Cristin Buys
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cristinbuys.bsky.social
Cristin Buys
@cristinbuys.bsky.social
120 followers 170 following 40 posts
Illustrator, author, and dog-lover!
💖 🎨📚🐶
🎨 currently seeking representation
🎨 Storyteller Academy and SCBWI member
🎨 Featured in the Storyteller Academy Showcase 2023
🎨 www.cristinbuys.com
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cristinbuys.bsky.social
#kidlitartpostcard for May! I'm a Colorado illustrator and I love playing with textures and color in my collages. I also think the cello is one of the prettiest instruments 🎻

#collageillustration #catillustration #musicillustration #chipmunkillustration #celloillustration #kidlit #kidlitart
This is a collaged artwork featuring a grey striped cat, standing on a blue stool, happily playing a bright pink cello that's twice her size. A small chipmunk, perched on a blue music stand, conducts. A large pink C is in the upper right corner, and the handlettered text at the bottom reads "Chipmunk conducing a cellist cat." The top of the image directs you to the website of the artist, www.cristinbuys.com
May 1, 2025 at 4:23 PM
cristinbuys.bsky.social
I’ve tried a few times to grow carrots in my garden, but I’ve never been able to get anything bigger than my pinky… at least I can collage them! 🙃

#carrotillustration #vegetableillustration
#carrots
Brightly collaged orange carrots with long green tops on a white background.
April 30, 2025 at 1:50 AM
cristinbuys.bsky.social
Reworked one of my old pieces and I'm much happier with how this one turned out. It's nice to see growth after all my hard work 💖 And who wouldn't want a sweet firefly friend to provide some light for bedtime reading?
#kidlitartpostcard #collageillustration #ladybugillustration #kidlitart
This collaged artwork shows a ladybug snuggled up under a mushroom at night, happily reading a book and wearing pink rainboots. Her firefly friend reads over her shoulder, illuminating the space under the mushroom so that they can both read at bedtime.
April 3, 2025 at 4:37 PM
cristinbuys.bsky.social
This felt fitting for March’s #kidlitartpostcard. Here’s to windy days for flying kites! 🪁
#kidlit #collageillustration #squirrelillustration
A collage of a delighted squirrel flying through the sky on a found kite on a windy grey day. Two birds and a squirrel in a tree look on with concern!
March 6, 2025 at 10:20 PM
cristinbuys.bsky.social
Working on a little firefly this morning! #kidlitart
A dark blue collage firefly is held over a red splatter painted background with a pair of tweezers. The firefly has rosy cheeks and a sweet smile.
February 11, 2025 at 7:38 PM
cristinbuys.bsky.social
February #kidlitartpostcard ! Apparently yesterday was National Western Monarch Day so I'm reposting art from a few months ago that felt appropriate. 🌸

#kidlitart #butterflyillustration
Collaged artwork that reads Monarch Life Cycle in handlettering on the bottom. Two large milkweed plants with pink flowers are featured on a white background. The milkweed host the various life stages of the monarch butterfly: the egg, the caterpillar, the chrysalis, and the beautiful orange and black butterfly.
February 6, 2025 at 6:48 PM
cristinbuys.bsky.social
I’ve got a lot of things to do today but it’s been hard to focus lately, so I made some snakes for #chinesenewyear instead. 🐍

I used Este Macleod ‘s color prompts: rust, pistachio, turmeric, and green grey. #snakeillustration
#coloricombo
Two colorful, symmetrical snakes on a white background. The collaged paper is watercolored with a variety of textures. Colorful, abstract watercolor paper with a variety of additive and subtractive textures on top of a wet on wet blended base layer.
February 3, 2025 at 10:44 PM
cristinbuys.bsky.social
Made my first loaf of sourdough this week. Looking forward to many more! #sourdough
A round boule of freshly baked sourdough sits on a wooden cutting board.
January 22, 2025 at 8:31 PM
cristinbuys.bsky.social
@birbfest.challenge for this week - kind of a strange color palette but I stuck with it! I love all these colors separately but I’m thinking they need a few brighter colors to liven them up.

#birdillustration
Colored pencil drawings of 5 birds in a small sketchbook: barn owl, phainopepla, great crested grebe, masked trogon, and a Wyandotte chicken. Art materials sit by the sketchbook.
January 18, 2025 at 7:05 PM
cristinbuys.bsky.social
First #kidlitartpostcard of 2025! I'm Cristin, a collage artist from Colorado. I love colors, textures, and experimenting with new ideas to grow as an artist 💖🖌️and I'd love to work with you!

