Blog by Kristina Kasparian Veni Etiam Photography

Hidden messages: Hopeful captions behind my prints

10/4/2020

Une version en français est disponible

When something inspires me to reach for my lens, I always hope that this observation or emotion will, in turn, inspire you. Sometimes, I sneak messages in the titles or captions of my photographs (which I include on a customized insert with every small or medium-sized print you order). Those descriptions serve as an extra reminder for me of what I thought at the time I snapped the photo, but, often, I enjoy putting them there in case they might inspire you.

At one of my shows last year, a visitor asked me whether these captions appear in my online shop, because they would help him find something representative to offer as a gift. At the time, only the titles were online, but I'm happy to announce that, since then, I've worked hard to add each of the unique descriptions to the listings in my shop!

During this emotional time in our lives, at the brink of this strange and surreal spring, I wanted to share some of the photographs that have a hopeful title or caption.

Some of them are from 2015, but they still resonate with our current state of mind.

If you're looking for a gift to cheer up a loved-one, or want to treat yourself to something uplifting, I hope you'll find inspiration in these words and images.

The titles and captions are all bilingual (English and French). To learn more about each one, simply click on the image, or write to me to ask a question.

Bloom Where Unlikely

A reminder that it doesn’t take much for a flower to bloom,
even in the roughest circumstances
Un rappel qu’une fleur peut s’épanouir facilement,
même dans des circonstances irrégulières

The Impossible Spring

A reminder that unfavorable weather eventually changes, and even the slowest springs eventually come
Un rappel que le temps défavorable finit par changer et que même les printemps les plus lents finissent par arriver

Trust the Path

Every step is a prerequisite for what comes next, even if it doesn’t seem so at the time
Chaque pas est necessaire pour ce qui va suivre, même si cela ne parait pas tout de suite

Stand Tall

You're special
Tu es une personne spéciale

What Goes Down Must Go Up Again

What matters is what is light, not what is dark
Ce qui compte, c’est la lumière, pas les ténèbres

Chance

When one window closes, another one opens
Quand une fenêtre se ferme, une autre s’ouvre

Patience

Open your heart and your eyes, and windows will open too
Ouvre ton coeur et tes yeux, et les fenêtres s'ouvriront aussi

Strength & Hope

The sky and the waves, in fervent conversation
Le ciel et la mer dans une conversation fervente

Dream Big

Let your dreams take flight
Laissez vos rêves prendre leur envol

Unlocked

Something truly delightful awaits you.
Une merveilleuse surprise vous attend.

Incomplete Without You

An ode to a gentle and selfless soul without whom life just wouldn’t be the same.
Dédié à une âme douce et généreuse sans qui la vie ne serait pas pareille.

Je t'aime

When thoughts of you arise at random street corners.
Des pensées de toi qui m’envahissent au coin d’une rue.

After the Rain

Sometimes life becomes even more beautiful when it has been graced with raindrops
Parfois la vie devient encore plus belle après avoir connu la pluie

You Have Time

Don't rush, stay awhile and be sure to return
Prends ton temps, reste et reviens

Abundance

The more we focus on life’s riches, the more riches arise
Plus nous nous concentrons sur les richesses de la vie, plus les richesses se multiplient

The Way

Follow your dreams, wherever they may lead
Suivez vos rêves, où qu'ils vous mènent

Fede (Faith)

Have faith: She is watching over you
Gardez votre foi: Elle veille sur vous

Up!

It will be a season of peace and balance
Ce sera une saison de paix et d’équilibre

Minimalist, brutalist, optimist

Like a shadow, like a light
Comme une ombre, comme une lumière

Navy Blue (Me & You)

Every thought of you begins and ends with the ocean
Chaque pensée de toi commence et se termine avec l'océan

Look Up

Optimism lies in the surprise of a single open window
L'optimisme réside dans la surprised'une seule fenêtre ouverte

On Angels' Wings

Sometimes, it takes patience and faith to fly
Parfois, il faut de la patience et de la foi pour voler

One Step At a Time

It's not about how fast you climb - it's just about climbing.
Ce n’est pas la vitesse de la montée qui compte. Il faut juste continuer de monter.

Simplicity

When the most evocative moments are the simplest ones
Quand les moments les plus évocateurs sont les plus simples

I hope this selection inspired you. Prints that ship flat (8x8, 12x12, 8x10, 8x12 inches) are packaged with their title and caption. If you order a larger print and wish for the insert to be included, just leave a note at checkout. Lastly, you always have the option of adding a personalized note if your order is a gift.

Stay safe and stay inspired!

From my heart to yours,
Kristina

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The Côte d'Azur collection is here!

19/11/2019

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The time has come to reveal the new Côte d'Azur collection, and I am SO excited!

Creating a new collection is one of the most fun yet time-consuming aspects of my shop! There are SO many steps involved, and each one is done with careful thought and feeling.

It all starts with choosing a destination based on what the heart craves. Then, exploring that place mindfully, slowly, keeping in tune with how my senses react, how the light makes me feel, and whether I am pulled to stay. Capturing feeling through photography requires precision, experimentation, creativity, inner peace and hours of physical work while I chase interesting angles, reflections, perspectives, lights, patterns and balance.

Then comes the most painstaking part of all - sorting among the thousands of photos to narrow it down to the few hundreds that will be adjusted and edited over the next days and weeks. I get to know them as I work on them, already get attached to a few favorites, and share them with you little by little on Instagram or Facebook. Once I have my favorite hundred or so (!), I write blogs about the place and share my impressions or tips with you. (Psssst! If you haven't read my two Côte d'Azur blog posts yet, you can open them in a separate window by clicking here and here!)

