About

Bio

Artist Krista Wargo lives in a remote area of the Mojave Desert near Joshua Tree National Park. Surrounded by the area’s unusual beauty, her artwork is always influenced by nature, and she consistently develops ways to interpret the forms, colors, and textures that inspire her. Working primarily in oils, with a developing interest in gouache, Krista often paints outdoors. 

Krista feels fortunate that her parents encouraged her creative childhood and preoccupation with art, even allowing her to paint her own bedroom walls. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, receiving a BA with an emphasis in painting. Shortly after graduating she moved to California, earning a Master’s degree and teaching credential from Cal State San Bernardino. She recently retired from a career in public education and now pursues her dream as a full-time professional artist.

She is a member of the 29 Palms Art Gallery, the Artists Council in Palm Desert, the Chaparral Artists and the Hi Desert Artists, exhibiting with them throughout the year.

Artist Statement

Nature is my muse. I find my greatest enjoyment by painting from direct observation. The epitome of this is working plein air, French for outside. In the field I paint in oils. My process begins by hiking to various locations with a backpack full of art gear and the intention to interpret what I see. Painting landscapes is like a puzzle for me, I see shapes that fit together to create a composition. My paintings are driven by my interest in how light and shadow relate to each other and combine to create an image. 

The sun moves across the sky as I render my subject, so I must work fast. I start with focusing on how sunlight falls on surfaces and creates differing values. The light influences how the colors present themselves - warm where illuminated and cool where shadowed. Light also emphasizes the textures on various surfaces. I explore the intriguing variety of textures, so that the painting encourages the eye to “feel” the surface. Through the myriad combinations of contours, values, and colors, I evoke a mood. My plein air paintings either stand on their own, or I use them as references for larger studio works.

It is my job as an artist to find beauty in the world and communicate it through my art. My goal is to convey what I see and allow others to experience the landscape from a unique point of view. My hope is that my work will encourage others to expand their perceptions and see the world with a new-found appreciation.