Artist Kristin Poh of Australia in front of her "Voyage" art print.
Artist Kristin Poh of Australia is the founder of creative business Hues & Fables, an art studio producing unique art prints for cheerful home interiors. Kristin shares with how she uses Hues & Fables art prints to decorate her own home.
Jacquin: What got you started in art prints? Have you always known you wanted to be an artist?
Kristin: I was quite imaginative as a child, and I enjoyed doing creative things like drawing and coloring, so I knew pretty early on that I wanted to do something creative when I grew up. My interests saw me completing a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Graphic Design and then spending the following ten years working in the creative field. I enjoyed what I did thoroughly. When I had my daughter Olivia, I took some time off to embrace motherhood. It was during this time that I started to create art prints for our home and in particular for Olivia's room.
I
have always loved interior decorating, so I really enjoyed creating
pieces that reflected my own style. Becoming a mother made me realize
just how fascinating little minds are, especially in how important
color is to their cognitive development. So that inspired me to
design using different colors so I could change the artwork on
Olivia’s walls regularly to keep it interesting for her. So this
got me designing art prints and launching Hues & Fables.
"Scarlet" art print shown.
Jacquin: Where does your "less is more" philosophy come from?
Kristin: When I reflect on different aspects of my life, including my creative work, I find that I have always navigated towards simplicity. I love the idea of something being simplified to only what is essential. In doing so I feel what is left is in fact its true essence, and to me this represents having a more refined and therefore more valuable outcome. So fundamentally, I would say it comes from my appreciation of having clarity in what I do and experience.
Art prints shown: "Soiree No. 1" and "Soiree No. 2"
Jacquin: What is your favorite space in your home right now?
Kristin: At
the moment my favorite space would have to be our master bedroom.
Before we had Olivia, we had the opportunity to travel to different
cities and to stay in some really nice boutique hotels. One of our
most memorable experiences would have to be our trip to New York
where we stayed in a stylish hotel in Soho. When we decided to
renovate our home four years ago, we were clear that we wanted to
create a similar feel in our master bedroom. So now, even though we
do not have as much opportunity to travel like we used to, being in
the room brings us back to those days, and having such a stylish yet
calming space to retreat to at the end of a busy day is precious to
me.
Jacquin: What are some of your creative inspirations? Are there any artists or designers that inform your artistic approach?
Kristin: I find creative inspiration from a lot of things. It can be anything from fashion to food or a piece of furniture or packaging. As long as it is visual, has a strong concept and wows me, it will no doubt inspire me too!
The artist Lee Ufan – in particular his paint work – is a great source of inspiration to my artistic approach. Lee Ufan is a Korean minimalist artist and philosopher, and I first came across his work at the Guggenheim Museum in his Marking Infinity exhibition. I remember looking at his early painting series From Point and From Line, and being blown away at how simple and yet powerfully captivating his paintings were.
I also find the French designer Philippe Starck very inspiring. He has worked on a vast range of design projects, from toys to furniture and vehicles to architecture. His designs are many things but they are never boring, and I have a lot of respect for his values and commitment to creating high quality designs that are beautiful, purposeful and sustainable.
"Olivia" the bunny art print shown.
Jacquin: What would your perfect day look like?
Kristin: A perfect day would see our family enjoy a lazy morning in bed laughing and cuddling. Brunch with great friends would follow, somewhere outdoors so I can soak in some sunshine! In the afternoon, a trip to the bookstore would see me treating myself to a new coffee table book, and the rest of the afternoon would be spent reading. At night, I would look forward to some delicious cooking from the husband, a lovely bottle of red and a really good movie to cap off the day!
Jacquin: Do you have any suggestions for embracing simplicity at home or in life?
Kristin: I think you need to discover what your version of simplicity is before you can embrace it, and I feel having self-awareness is key. My own understanding of what I value as a person has certainly helped me focus my energy and time on pursuing – and appreciating – a more meaningful life. It has also allowed me to create a purposeful home that brings me great inspiration and joy everyday. I think something as simple as having an honest conversation with yourself about what is important to you and what brings you real happiness is a great step towards embracing simplicity.
Shop the latest art prints from Kristin Poh at the Hues & Fables website.