But not all of my favorite photographs make the cut for the collection. They have to be scrutinized for imperfections and distractions first. I fine-tune them, test-print them, hold them in my hands and up to the light, frame them and get to know them even better. You'd be surprised what the eye catches on paper that it missed on a screen! This leads me to fine-tune them even further and print again.

Once I'm happy with the collection, I give each one a title and caption in English and French so you will know where it is and why I reached for my lens. Often, I sneak a message for you in the caption, so the photograph might speak to you even more once you read the back of it.

I photograph the photographs - which is not an easy task! I try to show you how they look framed, unframed, in various sizes and ratios. I edit the photos of the photos, and create a bunch of different graphics I'll be able to use in my online shop or social media.

After a few weeks of this process, I then share them with my dear VIPs who are subscribed to my newsletter. These are individuals who support me and follow me wherever my travels and heart may lead! I am so grateful to them that I give them 20% off the collection and first dibs on it before I add it to my shop. This often allows them to get limited edition or one-of-a-kind pieces! Once my VIPs get first pick, the collection is launched globally.

Lastly, I add the images to the web shop and Etsy shop, fine-tune the keywords so they can be found in searches. I print, package and ship them, so they can be a part of your day, your home, your inspired thoughts, memories and dreams of future travels.

By the end of this sequence, I need another vacation! And yet your words, orders and reviews make it all so fulfilling and worth it!

Now you have a better idea of why I always say, "from my heart to yours".

So without further ado, I present to you my Côte d'Azur collection, which is quite possibly the collection I am most proud of so far!

Canopy of Color

An unexpected little haven found in a narrow lane (Nice)

Balance

When there’s balance in my photographs, I know there is balance in me (Nice)

The Poetry of Windows

I’ll always have a soft spot for windows and their subtle poetry (Nice)

Patience

Open your heart and your eyes, and windows will open too (St-Paul de Vence)

Mediterranea

The colors and feelings of the Mediterranean are with me, always (Nice)

A Light to Remember

And all the day's delays culminated in witnessing this glorious light (St-Paul de Vence)

Nissa la Bella

“La tiéu mar d’azur, Lou tiéu cièl pur” (Nice)

Ethereal Beauty

Contemplating how a moment can be both vast and tiny (Eze)

Pressing Pause on Summer

No longer summer, not yet fall (Nice)

What we see is who we are

What we look for is who we will become (Nice)

Chasing the Muse

Finding inspiration in the simplest sights, in the footsteps of many great artists
(St-Paul de Vence)

You Have Time

Don't rush, stay awhile and be sure to return (Antibes)

All Dressed in White

Aged by weather and life's tides (Antibes)

Chaises bleues

Contemplative, hopeful, peaceful and melancholy - there are chairs for all moods
(Nice)

Sunbathing in October

Colors make the best memories (Menton)

Low Season

Where Land meets Sea is where I wish to be (Nice)

I'll Stay

The Promenade that I long to return to again and again (Nice)

Après-midi

Because your color changes with each hour of the day (Nice)

Mixed Feelings

The constant push and pull between peace and longing (Nice)

Storybook Pages

Sometimes the biggest dreams are evoked by the tiniest villages perched above the Sea
(Eze)

The Bells at Sea

When the bells toll, the Sea will listen (Eze)

Perched

Often, we need to take a step back to take it all in (Eze).

Pretty in Pink

How a simple hue can make the heart sing (Nice)

Mindful Meandering

An opus of everyday beauty (Nice)

St-Paul de Vence

If you lose your way, look around, feel grateful and begin again (St-Paul de Vence)

Growth in Light and Shadows

There cannot be growth without light, and there cannot be light without shadows
(St-Paul de Vence)

Antipolis

That feeling of easing into a place, as though you've always known it (Antibes)

Port de Nice

May you always find a safe harbour in which to call it a day (Nice)

Climb Up, Look Down

No matter how steep the climb, always look back to see how far you've come (Menton)

Place of Dreams

Do you know, dear Nice, how many people love you and dream of you? (Nice)

Palette niçoise

Sometimes it feels as though a color should be named after a place (Nice)

À l'aise à Eze

Found, without feeling lost (Eze)

Morning Memories

The beauty of places is how they change throughout a single day, and how
we change too (Nice)

Vieux Nice

About to open or about to close. It's all a matter of perspective. (Nice)

Order any of these prints and frames using your special VIP coupon by following this link!

Postcards

I've also printed a whole bunch of mini square prints (4x4 inches) which can be displayed casually, framed in a mosaic frame, or sent as cards! They are printed on eggshell cardstock with a white border and a blank back, so you can write a personalized note.

I only produce postcards once a year during the holiday season, so grab your favorites before they disappear by contacting me or visiting me at the Nutcracker market in Montreal between November 28th and December 8th.

The Côte d'Azur collection is full of color, texture, perspective and feeling. I hope it will resonate with you as much as I loved creating it for you!

Let me know in a comment which one is your favorite!

From my heart to yours,
Kristina

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The Nutcracker Market: Shop my booth in advance

18/11/2018

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From November 29th to December 9th 2018, I will be participating in a well-known Christmas market at the Palais des Congrès in Montreal for the second year in a row: the Marché Casse-Noisette / Nutcracker market. It is my biggest show of the year, in the sense that I will have a large booth to present my world to you - all those colors, feelings and inspiring scenes that make you connect with Veni Etiam!

This year, I thought I'd offer a sneak peek at some of the large pieces that will be showcased in my booth, to give you a special chance at reserving them in advance at a special VIP rate (10% off).

