Meet Kristine Vander Velde | Painter and Jewelry Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kristine Vander Velde and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kristine, let’s talk legacy – what do you want yours to be?
As a mother who has lost my only child, I exist in an odd, uncomfortable space where I am my daughter’s legacy, rather then the other way around. When I found out my daughter was not typical and as she developed many medical complications, I made the conscious choice to not have more children and focus on her care. In the aftermath of her death, my studio and artwork kept me from wallowing in grief during the long lonely hours in an empty house. Over the last 11 years, my paintings have evolved into capturing small, brief momenta of light and color throughout the seasons. Losing what matters most in this life has taught me that the small moments often matter most, those moments of beauty that often pass us by without notice. I believe it is so important to enjoy what you have while you have it and to find something good in every day. As an artist, I prefer the manual implements rather than technology. Using a pencil, pen or paintbrush fosters an engagement with the real world through learning to be patient and observant.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Motherhood interrupted my college education and career goals. Due to the intensity of my daughter’s care, I gave up all art for nearly a decade. One day in my early thirties, I looked in the mirror and no longer knew who I was and it was traumatic and depressing. I decided I desperately needed to open up my home studio and start drawing and painting again. After the devastating loss of my daughter, I spent several years in retail trying to figure out the next phase of my life. I was not happy with the direction of my life and took the risk of returning to school to finish my art degree. That was the challenge I needed to push my work to a higher level of development, which I have continued post graduation. Now I face each day with the possibilities art has to offer. There is always something interesting to observe. I’m always looking for subject matter in odd places and spaces. In addition to my painting practice, I also fell in love with metal work. While taking a metal smithing course at school, I developed an affinity for designing and making sone and metal jewelry. During the pandemic, I learned wire wrapping and weaving techniques, which I incorporate with stones and beads to create wearable art.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Downtown is a fun place to hang out! I really enjoy the river walk along the Grand with it’s interesting meld of city and nature. There are so many good places to eat there. Parsley, on the corner of Ottawa and Monroe Center is one of my favorites. Then we’d have to hop across the street to the Old World Olive Company for some free smells and maybe a few samples. After a long day of walking, we’d have to hit Stella’s for a cold beer. We have some amazing murals around town! After touring downtown, I’d take them uptown and then south down division to check out all the cool, eclectic art growing here in Grand Rapids. We’d have to visit my favorite restaurants and coffee shops on that side of town like Zivio, The Meanwhile and Squibb all on Wealthy St. The trip would not be complete without a long hike through my favorite haunts on Kent Trails by the Grand. I love walking through any time of the year and just enjoy nature.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am truly grateful to Lions and Rabbits Center for the Arts for all their hard work supporting local artists. I have had multiple opportunities to participate in public art projects in Grand Rapids. I have recently become involved with Cultivate Grand Rapids to host interactive painting workshops. These experiences have been so helpful in growing as an artist and learning to give back to the community through teaching. I’d also like to thank the Fulton Street Market and their dedication to providing a safe, convenient and fun space for artists to sell their work.

Website: https://vanderveldeart.com

Instagram: samestaleshoes

Facebook: Kris’ Art

Image Credits
All photos submitted were taken by myself, Kristien Vander Velde.