Whether Toronto-based artist Kristy Blackwell is painting or drawing (or both), her artwork is fantastically, amazingly realistic. Her subjects show great depth, managing to exude strength while still sneaking flashes of their vulnerability. The combination, typically shown on a featureless background, is really powerful. Her work exudes such confidence, I thought for sure the artist was a woman of advanced age. I was surprised to learn she is only approaching middle age. An old soul, clearly.

“Kristy Blackwell… is always experimenting with materials and palettes, but her subject matter remains consistent – the depiction of strength alongside vulnerability, and the psychological barrier between the inner mind and the infinite. There is common understanding in these personal images: beauty in sadness and in fortitude, beauty in the exposed and in the protected.”

-About Kristy Blackwell

You can see all of Kristy Blackwell’s inspiring work on her website and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

View this post on Instagram

But the lonely are such delicate things. The wind from a wasp could blow them into the sea with stones on their feet, lost to the light and the loving we need. @theshins lyrics from A Comet Appears. They do with words and music what I aspire to do with visual arts. #oilpaint and #goldleaf on #Mylar Approx 36”x40”

A post shared by Kristy Blackwell (@kristyblackwellpaints) on Oct 27, 2017 at 9:44am PDT

View this post on Instagram

11”x14” #oilpainting on #goldleaf panel

A post shared by Kristy Blackwell (@kristyblackwellpaints) on Feb 10, 2019 at 5:14pm PST

View this post on Instagram

Another little. 5”x7” #oilpainting on #panel

A post shared by Kristy Blackwell (@kristyblackwellpaints) on Dec 9, 2018 at 1:14pm PST

View this post on Instagram

Thoughts on a Sunday. Who you are right now is enough. If you want to change something about yourself, do it because it’s right for you, not to try to conform to any gender norms. Because (spoiler ahead) there are none anyway. Too Much. Oil and graphite and frustration on canvas. 36”x36” Swipe for a couple details

A post shared by Kristy Blackwell (@kristyblackwellpaints) on Apr 7, 2019 at 3:07pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Thank you for the feature @art.upon !! #Repost ・・・ Today's Staff Choice: Kristy Blackwell @kristysbee • Visit artupon.com to see more. • Use our tag 👉 #artupon to get featured #painting #oilpainting #oilpaint #painter #yagliboya #resim #oiloncanvas #contemporarypainting #artoninstagram #artcurator #instartist #artistsoninstagram #instart #inspiration #artlover #contemporaryart #artcollector #conceptual #iloveart #artoftheday #kristyblackwell

A post shared by Kristy Blackwell (@kristyblackwellpaints) on May 5, 2017 at 7:31am PDT

View this post on Instagram

Next up for resin! (How is there no nail-biting emoji?) #toaf #torontooutdoorartfair #prep

A post shared by Kristy Blackwell (@kristyblackwellpaints) on Jun 27, 2018 at 7:13am PDT

View this post on Instagram

Getting started.

A post shared by Kristy Blackwell (@kristyblackwellpaints) on May 11, 2018 at 8:52pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

12”x16” #oilpainting on an @ampersand_art #claybord panel. Very different painting on a clay surface. I’ll have to try a few more times before I decide if I like it. 🤔 #experimenting #learning

A post shared by Kristy Blackwell (@kristyblackwellpaints) on Jan 2, 2019 at 3:11pm PST

View this post on Instagram

Self portrait. #oilonmylar #oilpainting #selfportrait #portrait #figurative #torontoart #instaart

A post shared by Kristy Blackwell (@kristyblackwellpaints) on Jun 29, 2015 at 7:20am PDT

View this post on Instagram

One month until the Artist Project, Toronto! 😮 16”x20” oil on textured panel Painting this small on the textured surface was beyond painful. 😖Not my smartest move. Live and learn. 🤷🏻‍♀️

A post shared by Kristy Blackwell (@kristyblackwellpaints) on Jan 20, 2019 at 12:55pm PST