#catillustration #kidlit
A cut paper illustration of a girl, dressed in cat pajamas, mimicking her cat as they both travel along the back of the couch.
January 2, 2025 at 5:37 PM
cristinbuys.bsky.social
Haven’t had much time this break but I finished this #collage! Much happier with this version of it. #vegetables
A paper collage of whole and sliced radishes.
December 28, 2024 at 5:20 PM
cristinbuys.bsky.social
Playing around with some different veggies. This one's not glued down yet - debating the lettering and if I want to go in a different direction! #foodillustration
A collage of deep red radishes, laid down in a watercolor notebook. Blocky collaged text reads "radishes" in the same colors as the artwork.
December 12, 2024 at 10:36 PM
cristinbuys.bsky.social
Some color in my #sketchbook for a cold Saturday morning🎨 #colorwheel
A collaged color wheel, showcasing a variety of textures and patterns using homemade papers!
December 7, 2024 at 7:58 PM
cristinbuys.bsky.social
Hello #kidlitartpostcard! I'm Cristin, a collage artist from Colorado. I love colors, textures, and experimenting with new ideas to grow as an artist 💖🖌️#kidlit
December 5, 2024 at 10:42 PM
cristinbuys.bsky.social
Something a little different for today, although still #collage art. Just finished up this robin (still need to get a final varnish on it, but I wanted to get a picture before the sun set!)
#robin
A robin collage made of tiny torn bits of painted paper. The robin rests on a branch with tiny leaves and white flowers. A close up of robin collage made of tiny torn bits of painted paper. The robin rests on a branch with tiny green leaves and white flowers.
November 20, 2024 at 10:45 PM
cristinbuys.bsky.social
Thank you!
A girl wearing a cat suit peers through an aquarium next to her cat. The girl looks on in horror as the cat licks his lips at the sight of a goldfish.
November 20, 2024 at 10:39 PM
cristinbuys.bsky.social
Little sketchbook collage for Friday morning, although most of our snow here in Denver has melted!

#kidlitart
Collaged, colorful artwork of three kids, bundled up in the snow!
November 15, 2024 at 3:38 PM
cristinbuys.bsky.social
Posting an old #kidlitartpostcard for today. Trying to take a break from social media for a day or two.
A collage illustration of a large purple hippo playing the harp. Two smaller purple hippos sit on the rug below her, listening intently. Text on the bottom reads "Cristin Buys Illustration" and "cristinbuys.com".
November 8, 2024 at 12:25 AM
cristinbuys.bsky.social
DOUG DIGS: It’s naptime for Doug the dog - but where is his beloved stuffed animal, Mousie? He can't sleep without her!
With perseverance and lots of dirt, Doug creates playful chaos as he searches. When he discovers something big underground, will he have to give up and nap alone?
#skypitch
Collaged artwork of a dog joyfully digging under a tree with golden, falling leaves. The dog's beloved stuffed Mouse sits at the base of the tree, holding a plastic shovel.
October 24, 2024 at 3:53 AM
cristinbuys.bsky.social
#theydrawtober for October 3: salty snack! Apparently October is National Pretzel Month, so you should have a pretzel soon 😊🥨

#kidlitart #foodillustration #theydrawtober2024
Mixed media artwork of a watercolor pretzel with salt sprinkled on it. There’s a bright blue gouache background and the word pretzel is painted below.
October 3, 2024 at 10:26 PM
cristinbuys.bsky.social
#kidlitartpostcard for October! I’m so excited for fall but it’s actually pretty hot here still in Denver. Hoping it will cool down soon so I can wear my sweaters!

#kidlitart #catilllustration
Collaged artwork of a girl and her cat, peering into an aquarium. The cat is licking his lips, the inhabitants of the aquarium are scared or hiding, and the girl, dressed in a cat costume, is shocked. Across the top of the illustration it reads “Cristin Buys illustration”
October 2, 2024 at 2:08 PM
cristinbuys.bsky.social
The next scene for the character I'm working on - Doug - with his beloved stuffed mouse. Are you ready for snow? I love wearing a cozy sweater but I'm quite ready for winter yet!
#kidlitart #dogillustration
Circular collaged illustration of a dog in the snow, chewing on a carrot. His beloved stuffed mouse sits next to him, and in the background, a snowman with an unhappy face watches his nose get devoured.
October 1, 2024 at 5:10 PM
cristinbuys.bsky.social
Newest collage for the character I'm working on - a mischievous dog named Doug and his beloved stuffed Mousie.

#kidlitart #dogillustration
Collaged artwork of a dog joyfully digging under a tree with golden, falling leaves. The dog's beloved stuffed Mouse sits at the base of the tree, holding a plastic shovel.
September 24, 2024 at 3:12 PM
cristinbuys.bsky.social
I was sketching otters and I thought - this mama otter is so sweet, but she looks tired. Baby snuggles are always nicer with a hot cup of coffee ☕
#kidlitart
Collaged artwork of a mama otter, floating in the ocean, snuggling her sleeping baby who holds a shell. The mama otter has a warm cup of coffee in one hand and is content to float along, sipping her coffee and watching her sweet sleeping baby.
September 17, 2024 at 3:55 PM
cristinbuys.bsky.social
Already September’s #kidlitartpostcard ! Monarch butterfly life cycle collage, inspired by my sister’s love of butterflies growing up. I loved using all the different textures in the leaves for this one… and cutting out a bazillion tiny flowers! 🌸
#kidlitart #kidlit
A handmade and hand lettered monarch butterfly collage. The art shows the cycle of the egg, the caterpillar, the chrysalis, and the butterfly on two milkweed plants.
September 6, 2024 at 3:56 AM