Some Stylebook readers might have met our newest pop-up guest, Cris Logan, under the Boxwood tent back in July when she joined other local artists for an Art Walk night in Old Town. If you were out of town or couldn't make it, we have good news for you - for the month of October, you have a chance to explore Cris's art not just one night but for a whole month. Read on to learn more about Cris, including the story behind the career-guiding advice she received to "always look up"... 

Tell us about yourself - who you are, where you live, your family, any business partners. 

While I grew up in St. Louis, I've lived all over the DMV for the last 21 years. My husband, Sam, is the Chief Legal Officer for tech firm Afiniti, and we have two kids, Shiloh and Sammy. We recently moved from Northeast Washington, D.C. to Alexandria, and we've felt so welcomed by the community on this side of the river. I knew I wanted to live in the area since I was 11. I love connecting with other creatives and business owners. A good restaurant and a perfect day would include walking all through the pretty row homes in Old Town or Georgetown, capturing a curly W at Nats park, some oysters, and watching the sunset from the back of the Lincoln.

Tell us a little bit about your journey to becoming an artist?  

While I always dabbled in art as a youth, like many creatives, I pursued a more "traditional" D.C. path, working in communications and public policy. At the end of my traditional career, I was focusing on anti-human trafficking and child online safety. When I became a mom, my professional subject matter began to take a toll on my mental health, so I took a sabbatical and began painting for our home in the Brookland neighborhood of D.C. Friends began asking for commissioned work, and at the end of 2015, I began posting my daily doodles on Instagram. In late 2016, I began working with PR Group BrandGuild, doing brand-based illustrations of their clients, including SweetGreen, Scout Bags, &Pizza, Drybar, the J.Crew Men's Shop, and Soulcycle. I also began creating illustrations for brands including Christian Dior, Tod's, Kate Spade Bloomingdales, Max Mara, Birkenstock, Illesteva, City Center DC, The Washington Post, and more. Through this unexpected journey, I realized that my passion was to create art, and I took the leap to go full-time with my art in 2018.

What is your biggest business risk you took, and did it pay off?

Since I'm self-taught, I think every part of this journey has felt like a leap of faith. I'm learning every single day. From designing entire illustrated sets for bar and bat mitzvahs to live illustrating at weddings, I've tried to say "yes" and enjoy the process. Even though I've had some moments of panic, I've been able to push through, be curious and create something beautiful in the end. And I'd say my biggest recent risk is opening this pop-up. I love interacting with people and talking about art with my clients, and I've been curious about having a more inviting, permanent space to create and host. Seedling Collective is affording me the opportunity to dip my toe into the brick-and-mortar space, and I'll report back at the end of October!

I know it's probably hard to pick, but if you had to - what is your favorite subject to paint?

I love drawing iconic D.C. When I was working on the Hill, the Senator I worked for told me to "always look up [at the Capitol] and appreciate the opportunity to work here." I've tried to take that approach with the whole city. I am always "looking up" and around and try to consider it a real privilege to paint and live in the DMV.

From your point of view, why and how is art important to society?

I love beautiful art, but my favorite art combines beauty and emotion. When I first started painting, I painted victims rescued from human trafficking, and those pieces became a channel of conversation for people that didn't know much about the scale of human trafficking. And now, even as I paint the city and its people, so much of my art is about capturing an emotion and a moment. Whether it's the feeling you get while watching the sunrise from the Netherlands Carillon or the heartbreaking moments our country has felt collectively over the last few years. I think art can be an avenue for memory and conversation, and I hope that people see that in aspects of my work. 

Cris Logan Art is popping up at The Seedling Collective from October 5 through October 31. Follow @crisclapplogan on Instagram for pop-up announcements and events.