Today we’d like to introduce you to Kris Saintsing.
Hi Kris, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
As a Post Producer & Supervisor for ABC-Disney, Warner Bros. and Lionsgate Entertainment, I’ve been producing media professionally for over two decades.
I was a resident artist at The Hive Gallery & Studios in Downtown Los Angeles from 2019-2021. I also belonged to Artmongerz, an eclectic co-op in Greensboro, North Carolina from 2021-2025.
I currently curate the gallery at The Brewer’s Kettle in High Point, NC where I install monthly exhibitions of local art and hold interactive arts events, workshops and film festivals.
My style is characterized by the use of cinematic, science fiction & fantasy iconography to explore a range of psychological issues. I paint in rich, bold color and occasionally use large-form, multi-layer printing techniques to explore a “cel animation” aesthetic. This affords me the ability to experiment with the interplay of shadows and colored light within these pieces.
Via my design company, Big Ancient Studios, I provide services for a wide range of clients: animation, video, album covers, logos, fashion, concept art, and curated art installations.
Whether working on curated projects, commissions or events, I believe strongly in an open, collaborative process. Collaboration and community-building are essential to my mission as an artist.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I graduated from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro in December of 2000 with a degree in Film & Television. I immediately began producing an independent sketch comedy TV series with some friends and fellow media students. That show was an excellent artistic training ground in that it taught me a lot about collaboration. In collaborating, one is inevitably going to experience creative conflict. Producing that show taught me how to compromise creatively. I learned that often the act of compromise leads to something that’s better than what one had originally imagined. That was a fantastic lesson that has served me well throughout my career as artist. When we produced the pilot of that series for National Lampoon, we encountered yet another layer of collaboration– with a studio. As a team, we had to navigate the business side of creativity. That was a huge hurdle and it took about four years to finally complete the project. Although the series wasn’t picked up by a network, it lead to my work at National Lampoon producing viral video content in the early days of YouTube. Again, although I didn’t achieve exactly what I had in mind, I learned to glean the lessons from what I had accomplished. I took pride in it and used it as a buoy to move onto the next level of my career. This process has served as a central modus operandi for me.
I’ve also struggled quite a bit with embracing the moniker “fine artist”. I think a lot of artists are plagued by anxiety and insecurity. As a result, a good number of us have a fairly severe case of “impostor syndrome” — when we really should accept our achievements, internalize and own them. One always has more to learn — that’s a massive part of what makes the journey of an artist such a gratifying experience. That having been said, an artist isn’t being egotistical by touting their achievements or being proud of their accomplishments. You really do have to be your own promotional voice in the art industry. I believe I’m finally learning how to embrace that.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
About fifteen years ago, I made a conscious decision to gravitate toward illustration and fine art. I had been working in television for years and, although I enjoyed many of the aspects of my career, it still wasn’t fulfilling me, creatively. My position was less creative and more project management– technical workflows and quality-control. I yearned for a more creative outlet that would also support me financially. As a result, I founded Big Ancient Studios, a business providing creative services like video editing and animation — but also illustration and graphic design. I think by taking that approach immediately, I provided myself with an opportunity to learn how to market myself. Not all artists are given the tools that they need to promote themselves. Branding, social media, developing a wide range of work at varying price points, the finer points of exhibiting… All of these topics can seem overwhelming to someone just getting started as an artist. And if one is experiencing any level of impostor syndrome, it can seem practically impossible. I believe that’s why curating The Brewer’s Kettle-High Point gallery is so fulfilling. I can give local artists who have never taken that plunge a low-risk opportunity to exhibit their work, get the ball rolling and learn how to navigate self-promotion. These shows have become a major aspect of the work that I do under the umbrella of Big Ancient Studios. The community that we’ve built has grown by leaps and bounds in the past couple of years and continues to do so monthly. These shows lead to other exhibitions for the artists (as well as for myself!). It’s a collaborative event that provides cross-pollination between artists, venues, and the art itself.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have been afforded the opportunity to work in a creative field for virtually my entire career. Even when my particular position wasn’t terribly creative, the field undeniably was. As a result, I learned from those processes. For example, being responsible for the image quality of a television series informed my personal artwork– the techniques, polish, and genre work that I’ve done over the years. Not everyone is so lucky to have had that — and I’m incredibly thankful.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.krissaintsingillustration.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krissaintsingillustration/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/krissaintsingart/
