Kristen Doty – The Present

Artist Statement

The theme for FOBA’s last challenge project was “Where your heart resides”. This inspired the text I wrote and calligraphed in this book. The circles subtly repeated represent the world, travel, and the notion from the T.S. Eliot quote that we arrive at the place where we started and know it for the first time. The calligraphic textures repeat the words that are legible. They are words written from my heart—about it and where it resides. The illustration drawn from life is the Amazon Lily that lives in my studio and blooms about twice a year, further emphasizing the present.

Materials & Technique

An original, one-of-a-kind artist’s book created with watercolor, colored pencil, acrylic ink and graphite on Arches Textwove, Canson Mi-Tientes, Hahnemuhle Ingres, and Stonehenge papers. It is bound with linen and cotton threads and embellished with glass and genuine lapis lazuli beads. The legible text, both written and calligraphed by the artist is done in graphite. Excerpts of the same text are written with a ruling pen in watercolor and acrylic ink. The illustration and page decorations are colored pencil and watercolor.

About Kristen Doty

Kristen Doty has a passion for drawing, painting, and calligraphy, and delights in using a variety of media. She is inspired by beauty and detail seen everywhere around us. Her works have been included in juried exhibitions and published in art magazines and books, as well as prints, posters, greeting cards, logos and book titles. She enjoys sharing her passion by teaching workshops and at conferences across the USA and abroad.

kristendoty.com