Today we’d like to introduce you to Chrissy Collins.
Hi Chrissy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Creativity has always been the thread that runs through everything I do. Long before I ever called myself an artist, I was drawn to color, to texture, and to the way beautiful things make you feel when you walk into a room. I studied graphic design, advertising and photography at SMU, and spent many years running a custom stationery and paper goods line with my sister, a season of my life that deepened my love of design, color, and the way a beautifully made object can carry meaning.
Finding my way back to painting happened slowly and then all at once. It began as a creative outlet during early motherhood, a quiet practice I carved out for myself in the in-between hours of raising three children. The studio became my place, the one corner of my life where I allowed myself to do something for me. What started as something semi therapeutic during a busy time became the thing I could not stop thinking about, and over time it grew into a full-time career.
Over the last decade I have built my practice one painting at a time. My work is inspired by travel, nature, architecture, color, and the emotions tied to places and experiences. Whether I am wandering through a flower market, exploring a new city, or simply noticing an unexpected color combination in everyday life, inspiration is constantly finding its way back into the studio. I still feel just as excited watching a painting come to life today as I did when I first started, and that excitement is what keeps me coming back every single day.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Absolutely not, and I would not change a thing.
Like most creative careers, it has been full of highs and lows. One of the biggest challenges has been learning to balance the creative side of being an artist with the business side. Creating artwork is what I love, but running a business requires wearing a lot of hats, and there are days when that feels like a lot to carry. Marketing, photography, shipping, social media, client communication, and everything in between are all part of the work now, and I am still figuring out how to do all of it gracefully.
There have also been seasons of self-doubt. Art is deeply personal, and putting your work out into the world can feel incredibly vulnerable. Learning not to tie my worth or my creativity to immediate results has been one of the most important, and honestly most difficult, lessons along the way.
As a mother of three, finding time to build a business while raising a family came with its own kind of challenge. There were many years when I was squeezing studio time into nap schedules, school hours, and late evenings, building something slowly in the margins of a very full life. There were plenty of moments when I questioned whether I was doing either one well enough.
But every challenge has taught me something worth knowing. The slower seasons pushed me to evolve creatively, trust the process, and stay committed even when results were not immediate. Looking back, those difficult moments are often the ones that helped me grow the most, not just as an artist but as a person. I think that is true for most things worth building.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an abstract painter working in mixed media on canvas, and each piece is built slowly through many layers. What may read as one tone from across the room often reveals dozens of colors and details up close, evidence of the time, patience, and intention that went into every mark. I never rush a painting. I live with it, move it through different rooms and different light, and wait until it tells me it is finished. That depth, and that willingness to slow down, is central to everything I make.
Over the years I have become known for creating colorful yet sophisticated artwork that feels energetic without overwhelming a space. I work with the home in mind and create pieces that are meant to grow with the people who live alongside them, revealing more of themselves as the light changes throughout the day and the seasons shift.
In addition to my original collections, I work closely with collectors and interior designers on custom commissions, and one of my favorite parts of the process is helping someone find or create a piece that feels deeply personal to their home and their story.
What I am most proud of is building this business from the ground up while raising three children. What started as a quiet creative practice in the margins of early motherhood has grown into a full-time career, with my work now living in homes, galleries, retail spaces, and designer projects across the country. Knowing that something I created becomes part of someone’s daily life is the most rewarding feeling I know.
What sets me apart is the combination of my artistic perspective and my understanding of how people actually live with art. My paintings are meant to be lived with, not just looked at. I want art to feel personal and accessible rather than intimidating, and I believe color has the power to transform a room, influence a mood, and tell a story. I love being a small part of that.
What’s next?
I am excited about continuing to grow both creatively and professionally while staying true to what I love most.
In the coming years, I hope to expand my reach and place my work in more homes, designer projects, and galleries across the country. I am always looking for new opportunities to collaborate on residential and commercial spaces, and I am continuing to build relationships within the interior design community that feel genuinely aligned with the work I am making.
One of my biggest long-term dreams is to bring my artwork into other areas of design. I would love to see my paintings translated into textiles, wallpaper, tile, murals, and fabric collections. The idea of creating something that becomes part of how people experience a space, beyond a canvas, feels like a natural and exciting next chapter.
This month marks a beautiful step in that direction as I launch fine art prints in collaboration with Urban Garden Prints, making my work accessible to a wider audience while exploring new ways for collectors to bring original art into their homes.
I also dream of returning to my roots in the stationery world someday. Before becoming a full-time artist, I spent years designing custom stationery with my sister, and I would love to bring those two worlds together, incorporating my artwork into luxury paper goods, invitation liners, and special event collections through the right collaboration.
More than anything, I hope to keep building something that feels completely and authentically mine. I want people to see my work and immediately recognize it as Chrissy Collins Art work. If I can continue creating art that brings color, joy, and beauty into people’s lives, whether through a painting, a print, a piece of wallpaper, or an invitation suite, I will consider that a very good life.
Pricing:
- Original paintings typically range from $1,500 for smaller works to $5,000 for large-scale originals.
- Commission pricing is based on size and is comparable to original artwork available on my website. A detailed commission price sheet is available upon request.
- Fine art prints are available through Urban Garden Prints in a variety of sizes and price points, making my work accessible to a wider range of collectors.
- Small original works framed in Lucite begin at $40 and are designed to be collected, gifted, or displayed throughout the home.
- Custom commissions are available for residential and commercial spaces. Inquiries can be made through my website at chrissycollinsart.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chrissycollinsart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissycollinsart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chrissycollinsart
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/chrissycollinsart
