Cristina Acosta — California artist and designer.

Cristina Acosta — California artist and designer.

Cristina Acosta is an artist, color expert, interior designer and garden designer based in the Southern California desert Palm Springs area.

She serves a diverse range of residential, commercial and institutional clients with a clean and elegant aesthetic.

Cristina Acosta isn’t your average color consultant and designer. She began her professional art life as a journeyman outdoor advertising billboard mural and lettering artist. There, she honed her color skills matching and mixing by eye and hand, thousands of colors.

She has enjoyed a broad-based career as an artist including:

  • Artisan tile and home decor designer
  • Art Gallery Owner
  • College art instructor
  • Children’s book illustrator
  • Author of the art book, Paint Happy! (F+W pub, North Light Books) and contributor to many publications.

    All images and text ©2020 Cristina Acosta

Reviews

“Cristina has the ability to draw out of a person the colors that are personally comfortable for their lifestyle. I like a lot of colors and got overwhelmed when building my house. Cristina goes beyond the usual decorator. With her artist’s insight she’s aware of how to help me choose colors I personally liked and make the decisions about how to make everything come together. The result is a home I love!”

— Mimi Graves, Former CFO, Robert Muir Graves, Ltd.

“We remodeled the old church on Newport Avenue. When choosing exterior paint colors, my anxiety level increased tremendously, since the building has such high visibility.  I called Cristina and she was able to totally remove this anxiety from the decision-making process. She was accessible and fun to work with. Cristina presented a range of color solutions, which we whittled down to our ultimate choices. Cristina made a process enjoyable that could have been otherwise frustrating and nerve-wracking.  She brought a confidence and experience to the job that was comforting to us. We immediately felt relieved that we’d make good choices regarding our colors with Cristina.”

—John Picarazzi,Business Owner, Bend, Oregon.”

“When working to distinguish our sales floor from our competition, we relied on Cristina’s expertise 100%. Not only were the colors choices perfect for setting the feel of our store, but they also have a personal connection for both my wife and me. Not only did we have a great colors when we opened Pine Mountain Sports, but Cristina even set us up with future colors as well. We strongly recommend Cristina again and again!”

—Dan and Michelle McGarigle, Pine Mt. Sports, Bend, Oregon”

“The color consulting Cristina did for us at Patio World was outstanding.  Our high ceilings in the showroom looked like a mausoleum with a monotonous off-white throughout 6,000 sq. ft. and needed something dramatic.  Cristina’s choices , her  fee was a tiny percentage of the total cost of our remodel project. Her largest contribution was to create the ambiance we envisioned. Thanks to Cristina, we created a very comfortable environment that has elicited praise from many customers.”

—Scott Holmer, Patio World, Bend, Oregon.”

Cristina Acosta – Resume April 2023 

 Born: Los Angeles, California, 1959     

Related Arts Employment 

Cristina Acosta Arts & Design llc:  1984 - present

    • Architectural Color Consulting Specialist:  Residential, commercial, institutional. 1998 - present.

    • Landscape Design: residential and light commercial - 2010 - present

    • Cristina Acosta Signature  Decor (Ceramic Tile Business): - Designed, manufactured, marketed, sold the Cristina Acosta Signature Line of ceramic tile.  1991– 2001. 

      • National distribution - Ann Sacks Tile & Stone, Home Depot, etc.

      • Acosta transitioned her  6 year artisan art tile process into a  manufacturing process and aligned with  Westminster Tile in California, for production and fulfillment. Acosta created and managed national distribution of her signature tile line: 1991-2002

    • Licensed Art Images - Images for greeting cards and home décor items; floor mats, greeting cards, etc: 1993 – 2000.

    • Author and writer and illustrator- Wrote and illustrated, Paint Happy. Columnist for Latina Style magazine's design column, "Su Casa". Contributor to various books, blogs and periodicals over the years: 1991-present.

    • Sign and mural painter –  Holiday and promotional non-permanent signs on store windows. Central Oregon, Springfield, and Eugene, Oregon: 1984 –1994. 

