-Who are you? What do you do? 

I am a watercolorist, Alaskan born and raised, whose creativity has been nurtured by Alaska's landscapes throughout my life. Initially drawn to watercolor's expressive spontaneity and stubbornness, I have continued to develop my creative vision and deepen my relationship to the medium by following my inspiration throughout Alaska.

My collaborative relationship with watercolor conjured the spirit of a landscape, and invokes a universal nostalgia that inspires reciprocity and a deeper connection to nature. I seek the quiet, nuanced beauty of simplicity and softness that is often overlooking and under-appreciated amongst the grandiose and obvious. My work is a reflection of the infinite, intangible, and ethereal qualities of the natural world

-Who/what inspires you? 
I am inspired by the incredible works of Sidney Laurence, David Rosenthal, Byron Birdsall, and most importantly, Mother Nature.

-What is your favorite moment in the process?
I love looking at a landscape, dissecting the colors and shadows that my eye sees and imagining what subtle washes of color I could use to capture the scene and the feeling of being in that moment. In the final stages of a piece, painting the last few layers of washes and the little details brings it to life and transports me back to experiencing the landscape.

-What is a trick of your trade or a piece of advice for artists in your medium(s)? 
Watercolor is, unfortunately, one of those mediums where the quality of the materials and tools can make the medium more or less difficult depending on your skill level, which can really add up in cost. Natural hair brushes (kolinsky sable, or squirrel hair for a more affordable option) hold more water than synthetic, for example, and quality paper allows pigment to flow more evenly vs inexpensive paper that tends to look splotchy. Don't underestimate what you can do with just one or two good brushes and three colors!

-What’s next?
December First Friday at Dos Manos in Anchorage
June First Friday at Resurrect Art in Seward
My longer term goals and daydreams include building a studio and hosting workshops

-Where can we find you?
Instagram: @robinfarmer
Website: robinfarmer.com
Facebook: Robin Farmer Art

I have work available in Fairbanks at Lichen Living, Venue, 2 Street Gallery, and The Bear Gallery
In Anchorage at Dos Manos, Alaska Botanical Garden, and Hoarding Marmot
In Seward at Resurrect Art
In Homer at Fleet & Flagship
And of course in Juneau at Kindred Post!

Thanks for reading!

**We have hired for these positions. If you are interested in working at KP in the future, we'd love to start that conversation with you @ hello@kindredpost.com. Thank you**

Come join our team! At Kindred Post, we foster connection between art and community in order to cultivate a sense of belonging in our neighborhood and beyond. We’re a creative, quirky workplace rooted in art, community, and social justice. And we care very much about the people who work with us! Our team is fun, friendly, and hard-working - with each person making their unique mark on this big, beautiful world. Retail experience is not necessary; we are happy to train the right people! We can't wait to meet you!

OPEN POSITIONS - OCTOBER 2023 

RETAIL SPECIALIST 

This part-time position assists in the general operations of Kindred Post. This position carries out basic duties in retail transactions, product management, sales, and event staffing. Their experience also enables them to assist with curating and ordering, as well as styling photos for media use as well. Candidate must possess ability to provide excellent customer service, pay attention to detail, work effectively and efficiently in a busy atmosphere, and have fun! Pay starts a $16/hour DOE.

Full position description here: Retail Specialist Starting at $16/hr

VISUAL MERCHANDISING LEAD

The Visual Merchandising Lead is a part-time position that assists in the general operations of Kindred Post, and plays an integral and creative role in the company's visual merchandising. This person works in collaboration with KP's leadership team to plan, design, and implement creative and strategic displays across the store (shop displays, window displays, signage, etc). The ideal candidate will have experience making displays, a reputation for meeting deadlines, a strong eye for aesthetics, and the ability to apply sales numbers and trends to their designs. This position also carries out basic duties in retail transactions, product management, and sales. Candidate must possess the ability to provide excellent customer service, manage multiple tasks, think creatively, pay attention to detail, and have fun! Pay starts at $17/hour DOE.

Full position description here: Visual Merchandising Lead Starting at $17/hr

TO APPLY:

Please send ONE HAIKU, a RESUME, and a LETTER that tells us about yourself and why you'd be a good fit for Kindred Post. Send applications and questions to us at hello@kindredpost.com.

The position is open until we receive the right fit. Applications received before November 15 will receive priority consideration. After that, please check our jobs page to see if the position has been filled.

Who are you? What do you do?

My name is Hillary Tschappat-Larson, and I am the owner and creator of Oliver Bean Designs. I was born and raised in Alaska and I have been an artist all my life. In December of my senior year of high school, I started Oliver Bean Designs to sell my sticker designs. In 2019, I began exploring with polymer clay and I fell in love with using it to produce unique, vibrant, and lightweight jewelry. I love the vast amount of possibilities that polymer clay brings to the table, and I haven’t looked back since. 

Who/what inspires you? 

I am most inspired by natural landscapes and bright color combinations. I look up to and am inspired by so many artists from all over the world. I love drawing inspiration from other art mediums as well, such as fiber arts, ceramics, and painting.

What is your favorite moment in the process?

