I am a visual/verbal storyteller and communicator, I’m curious about everything, and love the challenge of translating ideas into graphic design, fine art, and writing.

 

I’ve always looked at the world sideways. When I was a preschooler, my favorite pastime was either: sitting on the curb staring at asphalt; or lying under a tree watching the wind tickle the leaves. I was telling myself funny stories. Around that same age, I also began inventing words—some which got me in trouble like, ‘walkety-butt.’ My mom was furious when I said it aloud, but, come on, at three and four years old, that’s all I saw on the crowded streets of Detroit, and I didn’t like my view! (I still make up words and put them in my stories.) 

    

My proper, reserved mother had many encounters because of my curiosity and friendliness. I talked with anyone regardless of race, ethnicity, or disability. They were and are all beautiful to me. I would get excited, point them out to mom, then pester them with questions. Tony, the vegetable hawker, taught me to eat carrots to save my eyes, while the beautiful Asian woman behind me on the escalator taught me about her culture. Every conversation I had in multi-cultural Detroit encouraged me to become more open and curious about people. It hasn’t changed.

(See my resume.)

 

Throughout childhood I wrote, drew, and painted. When I was eight I wrote and illustrated my first picture book.

At 11 years old when I got bored with paint-by-numbers kits, I stuffed my Christmas money in my pocket ($20.00), and biked five miles to the Sherwin-Williams paint store. There I bought oil paints, brushes, board canvas, and a Walter Foster ‘how to paint’ book. Mom was not pleased—not because I biked five miles—alone—but because I had wasted my money. Her displeasure didn’t faze me. I set up my studio in the basement and became a pesky questioner at art fairs. The artists were surprised then delighted to answer my numerous questions about their techniques. Their kindness and patience developed my fascination with materials, techniques, and cross-disciplinary creative expression. (Check out my fine art.)

 

My love of design, art and language plus my curiosity about people, places and things, are the foundation of my career in graphic design and fine art. In graphic design, I solve other people’s communication needs, while in fine art, I give visual form to my personal experiences. I have learned from my heroes— early modernists and the kind people in my childhood—to not limit myself to one type of creative expression. Working across disciplines is crucial to my artistic growth. That is why website showcases my graphic design, fine art, and whimsies. 

 

If you like my work, contact me.

I would be delighted to work with you!

Christine Satory