Meet Kristen Fagan | Expressive Artist & Creative Wellbeing Guide

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kristen Fagan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kristen, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
My entire life has been built around supporting and encouraging others to tap into their own creative passions. First as a designer for small businesses bringing their passions to life. Then as beading educator inspiring jewelry makers with new ideas and techniques. Lastly, as a certified creativity coach guiding others to have a more expressive human experience through sacred creativity and intentional art making. Art as a spiritual practice lights me up! I created a virtual gathering place for those interested in awakening their creative spirit through intuitive and intentional art making. My “Discover Your Creative Magic” Facebook Group serves as an online classroom, virtual soul circle and place to share, explore and celebrate your art making adventures! The focus is for those who want to discover themselves and their personal power through the creative process. Through soulful expressive art making we set intentions, tap into our intuition, use symbols to access inner wisdom, unleash our wild creativity, let go of ego and transform our lives. I asked some of the members of my creativity group to share their thoughts on how my guidance has impacted their creative journey. This is what they had to say: “You’ve helped me pick up a brush again!!! I used to paint when I was a teenager.” “Absolutely! You taught me to “let go” of perfection. And though I still haven’t mastered it…I think about your advice often. You have encouraged me to pursue my creative and artistic side!” “You absolutely have!!! I now use paints, acrylic and watercolors, and I use oil pastels now!!! I am more in tune with me which I never would have been if I hadn’t found you and followed you on this page!!! So thank you Kristen and this beautiful group of people!!!” “Got me to step out of my box and laugh about it later. I was not happy at the moment, but you stretched me with compassionate love and I thank you!” “Your beautiful smile and loving heart and genuine kindness have shown a light in a dark haunted mind. I am still struggling with my creative mojo but because of your genuine kindness to listen and respond I am moving forward.” “Kristen, you have made an enormous impact on my creativity. I’ve learned it’s ok to paint with abandon, just like words, it’s all about getting it on (paper) canvas! There are no mistakes when creating. Your happy loving heart is appreciated.” Self expression is a brave and vulnerable thing to do. For that reason, I do my very best to cultivate a safe and compassionate space to explore ones self through creative expression, whether that be in my virtual group or in person workshops and retreats. I believe a creative alchemist lies hidden in every one of us. Join my FREE Discover Your Creative Magic Group on Facebook for art making prompts & inspiration, live painting videos and monthly events based on our current theme we are exploring.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a color dripping, wild flower loving, symbolism obsessed expressive artist. My artwork is created with sacred intention and intuition. It is full of lush color, joyful energy and the discovery of magical moments. I am inspired by the natural world and an explorer of self expression. When connected to creative source, time washes away, I find my truth, my peace and I’m free. I paint what I am crushing on at the moment; currently I am enamored with goddess energy, the divine feminine, and exploring desert wildflowers. Past collections have focused on mystical themes, animal symbolism and mandala meditations. I believe art is an invitation to get to know yourself more fully. I am most proud of the work I do as a painting facilitator and creative wellbeing guide. It is incredibly rewarding to share my love of painting and mindfulness art practices with others and help them discover their creative magic! Most recently, I have have designed and facilitated a community paint-by-number mural project called “Wings at Wonderland” for the local non-profit Brilliant Planet. Brilliant Planet supports individuals and families in transitioning to a Brilliant Eco Lifestyle by showing them the possibilities through different modes of growing and preparing their own organic food in a supportive community. They imagine a world where each person lives in paradise, connected to themselves, the planet and each other. I have never painted a mural this large but, instantly said YES! I tend to do that, say yes and figure it out later. Paint is a very forgiving medium and that is one of the many reasons I love it so much. You can let it dry and start again. It was amazingly cool to outline the mural, color code it and then get to step back and let families get there hands full of paint and their hearts full of joy as they colored it in! For the past two decades, I have been a designer for Soft Flex Company, a family owned beading wire company. In that time, I have been fortunate to learn all about beading. In that time, I have also co-authored and designed a beading how-to book called “Seed Bead Revolution”, been featured in beading publications and appeared on Jewelry TV. I teach others how to create their own handmade beaded jewelry in my weekly “Free Spirit Beading” video tutorials. To date, I have led over 100 jewelry making tutorials (and counting) on Soft Flex Company’s YouTube channel! Life is yours to CREATE!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are so many wonderful things to see and do here! We’d start the day at my favorite local coffee shop, Hava Java. Then we’d go explore, hike, paddle or just relax along the Salt River or Saguaro Lake. If we are down for a drive, we may head to the magical mountains of Sedona. I love live music so, I would check out what’s shaking at the Rhythm Room or Mesa Amphitheater. We would head to Downtown Mesa to check out some of my favorite shops such as Atomic Age Modern and Soul Center. We have so many great museums to visit too! As for eats, some of my favorites are Pita Jungle, The Barrio Café, D’Vine Wine Bar, Four Peaks or Fate Brewing and Sal’s Gilbert Pizza for the best NY style pizza, rice balls and garlic knots around!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?1
There are so many people that have supported me on my creative journey! A heartfelt shoutout to my husband, Bert, who has helped me navigate the winding path of art making and creative living with his unwavering love and patience. My kids endlessly inspire me to be more thoughtful & compassionate. I have some very special friends and family in my life that have been there to lift me up, join me on art adventures and happily ramble on about big dreams and the meaning of life with me! Shoutout to my creative mentor, Whitney Freya. Whitney’s creatively fit program and guidance has given me so much clarity around how I want to show up in my art practice and serve others. Whitney has also connected me with like-minded souls who inspire me with their dedication. A special shoutout to Sara Oehler and Kerry Burki for being co-creators with me throughout many of my creative projects! Last but not least, I am encouraged to keep showing up and pursuing my art practice every time someone shares with me that my art has positively impacted them or how my guidance has inspired them to try something new, let go of perfectionism and start living a creative life. Thank you!

Website: https://kristenfagan.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristenfagan/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KristenFaganArt

Other: Discover Your Creative Magic Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/274106029752891