Kristen Palana

MASTER ARTIST

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Mentoring Emerging Artists
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MEDIUM: Mixed Media
SPECIALTY: ✔ Building Your Brand ✔ Website Sales ✔ Social Media

I draw the world not as it is but how I wish it could be. I use symbols, icons, and patterns with cross-cultural significance combined with color psychology to help soothe, heal, and reinvigorate weary idealists. Inspired by the lofty mission statements and development goals used by the world’s top organizations, my images are a call to action to visualize better outcomes for our lives, communities, and the planet.

As an American/Portuguese digital artist and animator living in developing countries over the past seven years, my creative process has gradually been shaped by a lack of reliable internet connectivity and frequent power outages. Since 2021, I’ve reconnected with my fine art roots and now delight in making “slow art” off the grid that requires no electricity or glowing screens. Each mark placed in a drawing mimics the stitches that lovingly make up an elaborate quilt or the single frames that slowly add up to a few minutes of animation.

In my mixed media work, I layer colors, lines, and dots using fine-tipped ink and watercolor brush pens with dabs of acrylic and metallic paint on vellum or canvas. The drawing process is a form of meditation that enables me to tap into a higher level of consciousness and rich artistic traditions that are thousands of years old. I’m especially drawn to the intricate patterns and vibrant colors found in Asian and African traditional clothing, baskets, ceramics, and local handicrafts made from raw and natural materials. Western influences include stained-glass windows as well as the bold dark outlines and visual framing structures found in cartoons and graphic novels.

Artwork by Grahame Booth
Artwork by Grahame Booth

Kristen’s EXPERTISE

Listed below are this Mentor’s specialty skills. Join this group if you want to grow in these areas.

Specialty: ✔ Building Your Brand ✔ Social Media ✔ Website Sales

Technical:

Z

Colour and Composition

Z

Mixed Media

Z

Digital Media

Z

Communication (Film & Animation)

Z

Illustration

Z

Design

MARKETING & BRANDING:

Z

Website Design

Z

Social Media

Z

Artist Statement & CV

Z

Marketing & Branding

Z

Building Relationships With Fans 

Z

Building A Strong Online Persona

Business:

Z

Selling Online

Z

Products, Prints, & Reproductions

Z

Help Making A Career Change

Z

Life Design Plans

Z

Applying for Grants & Fellowships

Z

Running Your Art Business the Day to Day

“Kristen did a wonderful job of motivating and encouraging us on this journey to improve our web presence. So
much useful information and topics to explore as we move forward. “

~ Anonymous

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MORE ABOUT THE ARTIST

Artwork by Grahame Booth

Kristen Palana is an American/Portuguese multidisciplinary artist based in Malawi. After decades as a digital artist, she has reconnected with her fine art roots by embracing mixed media drawing and painting. Kristen’s animated films have screened in over 75 international film festivals earning numerous “Best Animated Short Film” awards including at the Cannes Short Film Festival, Italy International Film Festival, and the Sunscreen Film Festival.

As an educator, she’s taught at universities on four continents, including at The American University of Rome, where she co-founded the Film and Digital Media Program. She’s worked as a designer and educator for organizations such as the WHO, UNICEF, WFP, UNFPA, GIZ, UNDP, and created multimedia programs for students from all walks of life. From 2016–2019, she taught for universities and NGOs in Myanmar. Kristen is currently helping creatives in Malawi and worldwide to find solutions to their most pressing art, design, business, and tech problems through master classes for UN organizations, live and online mentoring, and consulting.