Today we’d like to introduce you to Christa Peyton.
Hi Christa, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
After my father’s untimely passing in 1977, my family moved to Austin where my world transformed from military bases to civilian life overnight. Urban Cowboy, designer clothes, punk rock, and neon pink ruled my new world in my new hometown. The creative influences of Austin and my early days exploring my new world outside in nature have become the foundation of my work. I began painting as a young mother in my 30’s, self taught and exploring “fine art” for the first time. 2024 was a pivotal year when I began painting BIG BOLD canvases in bright, neon colors as I listened to my Austin 80’s playlist in my studio…the result was sharp, jagged, “edgy” hues that took me back to the color combos and nostalgia I loved in my youth that eventually led to my collection “Austin in the 80’s” with pieces named “Valley Girl”, “Totally Rad”, and “Air Guitar”.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Heck no!
I think if you ask any artist they’d probably say the same. If you’re really leaning into it, making art is ultimately hugely exposing, raw and vulnerable… the doubt, the insecurities the negative self talk that can take up way too much room in your head and could be crippling if you let it. There’s been the usual graft of balancing creative work with the full time job of caring for and home schooling my son and forging a path as a woman in the world…but the internal work of not allowing the negative self talk to drive the bus and keeping it firmly in the back seat has definitely been my biggest challenge.
Taking things one day at a time has always been my way and learning to be softer with myself, giving myself true freedom of expression and embracing the messiness and playfulness of life with all its beautiful imperfections is all part of the work.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m known for my vibrant, bold abstract paintings rooted from my Austin childhood world…full of expression, music and the creatives I grew up with. Festivals, fashion influences, and pop culture continue to anchor my vision and work. I am drawn to imperfection and quirky which inevitably shows up on my canvas in hopes the viewer returns to childlike wonder and the sense of play.
I’m also being asked more recently to help other women tap into and express themselves through their own art and creativity. Providing a space for women to find their own voice, to embrace their imperfections and enjoy the process of creating wildly vibrant art is definitely becoming more a part of what I’m doing now.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.christapeyton.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christa_peyton_/
