Kristi Bridgeman

Children's Illustrator and Fine Artist Kristi Bridgeman prefers warm sepia tones in many mediums and subjects, including acrylic landscapes, illustrations and mandalas. Her work is recognized by whimsical characters and a west coast flavor and can be found in local galleries, children's books, and visits to her home studio.

Image detail from "Uirapuru"
Written by P Page
Illustrated by
Kristi Bridgeman

 

Other recently released books: "The Sky Tree" and "There once was a Camel" by P.K Page, "The Socky Fairy" and "The Knot Fairy" by Bobbie Hinman. Most are available at local bookstores on request or through the artist.

 

I find the best way to interpret the west ocast landscape is with acrylic on canvas... but I still like the warm sepai tones. Here is a favorite spot where there is a grove of big leaf maples, douglas maples and maple saplings. "October Temple, Mount Douglas Park"
Acrylic from the Temple series,
by Kristi Bridgeman
It easy to be inspired when my studio window overlooks the coastal rainforest.

 

"Tree of Life" Mandala
Kristi Bridgeman.
The speia ink and watercolour medium allows for minute details. Here is a sample from my mandala series. Some of the pieces are so intricate and embellished that they take upwards of 30 hours of working and reworking. Although my neck and hand get sore, and I need glasses now, the task is not as hard as it sounds. Like crochet or puzzles, the very nature of 'mandala making' is healthy and relaxing.

 

'...and the fairies were decorating for a party...'
by
Kristi Bridgeman

This was one of the original fairy pieces, where I experimented with sepia ink. I experimented many mediums to find one that would be most reminiscent of Arthur Rackham and the master illustratorsc of times past. The very idea of fairies required an antique etherial look... the rest is history.