Artist Profile: Kristina Laurendi Havens

Unique Portraits and Figure Drawings

By Heike Hellmann-Brown

While she also creates landscapes, florals and still-lifes, Kristina Laurendi Havens predominant subject matters are portraits and figurative paintings. I have always been fascinated by the human body and what it is capable of doing, explains Havens, who cites art and dance as the two biggest loves in her life. Her background in ballet, point, and lyrical, as a student as well as an instructor, is visibly influencing Havens artistic compositions. Having been a dancer for over 20 years I am able to empathize with my models and to actually feel the poses.

Havens grew up in Western New York in a large multi-generation family. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts with honors from Buffalo State College and was awarded a full scholarship to pursue her Masters of Fine Arts at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. During that time she began teaching, curating shows with the Kimbel Art Museum, and exhibiting her work.

Another move took Havens to Newport News, Virginia. Working with the Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Kristina taught art classes to all ages, including portrait painting and figure drawing, which she considers the most challenging subjects in art. She continued to develop her own work, entered local and national juried exhibitions and began to earn awards and accolades.

With her move to Woodstock, Havens had the opportunity to share gallery/studio space with fellow artist Ann Litrel in a historic building on Woodstocks Main Street. Here Havens, a busy mom of two, creates new pieces, instructs and hosts workshops by world-renowned portrait artists such as Kerry Dunn, Casey Baugh, and Jeffrey Hein.

In support of the community that so enthusiastically embraced her, Kristina Laurendi Havens created The Woodstock Vignettes. 36 paintings that depict the vibrant life in downtown Woodstock were auctioned off to benefit the Elm Street Cultural Arts Village. Soon the series will be available as reproductions.

Havens, who paints in bold oil and pastel colors, or draws in charcoal, uses either photographs or live models for reference. In her portrait work she prefers a non-traditional look. When prospective clients tell me that they like my style, send me a photograph and challenge me to show them what I can do with it those are the most fun and gratifying projects.

In 2013 Kristina Laurendi Havens was invited by the DaVinci Wine Company to spend a week in Tuscany/Italy to learn about the people and places behind the wine and share her experience through her work. Just recently her piece Cessation of the Mind was acquired by the LaGrange Art Museum.

Havens goal for the next years is to continue learning from the best, to refine her style and ultimately to teach workshops abroad. I realize how special it is to be able to do something I love. Whatever I do, teach or paint, I hope that my enthusiasm for art and beauty will always shine through.

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