When words fall short, a meaningful spiritual gift might still reach them. What do you give someone when no store-bought gift feels quite right? I’ve often asked myself that—especially when someone is grieving, navigating a transition, or simply in need of something deeper than another candle or gift card. That’s what led me to the […]| Kristen Palana: Artist | Professor | Consultant
Stumble. Fumble. Mumble. Grumble. From setback to solutions You’d think that after over two decades as an artist, educator, and someone who’s lived and worked on four continents, I’d have a handle on international art logistics by now. And yet… Recently I was invited to participate in a group exhibition at the Medici Museum of […]| Kristen Palana: Artist | Professor | Consultant
Why it pays to be flexible in today’s changing economy Whether you’re an artist, educator, or idealist, you’ve likely heard the phrase, “Do what you love, and the money will follow.” But let’s be real: turning your passion into a sustainable income doesn’t happen by magic. The good news? Opportunities abound for people with creativity, […]| Kristen Palana: Artist | Professor | Consultant
A Time of Despair… and Opportunity I’m not going to lie—these days, it’s tough for idealists. The world often feels like it’s crumbling, with social media amplifying hate, division, and disaster. But in this time of turbulence, we’re also more interconnected and informed than ever. Artists, especially, have the unique ability to inspire, uplift, and […]| Kristen Palana: Artist | Professor | Consultant
Crowdfunding Essentials Every Artist Should Know If you’ve ever wondered how artists can successfully fundraise online, this guide will walk you through simple, proven steps to make your creative project a reality. Let’s talk about a side of crowdfunding that rarely gets the spotlight—how it can empower artists to raise the funds they need for […]| Kristen Palana: Artist | Professor | Consultant
Malawian Inspired Art: 2019-2024 Greetings from Lilongwe, Malawi. I hope you’re doing well. As you may have heard, Malawi is currently grappling with the tragic loss of Vice President Saulos Chilima who died this week in a tragic plane crash. This is a time of deep sorrow for many, and my heart goes out to […]| Kristen Palana: Artist | Professor | Consultant
There’s so much going on at the moment. I’ll try not to be too long-winded… First, I wanted to share some new Malawian-inspired art created recently. The largest piece by far is a mural I designed. It was painted in April and completed a few weeks ago. My former UNFPA digital media student Alain Bulldor […]| Kristen Palana: Artist | Professor | Consultant
I hope you are staying well in your part of the world. This week I wanted to share a little bit of my education work with you. The last few days I had the pleasure of facilitating a daylong workshop for the Australia Awards Alumni just before International Women’s Day, marking the exciting start of […]| Kristen Palana: Artist | Professor | Consultant
Greetings from my part of the world to yours. I hope you’re doing well. I don’t know how to tell you this, but it’s the beginning of the end! (Well, maybe.) The new sacred geometry spiral drawing you see in progress above is going to be #12 in my sacred geometry series of drawings made […]| Kristen Palana: Artist | Professor | Consultant
I was asked years ago when I first started teaching online if I would ever make a social media course for artists and creatives that would go with my earlier color, web, design, creativity, and illustration offerings. Back then (2015) I did not yet feel like I knew enough about the topic to effectively teach […]| Kristen Palana: Artist | Professor | Consultant
Making minor color changes on your website can affect conversions and increase sales. Learn how colors and A/B testing can boost clicks and get users to buy| Kristen Palana: Artist | Professor | Consultant