What inspired my current theme:
"The hardest part of the creative process for me was deciding what to paint. I tried a number of subjects but didn't feel inspired until I decided to paint one of the historic homes I pass by every day. I love old houses and my husband, and I are fortunate enough to live in one. Why not paint it along with others? After completing several, I entitled the series Main Street CT Watercolors, to commemorate my Main Street home along with all homes on Main Streets and beyond across Connecticut."

What inspired my style:
"In my older works, I tried too hard to be super detailed with straight lines and perfect perspective. It was often frustrating. So when I decided to paint my own house for a holiday card, I let go of the need for accuracy and let it come out the way it came out. Although the windows didn't line up and the house tipped to the side, it didn't matter. I liked it! I started to draw all my houses this way 

I still incorporate lots of detail into my paintings, but those details are now whimsical and a bit wonky and I mixed them with patterns and textures. Combining all these elements is what makes it so much fun and different. It's a new perspective of an old subject." 

About Main Street CT Watercolors

Beginning as a hobby, Kristine worked on her paintings on nights and weekends.  Since then, Main Street CT Watercolors has blossomed into a small business of custom house portrait commissions as well as reproductive prints and notecards. 

"If these were normal times, I never would have had the courage to take the leap into freelance. The pandemic pushed me off the edge. With reduced hours at my day job, I had the time I never had before to devote to it and I love it. I meet a lot of people and hear stories about their houses; the history, the improvements they made. People love their homes and they love to talk about them. When I hear these stories, I try to tailor my commissions to focus on what is important to them. Be it their gardens or pets; whatever they want. The whole process is very interesting and rewarding."