artist Q&A- how i started, dealing with art block, finding inspiration,

[@littletinyegg]

Is there something you wish I would have answered? I feel like each of these questions could be their own video, so let me know if there's one topic in particular I could elaborate on!

[@adamkoford]

Thank you for this! "Presenting yourself as a person, not as a brand" is something I tell young artists all the time. Brands are for cattle, and I'm pretty sure they don't like it.

[@paintedkimonostudio5367]

I love that "brands are for cattle" and will borrow that the next time someone suggest that I work on developing my brand!

[@littletinyegg]

hahah thanks Adam! Yeah I used to feel bad that I wasn't as polished as a brand but then remembered I'm a human bean not a machine!

[@adamkoford]

​@@paintedkimonostudio5367 please do

[@adamkoford]

@@littletinyegg for what it's worth, I had a well established/mildly "famous" internet user name that I abandoned when the NFT ghouls hijacked it. ALSO: Scavengers Reign is p h e n o m e n a l

[@just_joshing_around]

Ahhahahahah! This quote is so on brand for you.

[@haleighen]

If you haven’t come across her yet - look into Jessica Hische. She’s a graphic designer, illustrator, and now also children’s book author, etc. I’ve been following her work for 15 years and the growth is fun to watch.

[@artngoodfeelings]

I laughed SO HARD when the glittery title came across the screen. Holy cow that should not have been as funny as it was, thank you

[@littletinyegg]

hahaha I love the corny titles, they're so silly. Thanks meg!!

[@chantalrochon3566]

Interesting answers 🎉❤😊

[@paintedkimonostudio5367]

I really enjoyed this Q & A session. I discovered you a few months back and have enjoyed learning about your evolution as an artist. I am not a social media person so KZbin is pretty much the only way I get to hear about other artist's processes and view their work. I love the name "tiny little egg" and hope that you continue to use it. It is actually what caught my eye and got me interested in your work. My studio is Painted Kimono Studio and I have learned that many people do not know how to spell kimono...go figure. Your furry Norah Jones is beautiful and I hope you adopt a friend for her soon. My vote would go towards adopting an older cat rather than a kitten. The shelters are full of older cats and dogs just waiting for their forever home. I am currently cat-less but did adopt a 5(?) year old female terrier from a shelter in the SF Bay Area after loosing my almost 18 year old rescue during the pandemic. She is the love of my life and my studio companion. Hoping that you find a way to bring Norah to your studio.It is amazing how comforting it is to just have a furry friend close by while painting. One last thought - thank you for not constantly trying to sell or brand yourself. I have reached the saturation point with a number of artists that I have followed who seem to only be in it to sell sell sell. I realize we all need to earn a living and social media is a good venue for that but after a while it is mind numbing and I find myself tuning them out. You seem like a truly authentic person and someone I would enjoy sharing a cup of coffee with!

[@littletinyegg]

This comment is seriously so sweet, thank you so much!! I love that you adopted an older cat, I love seeing how their personalities develop as they get older

[@catherine40376]

Little tiny egg is just perfect, creative and also easy to understand and remember.

[@littletinyegg]

I agree! Thank you 🥰

[@paulwoodford1984]

Omg, if you have nearly died then there is absolutely nothing that can hurt you after that. You could have been another number succumbing to the evil and suspicious cancer that’s taking the lives of so many, so i imagine how life must feel like a gift now. it’s all a bonus.

[@mads8855]

“I have always been an artist” I find it so true with myself, and love how it’s a source of inspiration and motivation for you

[@littletinyegg]

🥰🥰

[@ValerieFisk]

Happy Easter little tiny egg. It's your special time. I was looking at the reason behind eggs at Easter earlier today and the pagans considered them a symbol of rebirth which I think is a great reason to keep your name. I watched your video about your weekend to Buckhorn Wash and the colours and images, especially the rain angels, haunted me so much that I'm now doing a journal page combining that and an old desert folk song by 'America' called "A horse with no name". All this to say thank you for the inspiration and that I love KZbin too and it's far reaching tendrils 🐙

[@blackbearjam]

youre reeally good at using your words! That sounds dumb but i appreciate your articulation and message. love seeing your vlogs as always, youre inspiring me to get back into making videos about creative practice

[@littletinyegg]

haha aw thats so sweet, thank you!!

[@oli7457]

Dude oil painting is the best!! I also used to be intimidated but I have no regrets, I now have a new whole range of techniques and can start in acrylic and finish in oil. It's such a dreamy, creamy medium and you can like, "push" the paint around more and just have a ton of fun with it. If anyone's interested in getting started, my most cost-effective recs are: - palette: phthalo turquoise, hansa yellow light, quinacridone magenta, titanium white and burnt umber or mars black - liquin (small) - master's brush cleaner and preserver (1oz) - blick studio flat bristle size 8 (if u don't already have a bristle brush) - murphy's wood soap (sold in most grocery stores) That's ~$60-70 for a CYMK mixing set, using prices from the 1980 Gamblin line (except for phthalo turq., which only comes in artist grade.) You can prime good quality paper with acrylic gesso and use it for oil painting sketches. Get an old sheet or piece of cotton fabric from a thrift store and cut it into rags, you will need them. Don't throw them away in a pile, I hang my up to dry on a clothes line, they will catch on fire if left to dry in a big pile.

[@littletinyegg]

this is so helpful, thank you!

[@cassadycroft]

Ooof your answer to the first question really resonated with me. I love the idea of being my own boss, sometimes I feel like working for someone else is a waste of time lmao

[@jillmenk]

thankful for the algorithm to introduce me to ur videos!! i spent the past two days bingewatching them all. sooo inspiring 🌟

[@littletinyegg]

aww amazing, thank you!!