Why? These large specialty pieces take over 2 weeks to produce, so by reserving them early, you make sure you have them before the holidays. It's also a way of thanking you (and rewarding you!) for being bold with your decor decisions, and for being part of my community.

Here are the large pieces you could reserve right now (until November 26th):

Li Prisuddi (Italy)
Satin print 16x24 inches
White wood frame included
Framed: $125 CAD
Reserve before November 26th and receive 10% discount

Deity (Japan)
Satin print 11x14 inches
White rustic wood frame included
Framed: $100 CAD
Reserve before November 26th and receive 10% discount

Winter on the Plateau (Canada)
Brushed aluminum (metal) disk 12x12 inches
Floater frame and wire attached to the back (ready to hang)
$119 CAD
Reserve before November 26th and receive 10% discount

Converging Boats (Spain)
Epoxy resin brushed aluminum (metal) art, 20x30 inches
Floater frame and wire attached to the back (ready to hang)
$499 CAD
Reserve before November 26th and receive 10% discount

Unmistakable Sight (Canada)
Brushed aluminum (metal) disk 10x10 inches
Floater frame and wire attached to the back (ready to hang)
$109 CAD
Reserve before November 26th and receive 10% discount

New Life in Hiroshima(Canada)
Satin print 12x18 inches
Black wood frame included
Framed $100 CAD
Reserve before November 26th and receive 10% discount

Bicicletta (Italy)
Fine-art print 16x20 inches
White frame included
Framed $120 CAD
Reserve before November 26th and receive 10% discount

Lincoln Park (USA)
Satin print 11x14 inches
White rustic wood frame included
Framed: $100 CAD
Reserve before November 26th and receive 10% discount

Painted Blue (Italy)
Satin print 12x18 inches
White wood frame included
Framed $100 CAD
Reserve before November 26th and receive 10% discount

All My Wishes (Greece)
Acrylic 10x10 inches
Floater frame and wire attached to the back (ready to hang)
$139 CAD
Reserve before November 26th and receive 10% discount

Mirror Waters of Levico (Italy)
Brushed aluminum (metal) art 12x18 inches
Floater frame and wire attached to the back (ready to hang)
$189 CAD
Reserve before November 26th and receive 10% discount

Palais des Congrès (Canada)
Brushed aluminum (metal) disk 12x12 inches
Floater frame and wire attached to the back (ready to hang)
$119 CAD
Reserve before November 26th and receive 10% discount

Unmistakable Sight (Canada)
Fine art print 11x14 inches
Black wood frame included
Framed $89 CAD
Reserve before November 26th and receive 10% discount

Vintage Vieux-Montréal (Canada)
Brushed aluminum (metal) art 11x14 inches
Floater frame and wire attached to the back (ready to hang)
$149 CAD
Reserve before November 26th and receive 10% discount

Two Hearts, limited edition (Canada)
Limited print run with license from sculptor Jim Dine, 12x12 inches
White wood frame included
Framed $80 CAD
Reserve before November 26th and receive 10% discount

Malinconia (Italy)
Fine art print 11x14 inches
Black wood frame included
Framed $89 CAD
Reserve before November 26th and receive 10% discount

If any of these large ready-to-hang or framed pieces have your name on it, contact me right away to reserve it at 10% off. (Please note that the item must be paid in full in advance).

In addition to these large pieces, I will be selling hundreds of local and international prints, metal prints and postcards (new this year!), for which you will have the option of purchasing an inexpensive but high-quality frame. I will also be taking your custom orders (production time: 2 weeks due to the holiday rush) and will also have tons of gift items like coasters, pouches, notebooks, magnets and gift certificates available. Be sure to check out my Holiday Gift Guide for a preview!

Also new this year, the FIRST customer of every day will have the chance to open the advent calendar and will receive a free gift or a discount applicable in my booth on that day only. Mark your calendar to swing by at 11 am between November 29-December 9th to be the first at my booth! Entry is FREE!

To get an early start on your shopping, visit my shop or my Etsy shop and use the coupon code INMTL to pick up your purchase to save on shipping fees and delays.

I can't wait to help you find inspiring decor items this holiday season. See you soon!

From my heart to yours.

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New in shop this holiday: Postcard prints and a Montreal calendar

18/11/2018

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Where did the year go? I mean, wasn't it summer two weeks ago?!

The holiday preparations have hit and I have been SO busy creating amazing things for you! Don't miss my Holiday Gift Guide which gives you great ideas of how to treat others (and yourself) this season. You'll also see my list of upcoming holiday events if you want to shop in person or pick up your orders.

So, what's new for you? Two products that you've been asking me about FOR YEARS.

Postcards and a Montreal calendar.

The postcards measure 4x4 inches, because there's something special about square prints! Typically, the smallest size prints I offer you is 8x8 inches, but now you can get several of your favorite images on a smaller size, still on great quality textured paper.

There are over 50 different images of Montreal or travel destinations, so you'll have ample opportunity to choose cards that will inspire you or someone you know.

You can write a message on the back and send them, or you can keep them as art prints by creatively displaying them or framing them. I'll have a few framing options available on hand if you like that idea.

I'll be unveiling this postcard collection at the Nutcracker Market (Marché Casse Noisette) in Montreal at the Palais des Congrès between November 29th and December 9th, so stop by to see them and choose your favorites. If you want VIP access, sign up to my newsletter and I'll tell you how to get VIP tickets and a special discount before the event opens to the public!

The Montreal calendar is another very simple gift idea. The calendar consists of 12 sheets of eggshell cardstock measuring 5x7 inches, with 5x5 high-quality photographic prints that you could easily cut out and keep for yourself or gift to others as high-quality prints or cards once the month is done.

