Kristi DiSalle

Heirloom

acrylic paint

18″ x 24″

2023

Many vegetable growers define heirlooms as “lines of plants, grown locally or regionally, that have been passed down through families or groups for generations.” Heirlooms are not used in modern agriculture by large, industrial farms. Instead, they are grown by local, independent farmers, often utilizing organic practices. I grew the tomatoes in this painting in my backyard garden. Their range of colors is entirely natural; I only recreated it in paint. This is the first piece in a series I created to emphasize the importance of organically growing our own food and supporting local farmers.

Facebook.com/wonderandwhimsy; Instagram.com/kristileighcreations; Instagram.com/kristileighgillustration

Kristi DiSalle

Blossoming

alcohol markers and colored pencil on bristol; cinnamon sugar

10″ x 10″

2023

“Food is a lot of people’s therapy – when we say comfort food, we really mean that. It’s releasing dopamine and serotonin in your brain that makes you feel good (Brett Hoebel).” This piece is all about comfort. The recognizable, repeating image of the blossom cookies is meant to kindle thoughts of the holidays. I used warm colors for the cookies and contrasted them with the blue background to emphasize the warmth of the comfort food. The implied and real texture is meant to make the viewer feel as though they can pick them up and eat them.

@kristileighcreations, @kristileighgillustration, /wonderandwhimsy

Kristi DiSalle

Complementary Oranges

acrylic, wax, and orange peel on canvas

20″ x 24″

2024

Continuing in my artistic study of food insecurity and waste, this piece calls attention to these societal problems by being made partly of refuse. Using all parts of the oranges and placing them in bright color contrast to the blue table accentuates the importance of eating fresh, healthy foods. The rough texture of the peels is set in opposition to the straight, clean lines of the table, again focusing attention on eating naturally and without wastefulness.

@kristileighcreations @kristileighgillustration

Kristi DiSalle

Radial Waves

yarn, acrylic paint

24″ diameter

2022

This piece is about color, texture, and movement. The cool colors are meant to recall ocean waves and their constant motion. As the waves undulate around the center, they draw the viewers’ attention to the woven portion of the piece. The radial weaving maintains the motion of the waves as it weaves into a textured central focal point.

Instagram.com/kristileighcreations, Facebook.com/wonderandwhimsy, Instagram.com/kristileighgillustration

Kristi DiSalle

When Life Gives You Lemons…

Inspired by: David Seltzer, Sea Salt/Lemon Sage Henry George Todd, Study of Strawberries

acrylic, lemon peel, and wax on canvas

20″ x 30″

2024

Food insecurity is a problem for far too many in our nation and the world, and yet, while people starve, according to the USDA, “food waste is estimated at between 30-40 percent of the food supply.” This piece calls attention to the problem of food waste by being made in part of that waste. The colors and composition harken to the pieces from FAM’s collection. The theme tells a story of fresh food being used to its full extent.

@kristileighcreations @kristileighillustration wonderandwhimsy