Christie Farese {Life}

With spring right around the corner, we wanted to highlight the wonderfully bright work of local artist, Christie Farese. Christie was born and raised in Mississippi, attending Brandon High School and later graduating from Ole Miss. Christie Farese has always loved artwork, but unlike some artists she didn’t begin to explore this passion until both her children were young. Farese began taking art lessons from local artist Julie McCartney for fun, and from there her passion absolutely bloomed. Continuing her training under California plein air artist Camille Przewodek and Mississippi artist Sammy Britt, both studied under renowned colorist Henry Hensche, Farese quickly learned how to bring nature’s colors onto the canvas. Christie adds, “Hensche taught his students to carefully analyze nature’s light and color, and often had them paint with a putty knife to ensure they were concentrating on color This is how I learned how to paint- in fact, I didn’t pick up a paint brush for that first year or two!” Christie is still developing herself as an artist, traveling to Atlanta as much as possible to train with Nancy Franke.

Not surprising given the brightness of her pieces, color is the main source of inspiration for Christie’s artwork, “ Color inspires all my paintings! Since training in the Hensche tradition, I see color EVERYWHERE. The light and shadow comparisons in the trees, on a house - even on a pile of dirt - are striking and beautiful when you take the time to notice them.” She goes on to add, “my work is also very much inspired by the human figure. I have always been drawn to painting children and families, especially children on the beach. There's just something about that subject matter that will always stir my heart. I have recently been painting the female figure, which is something I've wanted to do for a while. I have been excited about the response this series has received!”
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Mostly working with oils but beginning to dabble in watercolor and sumi ink, Farese works out of a light- filled studio in her own home, “it's my happy place! Even if I'm not painting, I like to spend quiet time there and read or sketch. I am most productive with music playing, a candle burning and a cup of hot tea - oh, and my King Charles Cavalier, Franklin. He loves to sleep in my cozy chair while I work (his sister, Holly, is too busy playing outside to come sit with us). I keep many of my old color studies in my studio so I can refer back to them when I haven't painted in a while and feel rusty. My studio door opens to my backyard, and on nice days I leave the door open - and that's my ideal work environment!

Christie relishes the wonderful aspect of being a part of the artistic community here in Mississippi. “What I have come to love most about painting is the connections I make with people. I have made countless new friends through painting commissions, traveling to workshops and hanging my work in local shops and galleries. Participating in the Double Decker Arts Festival in Oxford, MS was an enormous highlight for me in my art journey! I absolutely loved talking with people who also love art and who are touched in some way by what I create.”

Christie’s artwork can viewed in galleries around the state including,  Courtney Peters Interior Design in Jackson, The Caron Gallery in Tupelo, and Gifts by KPEP in the Renaissance. Christie is also very active on Instagram and we suggest giving her a follow! Her Instagram handle is @christiefaresefineart.
You can check out more of Christie's work here, on her website. 
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All photos feature original artwork by Christie Farese.