The images are my color + black and white photographs of Montreal - many of which have become your favorite bestselling images from my collection!

Displaying the calendar is easy. It does not take up much room and hangs on your wall or your gridwall wire grid with the rose gold clip that is included. The clip has a hole in it for easy hanging. You could also display it on an inexpensive easel or stand that you could find at Ikea, De Serres, Michael's, Amazon or other stores. As the pages are individual (not bound) you could even put up one month at a time with magnets on your fridge!

As I'll only be printing a small batch of these calendars, you could reserve yours by placing an order through my Etsy shop. You can pick it up in person at one of my next events by using the coupon code INMTL.

Aside from these two main lines of products, I've also added tons of new prints fresh off the printer. Check out the Holiday Gift Guide to see more!

Are you planning on coming to any of my holiday markets this year?

From my heart to yours.

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La Guarida: A moment of stillness and gratitude

26/8/2018

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Some places just enrich your life and linger with you long after you leave them. Havana was one of those places for me.

I remember how calm I had to make myself while taking this photograph. My heart was pounding because I knew I was blessed with this scene in front of me. It was also pounding because it was extremely hot and I was starting to feel woozy from the sun, the car exhaust and other smells circling me. There were construction workers all around me in the tiny courtyard, with buckets and tools I had to maneuver between and step over. I also felt like I needed to hurry so as not to miss that perfectly positioned snoozing cat on the steps.

But you have to calm yourself down when you are behind the lens. Despite your fast heartbeat and the ticking clock, you have to relax your posture and your fingers to avoid any shake, and relax your mind so you can observe the details before you photograph them. Otherwise, the details will be lost, because the lens only sees what YOU see. I took about a dozen variations of this image, emphasizing different details each time, making sure the light looked exactly as I saw it.

A week after I left Havana, I saw on Instagram that they painted over the mural and over Fidel Castro's words, so the cat was no longer the only element that made this print a limited edition!

I never would have thought that a year later, my Havana collection would decorate the colorful walls of Cafecito Montreal, an awesome new cafe in the Old Port of Montreal near Griffintown. You can find "Fidel" (11x14 inches in a gorgeous rustic frame) along with 25 of my Havana prints (framed and unframed) for purchase at the café.

Follow me on Instagram for more about the cafe and a full reveal of our gallery wall!

From my heart to yours.

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The Nova Scotia wall art collection

14/8/2018

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In case you missed it, I fell in love with beautiful Nova Scotia and Cape Breton this summer while traveling there for the first time.

Now, after combing through thousands of photographs for weeks, tweaking my favorites and getting a sense of your reactions by sharing them on Instagram, I am excited to reveal the scenes that will be added to my art shop this fall.

Why don't I add them right away? Because the Quebec City collection is still very new, and this way my VIP community members get first-pick of the new pieces at a special rate before the general public does! (Want to be a VIP? No problem, sign up here.)

Without further ado, meet the Nova Scotia Collection - a collection full of feeling, color and hope. The heartfelt captions beneath each photograph accompany the printed product, for an extra bit of inspiration.

The Immovable Sea

Some places steal your heart with their colors, tales and moods.

Peggy of the Cove

It doesn't matter where you go, as long as you are happy to be there.

Never Really Still

I love how boats are never really still, even when docked, as the tides and the winds always have a hold on them.

Hold On

Life is a delicate balance of holding tight and letting go.

The Great Cape

Make a wish, the ocean is waiting.

Faith in Fair Weather

When the skies threaten rain, have faith that the sun will shine soonafter.

Hot Summer Wind

Because sometimes the purest of joys can be found in an afternoon light, on blades dancing in the hot summer wind.

Simplicity

When the most evocative moments are the simplest ones.

Low Tide at the Bay

If we expect the sea to have changing tides, why should our lives be any different?

Just Be

Now and then, be goalless and expectationless. Just be.

The Day's Promise

Without sharp bends and rugged edges, the day would not be as breathtaking.

Restlessness

I swear I was a sailor in another life - a fisherman, a seafarer, a soul
as restless as the sea.

Trust the Path

Every step is a prerequisite for what comes next,
even if it doesn’t seem so at the time.

Tangled

A beautiful mess of going and returning, catching and releasing.

On their Bellies

The boats lay on their bellies, waiting for the tide to return.

Rain on the Vineyard

When everything is perfect, and calm, and still, and as promising as the vines that are to become a complex wine one day.

Navy Blue (Me & You)

Every thought of you begins and ends with the ocean.

The Nova Scotia collection is available as framed or unframed prints on fine-art paper, satin paper, as well as on canvas, wood, acrylic or metal. Become a VIP to shop the collection before its autumn release or stay tuned by following Veni Etiam!

From my heart to yours.

For more Nova Scotia and Cape Breton travel photography:

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The QCity Collection

18/5/2018

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It was high time I added a Quebec City collection to my Montreal & Toronto series. You had asked me time and again, but I was waiting for some down time in my schedule to go take my camera on a road trip. It was a wonderful weekend, and I ended up with many more photographs than I expected! (Although, let's be honest: isn't that always the case with me?!)

It is with excitement that I introduce the QCity collection to you! You'll find that the "usual suspects" have inspired me: architecture, urban details, textures, colors, geometric patterns and moody hues.

The collection is currently available in exclusivity to my VIP members who can order their favorite(s) via e-mail with a special pre-launch coupon they got. (Not a VIP? Remedy that here and now). Prints and coasters will be launched at the Etsy Ville de Québec spring show on May 26-27 in Québec City.

Tell me: Which one's your favorite?

