Female

29

Kristen Wheeler is a thoroughly modern artist who interprets her world through a unique combination of traditional fine arts, photography, and cutting-edge computer animation. Painting from the time she was old enough to pick up a paintbrush, she initially studied illustration and Design at Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was there that she discovered the magic of film and dark-room processing, which then led to whole new arenas of self-expression through digital rendering. The pursuit of these studies led her to Orlando, Florida to attain a degree in 3D computer animation at Full Sail Real World Education. She has enjoyed a successful professional career with the Walt Disney Company ever since, working for Walt Disney Imagineering as a Visual Communications Specialist and in-house photographer and previously as a Technical Illustrator for Resort Documentation. With inspiration ranging from dance to portraiture, animals to models, contemporary design to faded antiques, her unique artistic vision has many outlets. Her professional clientele includes interior design firms, dance companies, models, corporate and non-profit organizations. However, she also takes private commissions to create individual art and portraiture for families to preserve their heritage. Her personal commitment to helping people tell their stories is personified in her current work, “Nawlins”, a book of photography she is hoping to get published very soon, celebrating the once and future grand city of New Orleans with proceeds benefiting The Louisiana Children’s Museum.