Meet Kristina Sargent | Mental health therapist and scrap wood painter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kristina Sargent and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kristina, why did you pursue a creative career?
Crouched down in a creek bed, I watched the way mud loosened and swirled into the water as I moved a stone while searching for salamanders. I waited for my mom to call me home for dinner as I thought about drawing the swirls in my notebook later. My earliest memories in childhood were connecting to nature and being inspired creatively by these experiences. It has been the way I process life and make meaning of things. Today I am a mental health therapist and use art in many of my interventions. I create space for people to use art and creativity to express themselves and make meaning of their own experiences. Creativity is transformative. In my free time, I am also a painter and use scrap wood and wood from burn piles to paint on. I am inspired by the wood and the story it already carries. I also use old wood in an effort to reduce environmental impact and make my work more sustainable. I hope that my paintings inspire people to connect with nature and experience transformation in their own creativity. My work can be found at Kristinamarcelliart.com.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I live in Leadville and have witnessed how much wood gets thrown into chipping piles and burn piles during fire mitigation season especially. I thought the wood was so interesting and carried a story. I decided to start painting on scrap wood both because it inspires me and in an effort to be more environmentally sustainable. No more canvases for me!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Leadville is rich in history and access to nature! A little walk down Harrison Ave will bring you to numerous locally owned gift shops and more. Zero Day Coffee, Silver Llama and Buchi are some of my favorite coffee shops. Harper Rose is a great spot to see the work of local artists. The Silver Dollar Saloon is a fun spot to experience some history and grab a drink or two. The mining museum is well worth the visit as well. Driving up the east side of town you will see mining remnants from the past. The mineral belt trail gives you great access to this and can be hiked or biked or skied in the winter! Turquoise Lake is a must see as well.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a shout-out to the local artist and art communities in rural Colorado. I have never felt so encouraged to keep pursuing what I am doing. Thank you!

Website: Kristinamarcelliart.com

Instagram: Kristinamarcelliart

Other: Artofsocialwork.com