Fortress

Place Royale

La belle Québec

Chimneys

Because you inspired me

Triangles

Unlocked

Allure d'allée

Depth of contrasts

The perfect door

From this angle

River temples

Frontenac

The beauty of imperfection

Géométrie

Gables

Corniche

Facing the sun

Urban symphony

Silently watching

Vue de ramparts

Waiting for you

The promise of spring

Can you guess what my favorites are? Leave a comment, I'd love to hear from you!

From my heart to yours.

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Sneak peek of a new design product

4/5/2018

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If you've followed me for a while, you know I always have something up my sleeve. Nothing mischievous, just always something NEW!

Last time, it was the Havana collection and updates to the Canadian collection.

The time before, an exciting design collaboration with Ann and Lena from Lamou Design.

The time before that, new product lines such as high quality birch wood coasters, notebooks and pouches.

All of this within a year's span!

Well, why not? Art should be versatile and functional, suited to your own daily life, moods and decor.

Here's a sneak peek at what I have up my sleeve this spring. I'll give you a hint: it's a new collaboration with Lamou design!

But here's the thing: My VIPs always get the news first as to what is new, and they get first pick on limited quantities.

So... if you want to be in the know, here's where you sign up. Why bother? Because, in addition to getting special treatment (like exclusive picks and coupons), you also get a monthly newsletter for that bit of extra connection and inspiration. Not to play favorites but...

Are you in? Sign up here.

From my heart to yours.

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Spring event calendar: Etsy Made in Canada, West Elm and more!

4/5/2018

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It's a bit nutty, come to think of it, to have such a full work-week with art and science, and yet to pack the weekends with events and more events!

[Insert my Mom's concerned voice here: "When will you rest? Do you ever have time to just do NOTHING? When will you plant your flowers?"]

But (between you and me) it's my FAVE part of the job, because I can connect with you, see your reactions in person, tell you all about what inspires me, and hear about your own travels, bucket lists and decor goals. It's honestly so special to meet with you in person!

So here is where you can find me this May and June, not only in Montreal this time but also in Ottawa and Quebec City! (And of course, I'll be scurrying to add Ottawa and Quebec City photographs to my collection before then... cue the concerned Mom again!)

I'll also have loads of new prints, frames, notebooks, coasters and a brand new home-decor product with me. Stop by to see what it is!

My next events

Click on each event to find out more and to add it to your calendar.

West Elm Montreal Pop Up Shop: 29.04.2018
Etsy Montreal Marché Créatif Spring Printemps: 12&13.05
Marché de Mai On Sème: 19&20.05
Etsy Fait au Québec Printemps (Quebec City): 26&27.05
Etsy Made in Canada Spring by Cheerfully Made (Ottawa) : 9&10.06
West Elm Montreal Pop Up Shop: 16.06.2018

Will I see you at one of these?

From my heart to yours.

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From endometriosis to entrepreneurship: It's time to share

20/2/2018

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Version française

This is a raw, personal, heartfelt post - I hope you can read it to the end.

Many – in fact, most – of you don’t know that for eighteen years, I have been a sufferer of severe endometriosis and other related health conditions - experiences that have changed me and my life forever.

Although I’m a writer at heart and have written about almost everything, this is something I’ve never put into words until now, not even in my own journals, and something I certainly did not imagine doing so publicly. But after nearly twenty years of this complex story, and after seeing so many other women struggling in similar ways, it is time now.

Unexpectedly and in almost one sitting, I have written my first real book – cover to cover – complete with things I’ve never written for a book, like a preface, an author’s note and acknowledgments. In it, a raw, candid, descriptive account of my personal journey - one that will surely resonate with many women and men around the world.

Why? And why now?

This March, I will be launching an inspiring new initiative called Alba – a new dawn. The website will showcase – through photographs, words and products designed for the cause – women entrepreneurs who have been affected by endometriosis, female cancers, chronic pain and infertility.

My goal with Alba is to help us shift the dialogue on women’s health and achieve a brighter dawn with more pro-active, holistic, systematic approaches for all, as well as to raise funding for research.

I have chosen to launch it in March in time for endometriosis awareness month and for Women's Day (March 8th).

The e-book is now available for pre-order through my Etsy shop.

By pre-ordering today, you will receive it in your inbox on its release date, March 8th. All proceeds from the book will go to starting up and maintaining the Alba project, which in turn will help many women find their voices and will collect funds for research on female cancers and endometriosis. Needless to say, you'd be donating to an important cause.

Whether you have been directly touched by the challenges of endometriosis and related health conditions (such as chronic pain, female cancers and infertility) or whether you are curious to learn more about this misunderstood and complex illness from the outside in, the poignant and brutally honest passages in "It's Time." are intended to educate, empower, inspire and heal.

The poignant and brutally honest passages in "It's Time." are intended to educate, empower, inspire and heal.

Please follow @alba.a.new.dawn on Instagram and share this post as widely as possible, as we prepare for the launch of the initiative and the e-book!

If this resonates with you and you would like to find out about opportunities to become a member, affiliate or sponsor, please send me an e-mail to alba.a.new.dawn@gmail.com and I’ll walk you through how the initiative will work. All opportunities will also be detailed on the website when it is launched in two weeks.

This post, and this whole mission, comes from the most vulnerable, rawest part of me. I’m taking a deep breath and hoping you’ll join me on this journey.

From my heart to yours,
Kristina

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Smitten with Italy

15/2/2018

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“Open my heart and you will see, graved inside of it, 'Italy!'” – Robert Browning

Whether you have been following me for some time or you have just stumbled upon my world, you may have noticed that Italy plays a huge part in my collection, my writings and my days.

Why?

