Keri Kruger

My Artist Statement

I focus on the magic and beauty in life, specifically combining my idealized interpretation of the world with excitement and wonder. My illustrations are created with intricate attention to detail and exemplify a whimsical nature. I consider myself to be an observer; I am like a sponge, soaking in all that is around me. 

I have always been drawn to the ideas and feelings of magic, whimsy, and childlike wonder.  Throughout my childhood, I was fascinated with nature and magic. I loved fairy tales and sensational stories about creatively constructed, whimsical worlds overflowing with magical beings and flourishing excitement. I spent much of my time as a little girl playing “fairies” in the garden with my next door neighbors which sparked my interest in otherworldly beings intertwined in the real world.  I began to observe the miniscule details that others would overlook. I began to appreciate the delicate beauty of flowers, the eloquent changing of the seasons, and the mysterious relationship between the sun and the moon. 

Also as a child, I observed and learned from the works from the master of detail: Walt Disney. I grew up visiting Disneyland and watching Disney films, putting me in complete awe with the lighthearted beauty and whimsy evident in both the parks and films. I became obsessed with the fairy-tale nature and whimsical aesthetic of some Disney films such as Peter Pan, Alice and Wonderland, and Tangled.  I fell in love with the lovely design of Disneyland’s Fantasyland, obsessed with the woodwork and paintings on the quaint fairytale-like buildings, adorned with florals and enchanting roads. Being immersed in an environment with perfectly curated botanicals, intricate architecture, and a narrative world, I have intertwined Disney’s careful attention to detail within my own art.

 I have been very privileged in that I have a caring family who takes my brother and I on marvelous adventures across the world. I have become truly fascinated with how other places look and how other people do things. I am captivated by the dazzling Christmas Villages with arts, crafts, and snacks on the streets of Copenhagen. I am enchanted by the bustling streets and breath-taking art scene of Rome and Florence. I am fascinated with the green landscapes that meet the sea in Thailand. I marvel over the American mountain towns that look like they are from vintage postcards, sprinkled with small shops, cafes, and inns. I am enamored with the romantic streets of Paris, with potted flowers in window sills, elegant metal railings, and exquisitely ornate architecture. I have been charmed by Paris’ picturesque streets with lovely bakeries and shops with the most beautiful patisserie you will ever see. I love the whimsical world you enter as you walk through the narrow streets of  Montmartre, with cobbled roads dotted with picturesque cafes and art galleries. In seeing new parts of the world, I have discovered my passion for people and representing and understanding them and the amazing places they live in. I marvel over the architecture, flora and fauna, food, culture and art from these places and they find their way into my work. I have taken what stands out the most to me and combined it with all my favorite elements from all of my favorite places to create a whimsical world unlike no other.

While my career as an artist is just beginning with a few main works, each work takes many hours to produce. I aim to include hundreds of hidden details, so that one looks at it, they notice something new every time.  The majority of my illustrations are focused on constructing a whimsical world based on my childhood influences and current inspirations while incorporating subtle stories about the fairies who live there. Each flower, cloud, house, and leaf is drawn with attention and care, as all of my works are specifically focused with immense attention to detail. Each drop of ink and brushstroke is entirely intentional. I embrace the process by turning my mistakes into “happy accidents”, demonstrating how the world is not perfect but just as spectacular. My body of work is truly reflective of myself as an individual and as an artist and creating these narrative-like works brings me such joy; I hope others can appreciate my illustrations and get lost in them just like I can.