Woolymossroots

simple joys

Deva Luna ~ Giveaway!

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I am so excited to introduce you to our new sponsor,
Krista,
of Deva Luna.
Though I have yet to meet Krista in person, I have been a long time admirer of her soulful artwork. The colors, the images, the feeling I get when I look at each painting…. wow, her art is powerful and speaks deeply to me. I feel blessed to have her as a sponsor. Being so moved by her artwork, I was curious to know more about Krista.

I’ve loved hearing what she has to share and find her very inspiring.
She is not only an artist with her paintings, but also an artist in how beautifully she expresses with the written word. Be prepared to have your spirit stirred by these images! I hope you’ll all enjoy getting a peek into her world as much as I have!

 I’ll let her introduce herself.

Krista in the Apple:
This was taken inside of a beautiful apple tree that was gently pruned so that it formed an umbrella shape, full leafy green looking from the outside but one could step into the bower and stand inside among the fruit hanging down. Really magical.



In Krista’s words:

First of all I’d like to say I love Taryn’s blog Wooly Moss Roots! It is a joy to read and as a rural girl who finds herself currently in an urban environment, I so appreciate a taste of the beautiful and simple country life she lives. She posts great photographs, too!

 So, how is it that I find myself an artist who shares her work with thousands of people? It is certainly a calling but it blossomed very slowly and organically. Being a sensitive and strongly intuitive person, I have always gone by feel. Even when I’m attempting to mastermind something, I only move when my heart says yes. So even though I’ve been doodling forever….ever since I was a toddler fiddling with color crayons way back when and all through school (I was that kid who was “good at drawing”) I spent many years intimidated by the word Artist. I just didn’t feel I measured up to that occupation. Artist seemed like a very particular and serious identification, a lifestyle and persona that felt bigger than who I saw myself as. After all, even though I was wicked smart, I was untrained and naïve about the big bad art world. I wasn’t an egoist or a game-player and I was not interested in disturbing people or pushing their buttons. The intellectual and caustic bent of most modern art that I encountered left me unmoved.

   

Fipple Wind in Studio:
This is the painting Seed Moon, Fipple Wind in process. I often start on a dark background, build up my image in white with all the light and dark tones and then lay in glazes of translucent colored paints.

Seed Moon, Fipple Wind:
The finished canvas. About 36” x 42”. I like the allusion to music that came through here with the notes like seeds launching on the air. 

So, it wasn’t until many years had passed and I was a mother, spiritually cracked open, experienced and empowered through living a natural unconventional lifestyle, herbal pregnancy, a beautiful homebirth and the trials and joys of parenting a young human did I finally feel the fortitude to stand up and say this is what I do. My life is my art. I create! Nurturing environments, altared spaces, love food, flower gardens, kitchen witchy earth magic, crafty gifts for dear friends, herbal medicines, time for my children, poetry, songs and yes…the painted image. The way I see the world gets poured into the images I make which express my love and connection to the natural world and the wisdom and magic I see humming right there for the benefit of all. That to me is the sacred feminine making herself known and it’s what I feel passionate about reclaiming and promoting in a quiet profound way through my work.

My First Painting Moonspell:
This was one of the very first canvases I finished. I started with a dark red background and worked from there. I wanted it to be an image about women and their connection to the moon, water, fishes and just the Flow in general.

That was a little over thirteen years ago (right before my second daughter was born), when I finally decided to take myself seriously and stake out a little territory (just a corner) in our home to devote to painting. I set up an easel, my paints and brushes and began to dabble upon a shapely canvas. I didn’t really know how to paint but I experimented and played, spending months creating one of my first paintings, Moonspell. I worked on it throughout my pregnancy and in the early months of my daughter Eden Fay’s life, between breastfeedings and colicky bouts (I used outworn cloth diapers for paint blotters…very absorbent!). When I showed the finished work to friends, I was surprised and moved by people’s positive reaction. Folks saw so many different things in there that spoke to them! I was encouraged and began painting in earnest, eventually moving myself into a real studio space and devoting solid chunks of my time to creating.

 

Smallworks in Progress:
I like to work on these small canvases. It feels good to offer affordable originals and the small size makes it easier to play around. Not so intimidating as a great big canvas! 

