Krista is an artist and illustrator from Boise, Idaho. She graduated from Boise State University Honors College with her BFA in Illustration, Summa Cum Laude. She is pursuing a career in character design and children's illustration. Never shy of any art medium, Krista enjoys regular experimentation while maintaining thematically bright colors. Her favorite subject matter explores themes such as animals and nature, inclusivity, and whimsical fantasy.
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When she doesn't have a pencil or paintbrush in hand, Krista can be found dancing her heart out, curled up with a book and her cat, or exploring the world journal and camera in hand.
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For all inquiries please reach out by email at hamel.krista@gmail.com
About Me
Photo by Cheli Feldman
Education
BFA Illustration
Dean’s List, High Honors: GPA: 3.962
Boise State University, Boise, ID: May 2024
Art and Design
The College of Idaho, Caldwell, ID: 2019-2021
Work Experience
2023-Onging – Instructor at "Wine and Design" in Boise, ID
2023 – Partner with Red Aspen to hand-paint their annual “Red Aspen Value Awards”
2022 – Partner with Boise State Venture College to redesign Chalk-Board Space
2022 – Partner with Red Aspen to hand-paint their annual “Red Aspen Value Awards”
2021 – Commissioned to Illustrate six book covers for Louise F Karther
2021 – Taught Beginner’s Drawing class for adults, River Barn, Star, ID
2021 – Taught Beginner’s Painting class for 7-12 year old students, River Barn, Star, ID
2021 – Sticker Design Commissions for ASCI (Student Government Council for Diversity and Inclusion)
2021 – Published artwork in January issue of The Coyote (College of Idaho Newspaper)
2020 – Taught beginners' Summer Art Camp in 2D media for 10-14-year old students, River Barn, Star, ID
2020 – Commissioned to Illustrate a book cover for Debby L Wynkoop
Solo and Collaborative Exhibitions
2024 – Spring 2024 BFA Exhibition, Boise State Blue Galleries, Boise, ID
2024 – Fan Art Exhibition, Albertson’s Library, Boise, ID
2023 – All That is Small At City Hall, Eagle City Hall, Eagle, ID
2023 – Fine Art Division, Western Idaho Fair, Expo Idaho, Boise ID
2022 – Fine Art Division, Western Idaho Fair, Expo Idaho, Boise ID
2022 – Creative Innovators Sustainability Exhibition, Student Union Building, Boise State University, Boise, ID
2022 – Spark Change Earth Day Pop Up Gallery, Center of Visual Arts, Boise State University, Boise, ID
2022 – 2022 Youth Climate Summit, Jack’s Urban Meeting Place, Boise, ID
2022 – Art for Climate Boise Exhibition, Lisk Gallery, Boise, ID
2021 – Look a Little Closer, CVA 439, Boise State University, Boise, ID
2021 – Fine Art Division, Western Idaho Fair, Expo Idaho, Boise, ID
2020 – The Illustrated Narrative or: It’s All About the Visuals Baby, Cruzen-Murray Library, The College of Idaho, Caldwell, ID
2020 – Winter Student Exhibition, Corridor Gallery, The College of Idaho, Caldwell, ID
2019 – Fall Student Exhibition, Corridor Gallery, The College of Idaho, Caldwell, ID
2019 – Paper Cranes Installation, Corridor Gallery, The College of Idaho, Caldwell, ID
2019 – Amateur Adult Division, Western Idaho Fair, Expo Idaho, Boise, ID
2019 – Frayed and Fragmented: Our Human Footprint, Jacks Urban Meeting Place, Boise, ID
2018 – Youth Division, Western Idaho Fair, Expo Idaho, Boise, ID
2017 – Youth Division, Western Idaho Fair, Expo Idaho, Boise, ID
Honors, Awards, Grants
2023-24 – Guss Honors Scholarship, Boise, ID
2023-24 – King Family Honors Scholarship, Boise, ID
2023-24 – Idaho Opportunity Scholarship, Boise, ID
2023 – Brown Honors Scholarship, Boise, ID
2023 – First Place in Fantasy Painting
Western Idaho Fair – Amateur Adult Division
2023 – Special Award from Craft Warehouse
Western Idaho Fair – Amateur Adult Division
2022 – Presidential Transfer Scholars Scholarship, Boise, ID
2022 – People’s Choice Winner
Western Idaho Fair – Fine Art
2022 – Third Place in Still Life Drawing
Western Idaho Fair – Amateur Adult Division
2021 – Most Promising Mixed Media Artist sponsored by Quality Art,
Western Idaho Fair Contest – Amateur Adult Division
2021 – Second place in Mixed Media,
Western Idaho Fair Contest – Amateur Adult Division
2021 – Invited to Present at the 16th Annual C of I Research Conference
2021 – First Place Winning Logo Design For College of Idaho Care Packages
2020 – Art Department: Academic Award, The College of Idaho
2019 – Fine Arts: Arts Scholarship, The College of Idaho
2019 – Honorable Mention in Photography,
Western Idaho Fair Contest – Amateur Adult Division
2018 – Embroiderers Guild Award
Western Idaho Fair Contest – Youth Division
2018 – Embroiderers Guild Award
Western Idaho Fair Contest – Youth Division
2018 – Second Place Colored Pencil Drawing
Western Idaho Fair Contest – Youth Division
2018 – Second Place Photography
Western Idaho Fair Contest – Youth Division
2018 – Third Place Acrylic Painting
Western Idaho Fair Contest – Youth Division
2017 – Superintendents Choice for Photography
Western Idaho Fair Contest – Youth Division
2017 – First Place in Mixed Media
Western Idaho Fair Contest – Youth Division
2017 – Second Place in Acrylic Painting
Western Idaho Fair Contest – Youth Division
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Bibliography
"Bridging art and science: students create resources for the youth and genetic disorders," Boise State News: College of Health and Science, Jan 2025, https://www.boisestate.edu/healthsciences/blog/2025/01/10/bridging-art-and-science-students-create-resources-for-the-youth-and-genetic-disorders/
“Construction vs. Deconstruction,” The Aisthesis, Vol. 15 No. 1, 2024, https://pubs.lib.umn.edu/index.php/aisthesis/issue/view/308
The Coyote: The College of Idaho Newspaper, 9th Issue, May 2021
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Publication
"Red Ridin' in the Hood and Other Cuentos," (Amazon Publishing, 2025)
“My Brother is a Kool Kid,” McKenzie Bell and Krista Hamel (Amazon Publishing, 2024)
“Blossoms in the Desert,” Debby L Wynkoop, Illustrated cover by Krista Hamel (Amazon Publishing, 2020)