[@shelbycriswellart]

Ooooh I've loved Pat Perry for so many years. I used to scroll Pat's blog with sketchbook pages endlessly in college.

[@littletinyegg]

his work is soooooo good I want to be like him when I grow up

[@shelbycriswellart]

same here! @@littletinyegg

[@KimiPetri]

Furrylittlepeach is a favorite of mine as well. I also am obsessed with children’s book writer/illustrator Beatrice Alemagna. I dream of being a children’s book illustrator myself. I would love to try murals as well. You are an inspiration m’lady 🤗 I was caught up for a long time that realism was being a successful artist, but have learned to accept that however your style turns out to be-that’s personal success.

[@kmmk292929]

scavengers reign is dope, love the art style of it so much

[@vickisigh2674]

i found what you said about going out and exploring without purpose really interesting! I like to do that too when I'm out running errands and will allow myself to follow my curiosity and go places and try things that I hadn't planned on doing. being open minded and curious about one's surroundings can lead to a lot of fun or interesting observations that connect you to this world!

[@garancem7303]

I love your videos SOOOOOOO MUCH Kristen, you are amazing, your voice is so calming, and every topic is very interesting. Can't wait for the next video !

[@littletinyegg]

[@mattieleerootandpine]

The first time I heard Sandhill Cranes I was so amazed. Their calls back and forth while migrating are so gorgeous! Am also really digging Scavengers Reign. Definitely want to do some scene studies from it next year! Great video!

[@littletinyegg]

Right?? The first time I heard it I was like, what is that knocking sound?? I love it. Thanks Mattie!!

[@LAURAb4k]

Thank you I totally relate to motivation and having 90 projects going on. I get so bored. I keep beating myself up about it.

[@littletinyegg]

You and me both! It can be hard to juggle but I gotta keep myself interested or things will never get done!

[@kindcreative1]

Music recommendations: for Kristen, check out John R Miller (a cool blend of country/rock/americana) and for Taylor, check out Chief Adjuah (plays jazz trumpet but his music is a great blend of so many styles). Enjoyed the Q&A!

[@littletinyegg]

awesome, thank you! Taylor says he loves Chief Adjuah! Never heard of John R but I'll check him out! Thank you

[@kittynekocat]

If you start getting into DaVinci Resolve, I would love to see a video of your experience of it! I recently downloaded it too and it's quite overwhelming for me 😅

[@leenabowman9716]

I love little tiny egg!

[@ImaniTolliver]

Thank you so much! Your perspective is so refreshing. As a fellow queer artist, I’d love to know more about your journey. And how, if so, it relates to your art practice. Things being what they are, I understand completely if this is something that you don’t want to explore publicly, but it’s something that I am curious about. I am a black queer poet, so my journey shows up in my work all of the time. Some explorations make me feel more vulnerable than others, but my identities are always there. And again, thank you so much for sharing your journey. You are an inspiration!

[@littletinyegg]

Aw, thank you!! I definitely will consider it, it's something that I explore pretty privately but I know it can help others to share stuff like that, so thank you!

[@ImaniTolliver]

@@littletinyegg I hear you, absolutely. 🩵🕊️

[@Oopsnicolee]

Whoa hi!!! I’ve been bingeing ur videos all morning while crafting bc I’m going through a really rough time!! Now I will get the most updated version of u :D

[@littletinyegg]

yay! Have fun on the binge :)

[@ChantelleArts]

loved this video, so many wonderful answers, thank you for sharing ❤❤

[@charlottalou]

thank you for sharing this! always so helpful and refreshing hearing other artists’ opinions on materials, inspiration, process, etc. keep up the amazing work!

[@littletinyegg]

I'm so glad! Thank you

[@MelissaNoelleAnderson]

procreate video for sure! it's always interesting to see how other people do things there

[@littletinyegg]

I knowww everyone uses it so differently!

[@whitneymason406]

Love getting to know you more! 💞

[@littletinyegg]

thank you as always whitney!!!

[@leenabowman9716]

OH MY GOSH!!! THOSE ARE TWO OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES TOOOOOOO ahaha its a funny duo

[@littletinyegg]

hahah that's such a funny combo!! But so good.

[@AngelicscalliwagsArt]

This was so interesting! Thank you for sharing 🧡

[@littletinyegg]

thank you!

[@twocreativehands]

Hi Kristen! I love this video so much. Also, where did you get your wood ducks t-shirt? 😊

[@littletinyegg]

Thank you!! It is vintage, I found it at a local shop! total score

[@DanitaReynolds]

⁠@@littletinyeggWow, that is a score!

[@tinymillymakes]

Pisces ♓️ what day? Mine is the 13th!

[@littletinyegg]

Aries! The 29th :-)

[@tinymillymakes]

Lmao I always forget that the end of March is Aries!

[@ScottHebertArt]

I cant wait for the "BIG GIANT EGG" era of your art career haha

[@littletinyegg]

hahah get ready for ENORMOUS EGG ENERGY

[@magicalmysterymilli]

Hey, what’s your Spotify?

[@littletinyegg]

oop it is just Kristen Vardanega- open.spotify.com/user/1231910703?si=-LFAPBJXQf2UzdFpdt-bCA

[@adriennepriceart]

medium sized egg would be a good april fool's day joke

[@littletinyegg]

hahah just change it for one day

[@amytea31]

You: I am 29 years old Me: omg me too! You: I’m gonna be 30 in March Me: OMG ME TOO! Yay March 1994 artist babies!

[@littletinyegg]

happy birthday!!