Bee: One of my small worx that someone took a shine to right away. It now has a new home but I offer prints of this one. I like to look at this as a reminder to take a moment and “just bee…”.

 
My deeper self took advantage of this serious time I was putting in and the images pushed through with a fury. Soon enough, when my body of work had grown, I invested in a printing of art cards. It was a serious step and costly (I had 2000 cards each of 12 different images printed! A lot! A pyramid of boxes full of cards!) but I felt intuitively that an affordable art card was a sure way to share my painted visions widely with the most people. I created a website and named my studio Deva Luna, two words that came to me sing-song in a dream and expressed my soul connection with the plant devas as well as that natural connection I, as a woman, had with the moon. These were, after all, images that told universal mythic stories about how humans can get back to seeing and listening to the wisdom of the heart and the earth. Magic, intuition, emotion and growing things…and in my book, these have to be some of what will heal the world.

Playing guitar is something I do for pure relaxation. I’ve been plunking for about 15 years but still don’t ever perform for anyone! Just enjoyment.

 My Guitar Case:
I enjoy painting on things: bags, boxes, shoes and old cases.
 

So here I am, living a life that I am so grateful for. Situated in my hometown of Santa Rosa in Northern California just a few blocks from where I grew up (and where my mama grew up! I’m a true local gal). I sell my cards wholesale to stores all over the US and direst to interested folks who find me online. I vend at local fairs, too. 

Oregon Country Fair Booth:
I’ve been selling my work in Booth 68 at Oregon Country Fair for about 16 years. Such a wonderful event held in Veneta, Oregon on the second weekend in July every year. I call it a kaleidoscopic jubilation of joyful self expression!

Beyond my other passions of playing guitar, building altars, playing with earth magic and keeping track of the most fragrant flowers and oldest trees in my neighborhood, I paint throughout the year in my little studio with the flickering woodstove and redwood beams. 
 

 Artists Ancestors Altar:
I love observing the Day of the Dead and almost always host an Open Studio at that time of year. At home I build an altar to loved ones who have passed over and adorn it with pictures, candles and offerings. In the studio I make an altar to honor my artistic ancestors, those ones who have walked the creative path before me and given me inspiration. This one includes a photo of my own grandfather who was also an artist as well as the local sign painter in my hometown for decades.

I open it up on occasion to let visitors peruse and poke about through big paintings, small works, prints, cards and various painted “artifacts”. I also set out whatever magical offerings I feel inspired to make at the time like healing candles, energy elixirs, spellboxes, creative licenses and other curiosities. (If anyone lives in the Sonoma County, Northern California area, I can put you on my mailing list to let you know when I open my doors for one of these). Much of what I create is available online at www.devaluna.com. 36 card designs…$3 each and no shipping! Also, various prints from $10 to $18. You can even get a Creative License, a Poetic License or even a Luscious License if you wish because I want to give everyone permission to pursue creativity, inspirational vision and the voluptuous “Succulence of Ambrosial Ambience” in their lives! I often say that I am a one woman Bureau of Fruitful Endeavors because here I am making, making, making beauty in one form or another, following my heart and encouraging others to do the same!

~

Thank you Krista! 

 ~
*
~

Krista is generously offering a giveaway today to one lucky Wooly Moss Roots reader! 

She is giving away a set of 12 greeting cards and an 11 by 14 print. 
And the really fun part is that you get to choose which 12 cards you want and which print! How cool is that?! There are so many beautiful choices!
To enter:
1) Go to Deva Luna 
(Click on ‘Shop’ to see your choices. If you would like to see the images larger click ‘Gallery.’)
2) Leave a message below including 
a) your full name (sometimes I get entries for more than one Kelly, for example) and 
b) which design you would like for the 11 by 14 print.
(Of course you are also welcome to list which designs you would like in the greeting cards, but that is not required for your entry.)
Giveaway ends on Wednesday morning! (June 8th.)
Good Luck!

Comments

  2. How cool is this Giveaway!
    I admire Krista’s paintings every year at the Oregon Country Fair, her booth really lures people in to get a closer look. Simply Beautiful!
    I love the “Boat of Dreaming” and also “Sun dance”.
    I am also a mama artist so reading her story was really inspiring to me. Thanks so much for the chance to win such beautiful artwork!

