Teacher Feature: Kristen McHenry
Hands-on arts and crafts, illustration, digital art, artistic careers, portfolio, Art teacher and admin team member at Austin Arts Academy in Austin, Texas.
Meet our Art Teacher: Kristen McHenry
When Kristen McHenry was a child, she adored the idea of working with animals. As she got older, she began incorporating her love of animals into her illustrations.
She taught herself how to draw through books, video step-by-step tutorials, and her surroundings, watching cartoons and movies, pausing when she felt she could capture a scene with her pencil and paper.
What Kristen has designed for herself is a sanctuary that allows her to do everything she loves, combining admin, graphic design and teaching Art in private and group lessons for Austin Arts Academy.
Original painting by Kristen, showing her interest in animals
Kristen is a passionate illustrator and designer, with a knack for organization. She was awarded a Scholastic Gold Key for a colored pencil illustration while she attended Lake Travis High School, which recognized her originality, technical skill, and emergence of her personal vision and voice.
Colored pencil drawing by Kristen when she was 15 or 16 years old
Her first job out of high school was as a virtual assistant, and then she went on to earn her Associate’s degree in Visual Communications and her Illustration Certification from Austin Community College.
After graduating, she worked as a Graphic Designer with a creative agency in Austin, gaining real world experience working with a range of clients from the medical, food, telecommunications, academic, and creative industries.
She is not only skilled in graphic design but has an innate talent with artistic mediums including: charcoal and pastels; sketching and illustration; painting with acrylic, watercolor, and oil; pens and markers; collages and mixed media.
Paintings by Kristen
Having designed and created art all her life, Kristen naturally fell into the role of teaching Art once she had the opportunity.
In college, she assisted her illustration professor in her classroom and discovered that by teaching Art with an alternative method, she was able to connect with her peers in a different way and help them master techniques and utilize their abilities.
This experience taught her how to problem solve and find new ways to look at the world, which influences the way a person draws and designs.
Connecting to every individual and assisting them at their own pace and ability has been a satisfying process for Kristen, as she is able to look through the lens of another person and help them develop their technical skills and simplify complexities found in illustrating and design.
Museum Day
Kristen is an advocate for self-expression and the nonjudgmental nature of being an authentic artist and designer. She hopes to inspire and shape each Art student’s individual growth through their unique talents and interests.
You will find these elements in Kristen’s Art lessons as her teaching style is fun, passionate, student-oriented, interactive, and encouraging without any pressure. Having a positive outlook and a confidence building attitude, she looks forward to teaching and nurturing the creativity of each individual student.
Austin Arts Academy Student at work during lessons
On her way to lessons, Kristen likes to listen to music. Depending on her mood you might hear her listening to musical theater, bedroom pop, indie, and alternative music. She’d also have a big smile on her face, as she is very excitable and truly fulfilling her life goals.
When she isn’t in lessons, you’d likely find Kristen having a blast with her friends and boyfriend, Nick, exploring hidden gems in Austin. Nick and her enjoy playing music to the muted TV while a vintage dance video is playing, watching how the music matches with the dance so perfectly. How creative and fun is that?!
Kristen with her boyfriend Nick
Kristen is energized by the role that has developed for her at Austin Arts Academy and appreciates how supportive, positive, and kind everyone is. As she said, it's amazing “when it hits at a certain moment and leads to everything.”
Outside of Austin Arts Academy, you can find Kristen’s design work and art at kristenmchenry.myportfolio.com and you can follow Kristen on social media at www.instagram.com/__lavenderose__.
Kristen is the designer of the Austin Arts Academy logo and new website!
Book Now with Kristen
Written by Melissa Wolken
Contributing Writer, Culture Curator, and Admin Team Member
At Austin Arts Academy, we change the way you learn Music, Art, & Dance from rigid or boring to fun and engaging-an experience students will love at any age.
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