Painting rooted in story and place

Commissions.
Illustration. Prints.

I paint the landscapes, plants, and spaces you love, from Northern California and beyond - a favorite ridge view, an ancient oak, or a small organic garden. I also make murals, interpretive signage, and botanical illustration for organizations that care for the places they serve.

Let's make something
Looking for the Light, an oil painting of a moonlit forest path.
Looking for the Light, an oil painting of a moonlit forest path.

For homes
Painted from your story.

See Commissions
Pacific Blackberries, oil painting of ripe blackberries and green leaves.
Pacific Blackberries, oil painting of ripe blackberries and green leaves.

For businesses and publishers
Drawn from close observation.

See Illustration
A man walking a golden retriever dog inside a room with wooden floors, beige walls, and a large landscape mural of a river, green hills, and yellow mountains on the wall. There are three empty chairs with green seats lined up against the mural.
A man walking a golden retriever dog inside a room with wooden floors, beige walls, and a large landscape mural of a river, green hills, and yellow mountains on the wall. There are three empty chairs with green seats lined up against the mural.

For public and nonprofit projects
Made to be shared.

See Public Work
Healing Hellebores, a watercolor painting of pink and white hellebore blooms from my backyard garden.

Why work with me

Made by a human. I build compositions by drawing and painting from observation. My work carries the irregularity and spirit of something made by hand.

Built around your story. My projects all start with listening. I find the images inside what you're describing, and I stay in close conversation with you throughout the project. The result is a piece made for a specific time, place, and audience.

Place, in particular. I pay attention to the ecology, light, and history of a site, and to how the people who spend time there will encounter the work.

Kristina Young working at the table in her art studio, surrounded by supplies and finished paintings.

I'm Kristina

a painter and illustrator working mostly in oil and watercolor, drawn to native flora, landscape, and the stories of particular places. I've kept a studio practice for thirty years and opened Studio KLY full time in Napa in 2014. The work I take on now is commissioned painting, botanical illustration, and ongoing personal projects.

MORE ABOUT MY PRACTICE

Follow Studio KLY on Instagram

After the 2025 calendar went out, a few of you called asking when the next one was coming. It’s coming! The 2027 calendar is twelve of my California native plant paintings, from Sword Fern in January to Toyon in December, all from the Coming H
Scenes from the second annual coastal art retreat with @sue_bradford last week. It started a little rough. My car gave out on 101 in Santa Rosa at 4pm, but AAA saved the day yet again! I waited with the tow and my 17 bags (food, paint, clothes, etc
Fall is here. My studio smells like these delicious pink lady apples from @jjramosfarms. I am happy. 🍎 Prints coming. Stay tuned. #autumnalvibes #pinkladyapples #watercolorprocessvideo #isupportfarmersmarkets
Today’s still life starring veg from Long Meadow Ranch: a striped Italian eggplant and a plump poblano pepper resting on a favorite plate from Sonoma artist, Hiroko Ishida. LMR’s pile of purple eggplant drew me into their booth and this
'River of Light' is installed. This one is 42x80", oil on panel, painted as a commission over a couple months of studio time. The image references the view from the client’s family home, looking over the valley at the Napa River winding so
Morning figs Good morning, figs. Thank you for Your sweetness, Your quiet, regal purpleness. Your coy magenta stems. A contradiction, your temptation. Watching your Soft skins come alive in the Saturday sunshine Fills me with happiness. While