What's the deal with Italy? What gave rise to this "obsession"? How is Italy part of my life story? What's my favorite spot in Italy? All these questions and MORE are answered in an interview I did for the lovely Heather Carlson from "Smitten Italy" as part of our new collaboration.

Heather Carlson is a fellow italophile. We "met" in a magical place called Instagram, connected by our shared passion for Italian travel, food and culture. I stumbled upon Heather's shop of whimsical Italy-inspired goods, and later discovered that she is also behind "Merry Feast Travels", organizing culinary tours and offering travel planning services to any beginner or seasoned Italy-bound traveler.

As two individuals with Italy in their hearts, we have teamed up to offer a Veni Etiam x Smitten Italy collection of art prints in her lovely shop, and we have interviewed one another about our journey, our love for Italy and our work.

Head to the Merry Feast Travels blog to read my full interview about why I'm #smittenwithitaly

To find out more about why Italy is infused into my creative work, and to learn some Italy-related quirks about me that you probably did not know before, head to the Merry Feast Travels blog to read the full interview!

My mission with Veni Etiam has always been to inspire you, and help you find a piece of art that represents your own journey.

If Italy resonates with you as it does with me, I think you'll be excited to discover the collection that is now live in the Smitten Italy shop!

Which one is your favorite? Heather and I would love to know!

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this series where I will interview Heather about her story and her tips for travellers to Italy. Don't miss out on goodies: follow us!

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Three

28/1/2018

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Three years ago, I had the crazy idea to put my favorite photographs from my travels onto a website, to see whether they might inspire someone.

Someone other than me.

I had a vision that was not perfectly formed, and no sense of entrepreneurship whatsoever. My goal was simply to share the snapshots that I had collected with the world, to hopefully evoke feeling through my photographic perspective, and to connect with people who loved what I loved - places, color, details and the simple beauty of daily life.

I launched my online shop and my blog simultaneously, taking a deep breath and a great big leap, putting myself and my photography out there for the world to see.

Read my first-ever blog post about Veni Etiam's launch

In blog posts, I started to share the moments and feelings behind my images, conveying what stopped me in my tracks, what I felt was a beautiful moment and a beautiful place.

I have always said that when I first launched my website and shop, I did not have a clue that what I was launching was (also) a business. I was a full-time PhD candidate in neurolinguistics; my head was immersed in science – theories, hypotheses, brain waves, syntax, statistics… But I’d always had a creative counterpart to this scientific soul – I had always been a writer, filling notebooks without the constraints of margins or lines, blogging for my university, dreaming up jobs that were unconventional for a tenure-track scientist. I had also always been a traveler, and even more so thanks to my scientific career.

Find out 5 things you (probably) didn't know about Veni Etiam

Read about my split soul between science and art

So, it seemed only natural that Veni Etiam existed on the side, coaxing me now and then to pay more attention to it, to help it grow beyond that initial circle of friends, colleagues and acquaintances who excitedly supported this inspiring endeavor.

I remember the first connections I made with strangers who discovered Veni Etiam. I carefully watched their reactions, carefully listened to the words they used to describe what they saw and what it made them feel. To me, it was my perspective, my experiences, my story. I knew my images by heart. I had given them each a title that meant something to me. To them, it was fresh, different, beautiful, colorful, inspiring. I remember feeling disbelief and belief all at once, that I could reach people in this way, that they saw value in what I created. They found themselves in the images, the perspective, the titles and the captions. They chose what represented them. They shared their own travel stories and bucket-list aspirations with me.

Find out which 6 photographs are most special to me

My "What's in a Name" series explains the titles of my photographs

Learn about my culinary experience in Italy's Salento region

Discover which 8 things I love to photograph

Those encounters sparked passion in me and fueled this venture in a way that was totally unexpected.

My “why” then became clearer and more well-formed. I wrote more posts, shared more about my journey, participated in more events, created more products.

(I still had a PhD to finish and defend, but what a beautiful way to procrastinate THIS was!)

Read about "my why" in an interview with a decor magazine

My Nostalgia posts let you in on the places that matter most to me

Read about my daily views when I lived on an Italian vineyard

Discover 5 facts about me

Unexpectedly, the Etsy Montreal community took me under their wing. I don’t even remember how I first discovered the team, but the artisan community blew me away. There was so much to learn, and so much know-how to pass onto others. I volunteered my time for a year and eventually was recruited as one of the team leaders.

Experience what are Etsy Montreal events are like

Learn more about the inspiring artist community in Canada

After graduating with my PhD, I devoted more time to Veni Etiam. The more time I spent on it, the more I fell in love with the journey.

I fell in love with creating something that comes from me but resonates with you, and am so touched when you say I helped you find something that inspires you daily or solves a hurdle in your decor.

Read about how wonderful clients keep me going

How you inspire me to keep inspiring you

I fell in love with the ins and outs of entrepreneurship and all the different hats we wear – design, production, shop manager, marketing manager, sales rep, customer service rep, events rep, accountant, photographer… tasks with which to easily fill a 60-hour week!

I fell in love with the feeling that running my business gives me – the daily ingenuity, flexibility, connection, learning, decision-making, experimenting, risk-taking and re-assessing that comes with the territory, often pushing me outside of my comfort zone and sometimes causing me a heck of a ton of stress, but also allowing me to carve a life that is centered on creativity, connection and balance.

Read about the 11 business lessons I learned by doing

Discover my favorite mindfulness tips for a life of peace, creativity and abundance

I have accepted by now that I’m an odd chicken, a split soul, an outside-the-box Dr. who wants to do so much in one short life.

Through Veni Etiam’s growth, I have been so overjoyed and SO excited as I see its true potential, and as new ideas, opportunities and collaborations have come to fruition.

And I think the best is yet to come!