    Reply

  3. Oh I’ve always loved her artwork ♥ In the large prints I like Boat of Dreaming or One with the Sweetness….great giveaway!
    Kim S.

    Reply

  5. Beautiful. I really enjoyed reading about you Krista, Thank you Taryn for sharing her with us! It really makes me yearn for the west coast!

    I enjoy “boat of dreaming” Its something I don’t do much of, but maybe it can spark some dreams! And loved the “As a river, like a snake” and “winter secret” cards.

    Much love and Thank you!

    Lindsey Moldenhauer

    Reply

  7. I love her work and especially “The Beloveds” because my husband and I will be celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary on the 20th. Evelene Sterling esterling9 at aol dot com

    Reply

  11. What a choice! So hard to choose but I would have to go for ‘Sun Dance’ – her exuberance just leaps out to me! I’m a bit in love with our shining Sun!!!
    Thanks for the generous giveaway.

    Reply

  13. Her work is so gorgeous ~ I’m so glad to have found your blog and to have learned of this gifted artist!

    I have been staring at the prints for about fifteen minutes trying to make up my mind — seriously, the paintings are all so captivating…and I think I’m stuck between Black Venus and One With the Sweetness.

    😉

    Thanks so much ~ Kate J. Kiefer

    Reply

  15. Her work is so intricate and powerful that it was hard to pick just one favorite! But I’ll narrow it down to…The Beloveds..a beautiful example of the weaving of two lovers into one being.

    Thanks!
    Leah Sellers

    Reply

  16. So many to choose from… but if I were asked to be definite (and I hope I am ) I will have to go with ‘boat of dreaming’ as my favourite.
    Thank you Krista and Taryn for the opportunity to win.

    Reply

  19. Wow! Krista’s work is not only absolutely beautiful but so inspiring. It is hard to choose one among so many favorites. Seed Moon is stunning. In the 11×14 size I love the Green man print.
    Genevieve C.

    Reply

  20. Hi Taryn, What a wonderful giveaway!
    Her artwork is so beautiful and what wonderful words she wrote about herself and her journey.
    I love the Mother Tree painting.
    Much love,
    Trish Filby

    Reply

  25. Hi Taryn, such beautiful paintings. Thank you for bringing such Krista’s work to us. I also just love the titles of her art work. If I have to choose a favorite it would be black venus. I am a surfer, ocean lover, and I just love mermaids. So I choose black venus. Thank you!
    Amber Tucker

    Reply

  27. Wow, totally beautiful work! I love the “One with the Sweetness”. I love them all, really, but this one especially.

    Peace,

    Lindsay Logsdon

    Reply

  28. Hi there! My name is Amelia Barnaby…I am so glad to have found her artwork – and I know I’ll make a purchase if I don’t win your giveaway 🙂

    My favorite 11×14 is Sundance, or maybe Ecstasy Singing. Not sure about the greeting cards yet…

    Thank you for offering this!

    Reply

  33. Thanks for this Taryn and Krista – one of my favorite booths to browse at the Fair. I would like to enter for this chance – thanks.

    Sonja Thompson
    [email protected]
    (the Sweet Creek Seafoods lady)

    Can’t make up my mind between Moonspell, Moonfish or One with the Sweetness- but leaning toward the Sweetness.) Hopefully I will be forced to make a decision because I’ll win the giveaway! Yay! Hi to Jeff and Bracken – I love your blog.

    Reply

  36. My favorite of everything I saw is Scouring Rush. But since it is not offered in the 11 by 14 size, my favorite in that size is Moonspell.

    Beautiful work. It would be an honor to hang any of it in my home.

    Kathi Weiss
    hippiefairyloveratyahoodotcom

    Reply

  37. Hi Taryn! I found Krista’s website a couple of weeks ago, and was so happy to realize I own one of her prints, that I’ve had for so long, but didn’t know who the artist was. I have Fire Dancer. I got it in Sebastopol, CA. Anyway, I would love to enter this GiveAway- thank you… If I were to win the print, I’d like “The Beloveds”… That one really speaks to me right now. :)… and what fun to win 8 different cards… Much love to you all.

    Reply

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