    • Consistently exhibited fine art in juried and invitational shows: 1984-present.

  • UCR University California Riverside - Usher program: Drawing Meditation classes taught on Zoom per COVID pandemic. Fall 2021

  • Central Oregon Community College - Adjunct Art Instructor, Bend, Oregon: Figure Drawing, Drawing, Painting. Sept. 1990 -1995. 

  • Billboard Lettering and Mural artist – Outdoor advertising billboard painter, Carlson Sign Company, Bend, Oregon 1988 -1990.  

  • Lettering artist - Safeway Stores, Bend, Eugene, Oregon – show card and display signs. Taught sign makers 1987, 1988. 

 Selected Group Exhibits & Gallery Representation – 2004 to Present 

  • Eadington Gallery, Tahoe City, CA - Gallery artist 2020 - Present.

  • Gallery 5830, Truckee, CA - Gallery artist 2016 - Present.

  • Angela Ivy Gallery, Big Bear Lake, CA - Exhibit May, June 2023. 

  • Intersect 2023 Palm Springs - Juried painting in Intersect booth via Desert Open Studios, February 2023

  • Northwest by Northwest Gallery, Cannon Beach, Oregon - Gallery artist 2016 - 2020 

  • The Grand, Jackson, WY - Gallery Artist 2016-2019 Terzian Gallery, Park City, UT - Gallery Artist 2016-2018 

  • Alpine Home Gallery, Tahoe City, CA - Gallery artist 2016-2017 

  • Various art festival exhibits: 2013-2022 including (selected) -- 

    • South Lake Tahoe, La Quinta, Palm Springs, Indian Wells, CA 

    • Old Town San Diego Art Festival – Oct. 2012, San Diego, CA 

    • Balloon Fiesta and Rio Grande Arts Festival – Oct. 2011 , Albuquerque, New Mexico Tahoe Arts Council – July 2011, 

    • Art in the Park, Lake Tahoe, California 

    • Westfest Art Fair – March 2011, Palm Springs, 

  • California High Desert Gallery, Bend, Sisters and Redmond, OR – 2008 - 2010 Gallery Representation. 

  • Chimaya Gallery – Los Angeles, CA 2009-2010. 

  • Portland City Hall, Latino Latina American Heritage Exhibit, Portland, OR – Sept./Oct. 2008. 

  • Jacobs Gallery, Hult Center, Eugene, OR – April/May 2008. Latino Visions. 

  • Hood River Arts Association, Hood River, OR, Oct. 2005 –

  • Invitational Group Exhibit. includes Artist Talk Mirror Pond Art Gallery – Bend, OR, Celebracion! Invitational  exhibit of Latino artists. May 2005 

  • Belinki & Duprey Gallery -- Portland, OR: Arte Vivo –12 regional Latino artists. Oct 2004 

  • Larson Gallery -- Yakima Community College, Yakima, WA. Sept. 12, 2004-Oct. 9,2004. “Artistas de La  Raza Cosmica. 30 National Latino artists. Five oils. 

  • Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Summer, 2004, Portland, OR. Paintings 


Selected Listings: Instructor – Speaker – Curator — Artist in Residence   

  • Artist in Residence: 

    • 2019 Tallac Historic Site, South Lake Tahoe, CA., Painter in the historic Pope Studio -- 3 months, July, Aug, Sept.

    •  2018 Tallac Historic Site, South Lake Tahoe, CA., Painter in Residence 6 weeks, July-Sept. 

  • Instructor: College, Museum, Library and School courses - Art Workshops: nationwide.  Available at Present.

    • Oregon Historical Society, Oregon Folklife Program, Las Artes Tradicionales en las Comunidad, 4 week class: Retablos Ex-votos, a traditional Latino arts March 2002. 

    • Central Oregon Community College, Bend,OR: Figure Drawing, Drawing, Painting. Sept. 1990 -1995. 

