how they support artists and brands just like me. It’s not easy to be trusting of websites these days, but I think they do such a great job curating authentic creative brands.

Thankyou for talking with us Kristine!

Discover more from Kristine Reiner on JewelStreet today.