Who is Kristi Grussendorf?

My mother shared her artistic interest with me and even as a child, I was singled out because of my drawing skills and became accustomed to being identified as an artist.  I graduated with a BFA (painting & drawing emphasis)from the University of Utah & was especially influenced by Paul Davis, Dave Dornan, Doug Snow and George Dibble.  While attending the university I acquired several pieces from professors by trading student work.  I also was selected on scholarship to attend Ed Maryon's Monterey Bay watercolor workshop.

Although I enjoy painting in oils, I have focused on watercolors for the last few years.  The transparency of watercolors produces a freshness & purity of color unequaled in other mediums.  I have found good technique to be more important in watercolor - "honest" process is key.  I'm a bit of a watercolor traditionalist & strive to save the white of the paper instead of using opaque whites or gouaches which are sometimes used to cover "mistakes".  I prefer to be less focused on agenda so that I'm able to recognize  & utilize those "happy accidents"!  This requires some humility on my part & a recognition that there's another creative force in play. 

Having said that, I must admit to a bit of stubbornness in also shaping my desire to paint with watercolor.  I have known many fine artists who have switched to oils in order to make a living.  For whatever reason, oils have more credibility in the art market.  I am committed to being a student of watercolor.  This challenging, rich medium will continue to surprise, delight (& frustrate) me for a very long time!

  My first watercolor floral series was an exploration of negative space.  I planned my compositions around the white (left paper) floral shapes.  Although, I encouraged the paint to flow & mix freely within designated areas, I maintained strict control on the main value shapes.  I learned so much about the individual color character traits and how well they played with others! 

Recently, my personal challenge has been to incorporate the human figure into the landscape.  I appreciate the Chinese tradition of including the figure in the landscape, humanity often dwarfed by the immensity & power of nature.  I've been more focused, however, on the relationship between the figure and landscape.  Instead of separating & defining, I try to find those places where the two merge.

I have included many oil paintings on my website.  Interestingly, I believe they have "loosened me up" & prepared me for painting in watercolor!  I have spent an incredible amount of time in the studio drawing from the live model & most of the landscapes were done "en plein air".  Some of my recent watercolors appear to be a culmination of this work.    
 

EXHIBITS & AWARDS
-  2010 Wasatch Plein Air Paradise (Utah)- First Place (studio) for "Red Rock Reverie"
-  2010 Summerfest Plein Air Competition(Logan, UT) - First Place for "Sow Mendon"
- 2010 UWS Spring Exhibition - AWARD OF EXCELLENCE for "Hiking With Jake"
-  American Watercolor Society (2010) 143rd Annual International Exhibition/2010-2011 Traveling Exhibition ("One Dog, Two Dog, Red Dogs, Blue Dog")
-  October 2009 FineArtViews - Finalist (OUTSTANDING WATERCOLOR) for "One Dog..."
   -  2009 UWS Fall Exhibition - "Book Club Cabin Weekend 2009" & "One Dog, Two Dog, Red Dogs, Blue Dog" (AWARD OF EXCELLENCE & PEOPLE'S CHOICE)
-  UWS/CVC Dec. show - "Peony" (AWARD OF EXCELLENCE), "Rockport" (JUROR AWARD), "Christmas 2009" (JUROR AWARD)
   -  2009 AVA (Alliance for the Varied Arts) Member Show -BEST OF SHOW for "Go With the Flow")
-  Summerfest 2009 Plein Air Competition - "Logan Canyon From 400 North" & "Dry Canyon
From 400 North" (AWARD OF MERIT)
-  Wasatch Plein Air Paradise 2009 - AWARD OF MERIT for "4th & Main" (Midway Paint
Out) & "Rockport" (Studio piece)
-          Utah Watercolor Society -2009 Spring Open Exhibition (“Lady in Yellow” & “Go With The Flow”) Bountiful, UT (May8 - June 19) AWARD OF EXCELLENCE for “Go With The Flow”
-  National Watercolor Society – 2009 All Member Exhibit (“Red Rock Reverie”) San Pedro, CA (May 17–June 27)
-          34^th Annual Western Federation of Watercolor Societies Exhibition (“Worship”)  San Diego, CA (May 1 – 31)  AWARD OF MERIT
    -          Utah Watercolor Society – 2009 Mini Show (SLC, UT) – AWARD OF EXCELLENCE for “Summer Solstice Plein Air Group”
   -          Cache Valley Chapter/ Utah Watercolor Society – Dec. 2008  Logan, UT - BEST OF SHOW for “Joel” HONORABLE MENTION for “Mantua”
-          Utah Watercolor Society Signature/Two Star Show 2008 (“Far From the Gambling Crowd”) Springville, UT - AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
-          “Garden Gifts” (Botanical Watercolors- one person show) Red Butte Garden, SLC, UT (July 26 - Aug. 17, 2008)
-          Cache Valley Chapter/Utah Watercolor Society – July 2008 (Logan, UT) – BEST OF SHOW for “North Logan Pastoral” & AWARD OF MERIT for “4^th of July Hike to Lake Mary”
-          2008 Summerfest Plein Air Competition  (Logan, UT) SECOND PLACE for “Little Mountain From King Nature Park Trail”
-          Utah Watercolor Society – 2008 Spring Open Exhibition  SLC, UT – AWARD OF EXCELLENCE for “Rhubarb”
-          33^rd Annual Western Federation of Watercolor Societies Exhibition (“Green Fracture”) Tubac, AZ ( March 2008)
-          Plein Air Oils (one person show) Caffe Ibis, Logan, UT (Dec. 2007)
-          Utah Watercolor Society – 2007 Fall Member Show (“Walking Jessie”) SLC, UT – JACK RICHESON TRANSPARENT WATERCOLOR AWARD
-          2007 Wasatch Plein Air Paradise – AWARD OF MERIT (professional category) for “Wasatch Paradise 2007 #2” – Midway, UT