    • The High Desert Museum, Central OR Community College, painting. Bend Metro Parks & Recreation; 1995-2005 occasionally - painting and drawing classes.

    • Central Oregon Arts Assoc. -- Occasional classes 1988 to 2013. 

    • Oregon Historical Society, Oregon Folklife Program, Las Artes Tradicionales en las Comunidad, 4 week class: Retablos Ex-votos, a traditional Latino art form. March 2002.  

Speaker: Library, Education and Gallery  Talks. 

  • Including:  Central Oregon Community College, Bend, OR. Nordstrom Store, Salem, OR. Yakima Allied Arts Gallery, Yakima, WA.

  • Female Spirituality Conference. Forest Grove, OR, Pacific University, Feminist Studies Program & Central Pacific Conference of the United Church of Christ

  • Curator: Mirror Pond Art Gallery – Bend, OR, Celebracion! Invitational  exhibit of Latino artists. 


 Books -- Authored  

  • Paint Happy, authored and paintings by Cristina Acosta.  Published, North Light Books, F&W Publications, Cincinnati, Ohio. August, 2002, reprinted Sept. 2004. 119 page art book.  

 Books -- Illustrated 

  • Jane and the Giant Poop, written by Steve Hodges, M.D., and Suzanne Schlosberg, illustrated by Cristina Acosta. O’Reagan Press, 2019. 

  • Bedwetting and Accidents Aren’t Your Fault, written by Steve Hodges, M.D., and Suzanne Schlosberg, illustrated by Cristina Acosta. O’Reagan Press, 2015.   

  • When Woman Became the Sea, illustrated by Cristina Acosta, written by Susan Strauss, published Beyond Words Publishing, Portland, Oregon, ©1998.  32 page children’s picture book. 

 Books -- Contributed 

  • The Clay Lover’s Guide to Making Molds, by Pierce Clatyon, Lark Books Div. Altamont Press, Asheville, NC, ©1997.  Page 52, picture of Cristina’s three mosaic lamps, Page 117, ceramic teapot, attributions. 

  • Triumph of Our Communities – Four Decades of Mexican American Art, by Gary D. Keller and Amy Phillips, Bilingual Press/Editorial Bilingue, Arizona State University. Page 16 featuring Acosta’s paintings. 

  • Finding Your Visual Voice: A Painter's Guide to Developing an Artistic Style, by Dakota Mitchell and Lee Haroun, North Light Books, Feb. 2007,featuring  four of Cristina's images. 

  • When Woman Became the Sea, illustrated by Cristina Acosta, written by Susan Strauss, Beyond Words Publishing, Portland, Oregon. ©1998.  32 page children’s picture book. 

  • Ceramic Art Tile for the Home, by Debora Goletz, Shiffer Books, Tile and ceramic wares; the foreword pages 6 and 7, and three other pages in the book.  ©2001 Tile by Jill Herbers, Artisan, Div. of Workman Publishing Company, Inc., New York, NY, ©1996, page 80.   Picture of Crane Kitchen, Beverly Hills, Calif. Brief description and appendices. 

  • Handbuilt Ceramics, by Kathy Triplett, Lark Books, Asheville, NC, ©1997, page 27, Picture of ceramic pitchers, attribution. 

  • The Clay Lover’s Guide to Making Molds, by Pierce Clatyon, Lark Books Div. Altamont Press, Asheville, NC, ©1997.  Page 52, picture of Cristina’s three mosaic lamps, Page 117, ceramic teapot, attributions. 

 

Selected Print Interviews 

  • The Desert Sun - Palm Springs, CA 2016. Interview print and video. The Oregonian – Portland, OR, Dec. 22, 2005. Home & Garden insert. Cover, 4 p. interview, p. 7-10 

  • El Hispanic News -- Oregon and Southwest WA Bilingual Newspaper, August 11,205, Vol. XXIV No. 32. Interview and Cover of “Mas” insert 

  • Paint Décor -- Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publication, Winter Issue October 2004 to  Jan 18, 2005, pages 20 through 31. – For the Fun of It! Artist Cristina Acosta offers a fairy-tale guide to  painting ceramics “as if you own the paint store.”  Feature article showcasing Acosta’s designs on tableware. 