My favorite moment in the process of creating with polymer clay is the trial and error stage of creating a new design. A lot of the time when I get a new idea, I have to give multiple attempts before I can get the clay to do what I pictured in my head. This part of the process challenges me to push past what I know and explore what I don’t.

What is a trick of your trade or a piece of advice for artists in your medium? 

A piece of advice for other polymer clay artists is to double-bake your pieces for extra strong clay! Polymer clay is polyvinyl chloride (PVA) mixed with plasticizers, stabilizers, and more that comes in a moldable state. Once you have created your final product, you will heat it up, by baking it, to create a hard and solid piece. By double-baking the clay, you allow extra time for those plasticizers and stabilizers to fuse together and create an even stronger bond. 

What’s next for you?

Currently, I am working on expanding my product line to be more inclusive of individuals who may not wear earrings. I am looking at offering necklaces, bracelets, rings, tie clips, and more!

Where can we find you? (Social pages, classes/workshops, clubs, etc.)

You can find my business at oliverbean.com and on Instagram and Facebook: @oliverbeanak

Come join our team! At Kindred Post, we foster connection between art and community in order to cultivate a sense of belonging in our neighborhood and beyond. We’re a creative, quirky workplace rooted in art, community, and social justice. And we care very much about the people who work with us! Our team is fun, friendly, and hard-working - with each person making their unique mark on this big, beautiful world. Retail experience is not necessary; we are happy to train the right people! We can't wait to meet you!

OPEN POSITIONS - AUGUST 2023 

RETAIL SPECIALIST 

This part-time position assists in the general operations of Kindred Post. This position carries out basic duties in retail transactions, product management, sales, and event staffing. Their experience also enables them to assist with curating and ordering, as well as styling photos for media use as well. Candidate must possess ability to provide excellent customer service, pay attention to detail, work effectively and efficiently in a busy atmosphere, and have fun! Pay starts a $16/hour DOE.

Full position description here: Retail Specialist Starting at $16/hr

VISUAL MERCHANDISING LEAD

The Visual Merchandising Lead is a part-time position that assists in the general operations of Kindred Post, and plays an integral and creative role in the company's visual merchandising. This person works in collaboration with KP's leadership team to plan, design, and implement creative and strategic displays across the store (shop displays, window displays, signage, etc). The ideal candidate will have experience making displays, a reputation for meeting deadlines, a strong eye for aesthetics, and the ability to apply sales numbers and trends to their designs. This position also carries out basic duties in retail transactions, product management, and sales. Candidate must possess the ability to provide excellent customer service, manage multiple tasks, think creatively, pay attention to detail, and have fun! Pay starts at $17/hour DOE.

Full position description here: Visual Merchandising Lead Starting at $17/hr

TO APPLY:

Please send ONE HAIKU, a RESUME, and a LETTER that tells us about yourself and why you'd be a good fit for Kindred Post. Send applications and questions to us at hello@kindredpost.com.

The position is open until we receive the right fit. Applications received before August 31 will receive priority consideration. After that, please check our jobs page to see if the position has been filled.

Who are you? What do you do?

My name is Shelby Oredson, and I’m a watercolor artist specializing in wildlife and landscape art prints, custom pet portraits, and stationery goods. Although I studied art briefly in undergrad, I consider myself a self-taught watercolor artist and thank my entry into motherhood for helping me rekindle my creative passion. I’m a mom of three (with an “oops” baby due in September) and a wife to a Coast Guard helicopter pilot. If I’m not painting or running after my kids, you can most likely find me soaking in the great outdoors or catching up with friends over a board game. 

Who/what inspires you? 

Mother nature is my greatest inspiration. Having spent the past three years in Sitka, Alaska, I fell in love with the majesty of the mountains and the towering pines. I hope my work inspires people to pause, take a breath, and step outside. I believe the greatest lessons and memories transpire in the wild. 

What is your favorite moment in the process?

Watercolor is all about layering from light to dark, and my favorite moment is when I can finally add the tiny details that make a painting come to life. Whether it’s fine hair lines on a pet portrait or tiny peaks of pines in the distance, details make magic. 

What is a trick of your trade or a piece of advice for artists in your medium? 

The best piece of advice I can give any beginning watercolor artist is to invest in high-quality paper. You can buy fancy brushes and expensive paint, but if you’re not working on the right surface, those brushes and paints will flop. Watercolor requires a lot of practice, loads of patience, and really, really good paper. Check out my latest blog post for all my favorite supplies! 

What’s next for you? 

We just moved from Alaska to Indiana where my husband will pursue an MBA at Purdue University for the next eleven months. With a new baby on the way and three more rambunctious kids at home, the short-term future of my business is a little unclear. Time won’t be on my side, so I’ll be taking things one day at a time and slowly chipping away at some of my business goals while keeping four tiny humans alive. 

Where can we find you? 

You can find my shop online at www.brokenpaddlestudio.com or on Etsy. I share lots of updates and behind-the-scenes stuff on my Instagram @brokenpaddlestudio. And I’m hoping to sell my work at some markets and events in the Indiana/midwest area this next year!