This year, I have lofty goals for Veni Etiam and I know that there will also be many unexpected twists and turns along the way to make the story all the more interesting!

To all of you who have been on this journey since day one, I’m so grateful to have had you by my side! To those of you I met along the way – thank you so much for making a little room for me in your lives.

To those of you who have just stumbled upon Veni Etiam, there’s so much to discover, so please stick around. You can follow this blog, and my daily posts on Instagram and Facebook. Heck, you can even become a VIP and be privy to newsletters and coupons!

To my fellow artists and entrepreneurs: I’m so honored to be among you, to learn along with you – often through you.

To anyone with big dreams and multiple passions that can seem (to others or to yourself) as irreconcilable: don’t doubt, just do.
Only then can you really find yourself.

From my heart to yours.

Don't miss the birthday celebration promo happening right now for VIP members! Sign up to receive 10%, 15% or 20% discounts on your inspiring travel art for 3 days ONLY!

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Artists Among Us: An interview for the McGill Reporter

28/10/2017

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If you know me a little already, you know that I'm a creative soul and a scientist bottled into one. This week, I was interviewed by the McGill Reporter about how I balance science, art and entrepreneurship, in the context of an event happening at my alma mater called "Artists Among Us" on November 1st. This annual show and sale celebrates students, staff, faculty and alumni members of the McGill community who, in addition to their academic careers, are passionate about creating art.

I truly enjoyed answering Neale McDevitt's interview questions for his article, as I have been reflecting a lot lately on the intersection of my scientific and artistic careers.

In what field did you do your PhD at McGill University and, specifically, what is the focus of your research?

I did my PhD at McGill’s School of Communication Sciences & Disorders in the Faculty of Medicine. The focus of my research is the neurocognition of language and multilingualism – how we use, process, learn and forget languages over our lifespan, and the associated changes that occur in our brain. I am also interested in how a multilingual speaker’s languages interact, and the individual differences that influence how our brain copes with multiple languages.

My PhD research looked at the language behavior and processing (in the brain) of speakers who are no longer regularly exposed to their native-language, because of immigration to Canada where they have been predominantly using English.

We compared their native (Italian) and second-language (English) to native-speakers of each language, as well as to second-language learners of Italian. Our aim was to study whether, and in which areas, changes might occur in how a native-language is used and processed due to influence of a second-language and due to factors related to the individual’s experience (e.g., age of learning, amount of exposure, length of residence, etc.)

What type of art do you do?

Veni Etiam Photography is a fine-art photography shop where I sell my local and international travel photography as wall art and other home decor products. My mission is to inspire and transport people with a piece of art that represents who they are, where they have been and where they dream of going. I transform the photographs I have taken in our city and all over the world into innovative wall art (on paper, canvas, aluminum, acrylic, wood), designer furniture (coffee tables) and small gift items like coasters, notebooks and magnets. There is something in my shop for every decor, mood, memory or dream. Veni Etiam is a Latin phrase meaning "return again". No place is ever the same (and neither are we) and therein lies the beauty of returning. I have an online shop and an Etsy shop where the full collection can be found. Several Montreal shops carry images from my local collection, and I participate in markets and shows in Quebec and Ontario year-round.

Which came first, your love of science or your love of art?

It’s hard to tell. I have almost always been academically-minded and passionate about a career in science; I was the girl who carried an encyclopedia in her backpack and asked her 4th grade teacher whether she could do independent “research” while her peers did their schoolwork! But I have also been very creative from a very young age. I haven’t always been a photographer. Rather, my first and favorite form of art is writing. I have always filled notebooks with ideas, impressions and recollections.

After my B.Sc from McGill, I moved to Europe for two years to pursue an unconventional M.Sc program in three European countries. My parents gave me my first digital camera as a “bon voyage” gift. Those travels enabled me to write, but also to discover a new form of storytelling -- photography. I learned mostly by doing, until photography became so natural to my daily routine that it changed the way my eyes were accustomed to seeing the world. As I conducted a part of my PhD research abroad and travelled to international scientific conferences, I collected more photographs and stories to tell. For this reason, I always say that my career in science fueled my art and accelerated my vision for an online art shop, culminating in its launch during the most intensive part of my PhD (data analysis and manuscript-writing).

My first scientific experiments

The early days: My first camera and me in Venice

Is the science/art thing for you a dichotomy?

As both creative and scientific sides are deeply ingrained in me, I feel like I need both to thrive. I remember when I first launched my shop, my mind was suddenly on fire with ideas both for my dissertation and my art. I don’t believe in dichotomies, and I think that if we look around, nobody in our circle is all one thing or all another. For as long as I can remember, I have been fervently interested in multiple things. My B.Sc course-list included both Neuroscience and Venetian Art History! I could imagine my life going a whole bunch of different ways (and still can).

I think we all have this in us, perhaps some of us more than others, and it’s more about following the drive to pursue those interests to see where they might lead, what we might learn, how we might impact others. That is what has led me to have an unconventional academic experience, where I was involved in so many different initiatives and living in multiple places. People, including myself, have not easily been able to fit me into a box, and I consider that both a great blessing and a great challenge, primarily because of expectations we are confronted with all the time. In academia, there are certain expectations of you and what your path should be, and the artistic community also has expectations of your approach to your craft. A track is often seen as a linear trajectory, and any deviation as unfocused or a waste of skill. But, truthfully, the only waste I see is a calling or opportunity not explored.

Are there aspects of both art and science that intersect?

