Designs by Kristi – Art and Art School {2015 Moms Who Mean Business}

Designs by Kristi – Art and Art School specializes in teaching art to kiddos and commissioning drawings for lovely, local Fort Worth Families.

I adore children, and have known since I was young that I wanted to teach. I taught art in the public schools for eight years before my husband and I had our first child. At that point, I wanted to do something part-time where I could be home with our son, but still use my degree. Thus, Designs by Kristi – Art and Art School was born! I started after school small group art lessons for elementary aged students at my home in Ryan Place, and pretty soon there was demand for a pre-school classes as well! I am also a commissioned artist, specializing in graphite drawings or color (prismacolor) drawings of homes, pets, and portraits. I absolutely LOVE doing this!

I now teach a morning class for pre-k, two afternoon classes on Tuesdays for elementary ages, and one class on Wednesday afternoons for elementary age. I have a lengthy waiting list for art classes, but we just moved to a larger home with a garage apartment that I will be converting into my “Art Studio” that will be used for lessons and for my personal studio. It will be ready summer 2016. At that time, I will have the space to add more classes!

By far, commissioned art of peoples’ homes is my biggest seller. I have done multiple orders for couples who would like a portrait of each of the homes they have lived in since marriage. This makes a really nice anniversary, birthday, or Christmas gift!

I hope that my business offers a continued appreciation of the Arts. I genuinely enjoy working with kids and teaching them about the elements and principles of art. I also absolutely love capturing memories for people through the commissioned work. I am approached quite often from schools and organizations about contributing to fundraisers. It is an honor to do so, as I have had the opportunity to start my own non-profit organization and know how appreciative organizations are for contributions.

All FWMB readers who submit a drawing order from Designs by Kristi by Christmas, will receive a 10 percent discount. Be sure to mention the code FWMB when ordering.

Kristi Easterly was born in Fort Worth, Texas. She left in 1997 to pursue a degree in art education from Baylor University and upon completion, came right back to Fort Worth! She is married (10 years this December) to Danny, and together they have two beautiful children, Wyatt (7) and Alyssa (4). Kristi has had the opportunity to start her own business, Designs by Kristi — Art and Art School, working part-time while also being able to stay at home while her kids are young. She is also very proud of a non-profit organization she and two girlfriends, Jade Bailey and Christen Gullatt, started a few years ago called Hearts and Minds that Care Presents, or “HMC Presents” for short, raising money for three organizations that touch each of the women personally: Children’s Tumor Foundation, BCCNS Life Support Network, and the Methodist Justice Ministry. When she is not teaching art, working on commissioned drawing orders, or planning another event for HMC, Kristi loves watching her son play baseball and both kids play soccer. She also enjoys weekends out at Possum Kingdom Lake with her family. She is a wife and mom, first and foremost, and she feels this is by-far the most important title she holds.