  • Good Housekeeping – Do it Yourself, Winter 2002, page 65. “Contain Yourself – Create a fiesta of living color by growing your plants in containers”. Article featured 5 pages of Cristina’s mosaic pots. 

  • Decorate with Paint, Country Sampler Decorating Ideas, Nov. 2002, page 45, “Waves of Inspiration”. Eleven page interview with pictures of my home.  Describing the painted walls of artist’s home and pictures of fine art paintings. 

  • Good Housekeeping Do it Yourself, Fall 1988, Hearst Publications. “Tips from a tile artist,” by Allison Kyle Leopold. Page 14,15,105.  Three page interview , pictures of paintings and ceramics. 

  • Latina Magazine, “lo nuevo/news” dept.  “Tiles with style.” Short interview and pictures .Page 35, December/January 1997. 


Reviews 
Paint Happy

  • Artist’s Sketchbook, “Brain Food” on page 54, April, 2003 issue. 

  • The Artist’s Magazine, December 2002, “Season’s Readings”, page 55, by Allison Rost. 

  • Today’s Books, “Best Reads”, Public News Service, November 11, 2002. 

  • Orange County Home, “The Bookshelf”, October, 2002. page 30 

When Woman Became the Sea: Reviews of Cristina’s illustrations in children’s picture book: 

  •  Bookman’s Weekly, November 1998 

  •  Booklist, October 1998 

  •  Kirkus Reviews, September 1998

  •  School Library Journal, February 1998 


 Awards 

  • Habitat for Humanity - Bend, OR Branch: 2004/05/06 Garnered $20,000. Grant from Benjamin Moore Corporate for paint for Silverlake  subdivision Habitat clients to be used for paint product. Donated consulting services to the clients over 2 years.  

  • Latina Magazine annual award listing: February 2004, “What We Love: 47 People, Places, & Cositas every mujer must know.” Page 105, #33  

  • ASW- Art Supply Warehouse “cover contest”, $1,000. Prize plus featured cover artist “Winter Sale” catalog.  The painting – “Juggling Stars”. Feb 2003. 


 Solo Exhibits 

  • Angela Ivy Gallery, Big Bear Lake, CA - Painting, May/June 2023.

  • St. Charles Hospital, Bend, OR – Paintings, Spring 2008.  

  • Onda Arte Latina, Portland, OR – Paintings, June 2006. 

  • Pettibone Art Gallery, Bend, OR – Paintings, April 2006. 

  • University of Washington, Vancouver, WA – Library Exhibit. May 2005 – Oct. 2005. Artist Talk. 

  • The Welcome Center – Bend, Oregon.  Paintings.  July/August 1992. 

  • Sunriver Lodge, Upper Gallery – Sunriver, Oregon.  Paintings.  Oct/Nov. 1992. 

  • Central Oregon Community College, Pinkney Gallery, Bend, Oregon.  Paintings, drawings, 1987. 


 Museum Exhibits 

  • Arizona State University Museum of Anthropology, Tucson, AZ, October 2008 -Jan 2009, 9th  Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival (Day of the Dead).

  • High Desert Museum, Bend, Oregon – Hispanic Culture Celebration – April 2006

  • Maryhill Museum of Art, Goldendale, WA – People, Places and Perceptions: A Look at Contemporary Latino Art in the Northwest, July – Nov. 2005. 

  • Maryhill Museum of Art, Goldendale, WA – Dia de los Muertos event, October 2004, 2005.

  • Grants Pass Museum of Art, Grants Pass, Oregon –Solo exhibit, North Gallery. April 1995. 


 Education

  • 2020  UC Riverside County Master Gardener Program

  • 1988 University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon -- BFA, Painting 

  • 1984 Central Oregon Community College, Bend, Oregon -- AA, Fine Arts