Yes, there are aspects of art and science that intersect for me, because both are infused with my interests, skills and experiences. Everything I have learned along the way gets transferred into whatever I am doing. I think there is as much room for creativity in science as there is room for a strategic approach in creative endeavors. I unexpectedly became fascinated by business and marketing over the last two years. In business, just like in science, I am organized, analytical and data-driven. My scientific training has helped my business planning, in determining what I wanted to offer, the problems I wanted to solve, the niche I wanted to carve and who my audience is. In both art and science, ideas come naturally for me, whereas the technical skills take more practice to master. In both, I have the same work ethic, and I value networking and training experiences because there is always more to learn.

I am about to launch a second business that allows me to combine all these facets of me and all my scientific and creative skills. I hope it will work out because that would be a real dream.

What is the best thing you derive from your art?

The biggest gift my art has brought me is the heartwarming and motivating feeling of having inspired others. I love witnessing shoppers’ reactions to my artwork in person, which is why I pack my schedule with as many local events as I can handle! Knowing that something that inspired me at the time has touched someone else and is now part of their everyday space is a special feeling. I love the connections I have made with clients through my work online or in person. I genuinely enjoy helping them put together a gallery wall for their home, knowing that together we are creating a space that will be their sanctuary and bring them joy.

Join me and about 55 other members of the McGill community on Wednesday, November 1st for the annual "Artists Among Us" show and sale from 12 to 6 p.m in the lobby of the Elizabeth Wirth Music Building (527 Sherbrooke West, Montreal).

Thank you to Neale McDevitt from the McGill Reporter for this fun interview!

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New in shop: The Havana collection

18/8/2017

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In case you missed it: I got to cross off a destination from my bucket-list!

I just returned from Havana, and shared my impressions in words and photographs of the city in my previous blog post.

And now, I'm extremely excited to launch my new Havana collection, which aims to convey the mood and raw beauty that La Habana radiates.

Here are the images that are new in shop, and which could be ordered on paper, canvas, metal, acrylic or wood.

Aging gracefully

Colores cubanos

Fidel

Dreaming in green

El Malecón

Maravillosa

La Cubana

The lady on Villegas

Hasta la victoria siempre

Perfect balance

A colorful life

Obispo

Lions of El Prado

Habana vieja

Deteriorating details

Canvas Doorway

Entreabierta

Out for a stroll

The way

Layers of beauty

Decay and delight

Colores de la Habana

Cuba libre

Look around, look within

Havana style

Like a dream

Melanconia

It's all in the details

Rústico

Hidden beauty

Paseo de Marti

Perfectly imperfect

Prado pleasures

Doorway details

Drawn to you

Which would you choose

Lines

Lavado de ropa

Che is Cuba

Shut the door, please

Ochre palette

Gentle shade

This collection really excites me, not only because I've always wanted to discover Havana, but also because of all the senses and feelings I aimed to capture forever.

The collection is not yet in my art shop or on Etsy. I’m offering FIRST PICK and 20% off to my VIPs until August 25th.

Not on my VIP list? You’re missing out. Join here.

From my heart to yours.

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Now available through the One of a Kind Online Shop

11/8/2017

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This past spring, I was proud to be one of the participating artisans of the One of a Kind Spring Show. I met so many wonderful people during the show, and our conversations about travels and life were mutually inspiring. It made me happy when they found a piece of the world (and of my heart) to take home with them, but I have ESPECIALLY loved hearing from them after the show. I love it when they tell me where the piece hangs and how it brings them joy every time their eyes land on it, or how my art and my stories offer a perspective that they may have missed before.

It is for this precious "connectedness" that I was so excited to set up my *new* One of a Kind Online Shop.

Now, show-goers (and anyone, of course!) can easily find me year-round.

Here's a peek:

If you are stumbling upon Veni Etiam for the first time, WELCOME! Through my travel photographs from near and far, my mission is to inspire and transport you, while enlivening your space. Each piece can be created for you on canvas, aluminum, acrylic, wood or fine-art paper, in the size of your choice. There is something for every decor, mood, memory or dream.

On the OOAK shop, you'll find a selected collection of my prints and wall art from Montreal, Toronto, parts of Europe and Asia, and - coming very soon - Havana.

So, until we meet again at a future OOAK show, you know where to find me!

From my heart to yours.

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Bloom Where Unlikely

The Impossible Spring

Trust the Path

Stand Tall

What Goes Down Must Go Up Again

Chance

Patience

Strength & Hope

Dream Big

Unlocked

Incomplete Without You

Je t'aime

After the Rain

You Have Time

Abundance

The Way

Fede (Faith)

Up!

Minimalist, brutalist, optimist

Navy Blue (Me & You)

Look Up

On Angels' Wings

One Step At a Time

Simplicity

Canopy of Color

Balance

The Poetry of Windows

Patience

Mediterranea

A Light to Remember

Nissa la Bella

Ethereal Beauty

Pressing Pause on Summer

What we see is who we are

Chasing the Muse

You Have Time

All Dressed in White

Chaises bleues

Sunbathing in October

Low Season

I'll Stay

Après-midi

Mixed Feelings

Storybook Pages

The Bells at Sea

Perched

Pretty in Pink

Mindful Meandering

St-Paul de Vence

Growth in Light and Shadows

Antipolis

Port de Nice

Climb Up, Look Down

Place of Dreams

Palette niçoise

À l'aise à Eze

Morning Memories

Vieux Nice

Postcards

The Immovable Sea

Peggy of the Cove

Never Really Still

Hold On

The Great Cape

​Faith in Fair Weather

Hot Summer Wind

Simplicity

Low Tide at the Bay

Just Be

The Day's Promise

Restlessness

Trust the Path

Tangled

On their Bellies

Rain on the Vineyard

Navy Blue (Me & You)

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Aging gracefully

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Kristina Kasparian