Celebrating Nature with Birds and Brushstrokes

Cover Artist Krista Roche

by Greta Honsberger

BECOMING AN ARTIST was second nature to Krista Roche, who grew up surrounded by relatives who were artists, particularly her mother, who had a deep love of nature. Adding to her artistic desire, she was inspired early on by an outside source. “I knew I wanted to be an artist in early grade school, “ Krista reflects, “ When an artist visited the family next door and drew our portraits, I was very impressed and wanted to be able to do the same thing.”

Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, Krista was introduced to and taught to appreciate the beauty of nature by walking in the nearby forest preserve, where her mother taught Krista and her sister to observe the beauty in the natural world. Through her mother’s nature walks and the regular art classes she attended at her public schools, a deep love of nature and art was fostered in Krista, and thus began her own artistic journey. Winning a poster contest in high school was also pivotal for the budding artist and earned her Saturday morning classes at the Art Institute of Chicago. These classes and afternoons exploring the Institute’s galleries profoundly influenced her artistic development.

Krista’s pursuit of art was not just a passion but a dedication to learning and growing in her craft. Her formal education in art was extensive, spanning various institutions from the University of Illinois in Champaign to Purdue University and the College of Wooster. She eventually found herself in the Deep South, earning a Master of Fine Arts from LSU.

After years of experimenting with drawing, oils, and watercolor, Krista prefers working with acrylics, specifically acrylic gouache. She likes their quick drying time, which allows her to work in layers efficiently. Her unique style incorporates collage using a collection of hand-printed Japanese and handmarbled papers. Krista also integrates relief block prints into her paintings, creating a rich, textured surface that combines various media and techniques.

A central theme in her work is birds. Her process begins with selecting a bird from her extensive collection of reference photos from one of her many birdwatching trips. Next, the colors and collage materials are chosen to complement her subject. Krista then creates abstract color compositions as backgrounds, adding her bird subjects in a way that balances realism with creative expression. This meticulous process is a testament to Krista’s dedication to her craft.

For Krista, art is a means to express her feelings about the natural world’s beauty and share a sense of the sacredness of all life. Her inspiration often comes from observing birds and nature and experimenting with materials in her studio. Although she does not focus on New Orleans subjects specifically, her work features scenes from South Louisiana, from Baton Rouge to the coastal marsh landscapes of Southwest Louisiana.

Krista’s recent series centers on a flock of Roseate Spoonbills at the University Lakes near LSU, where she takes daily walks. With their striking pink coloration, these birds provide a vibrant subject against the landscape. This series marked a significant point in Krista’s artistic exploration, as it allowed her to experiment with new techniques and styles. Influenced by Chinese brush painting, Japanese papers, and woodblock prints learned in a class at LSU, she gained the confidence to paint birds in a Chinese style. Krista adds,” I love the colors and pattern in my chiyogami papers and decided to cut them up to use in my collages.”

Krista hopes her art conveys her deep love and awe for nature and encourages viewers to experience the same joy and tranquility. She also shares her great concern about the diminishing bird populations and the desperate need for conservation. Krista hopes to draw attention to nature’s ever-increasing hardships and those trying to survive amid the destruction of human development. Ultimately, through her art, she aims to inspire a deeper appreciation for natural environments and highlight the urgency of preserving bird habitats.

Krista’s captivating works of birds in their habitat are showcased at ARIODANTE Contemporary Art & Craft Gallery.