crystal driedger

What subject matter inspires you?

I'm inspired by nature, by places I visit and memories from a childhood spent wandering the forests of my family farm. 

What other artists inspire you?

I love the work of Erin Hanson's landscapes but I'm also interested in the highly detailed botanical portraits by Asuka Hishiki and Sengmany Phommachakr. 

What are you doing when you’re not creating art? 

I'm often in my garden, walking my dog, or headed to the library to be surrounded by books. 

How long have you been creating art to show? 

I've been a professional artist and illustrator full time since 2003... so 19 years! 

What’s your background in? Education/work experience?

I studied Design and Illustration right out of high school and have been illustrating and creating fine art full time since then. I created work for a licensing company the first five years of my career (think wrapping paper, gift bags, childrens books, etc) then I left to "go solo" and branch out. I've since created murals for the Royal Alberta Museum and Telus World of science (coming this fall!), I'm in several public collections with my "fine art line" and my prints are carried in shops across Canada. 

Are you formally trained artist or self taught?

Formally trained as an illustrator. 

How do you keep yourself inspired to create? 

There aren't enough hours in the day to create everything I have on lists around the house. Even though I'm drawing and painting full time (minus the admin hours that are put in of course), there's still a list of waiting comissions and things I want to paint. Lists of plant species that are interesting, photographs of places I've been and animals I've photographed waiting in the wings!

What does your art say about you? 

I think my art says that I'm fascinated by colours and by details. It says that I love a variety of subject matters and I enjoy working on something with tiny details but also on work that expresses emotion and just suggests shapes and places.