Cristina teaching her Intro to Mark Making class
Intro to Mark Making students
Having fun with ink splats
Checking out the marks
Cristina with her paintings at NKollectiv, Abstract Invitational Show, 2023
Bio
I am an abstract, contemporary painter and designer living and working near the foothills outside of Denver, Colorado, with my husband Bill and cat Gertie Bird. I earned a BA in Art & Design from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and am the founder of Sunny Day Design, a one-woman graphic design studio. Throughout my life I have pursued various art forms: dance, violin, bookmaking, photography and writing.
In 2020 I discovered an art form that would quickly turn my world upside down: abstract, intuitive painting. With humility and surprise, I discovered that learning to paint was also uncovering a world of life lessons: what my paintings needed to move forward, my life also needed.
My process begins with a carefully considered color palette of acrylic paint, and mark making. After that, every move on the surface is something new to respond to, and the painting progresses with a balance of wild abandon and practiced art principles. I often work wet-on-wet; scraping back, scrubbing, and applying paint directly with my hands to intuitively express my ideas and emotions.
My theory of art-making is that every painting I create has something to teach me—and if I haven’t learned anything, the painting isn’t finished.
CV
WORKSHOPS
2025
Exercises in Intuitive Creativity
Two Hands Paperie
2024
Intuitive Markmaking
Transforming Creatives
Exercises in Intuitive Creativity
Two Hands Paperie
2023
Introduction to Markmaking
Transforming Creatives
EXHIBITIONS
2026
NO RULES, 65 Women, NKollectiv
Englewood, CO
2025
LITTLE-ton, BIG-ideas, ACC
Littleton, CO
2024
Ripe, Rosebud Cafe
Denver, CO
Body of Knowledge, NEXT Gallery
Lakewood, CO
2023
Abstract Invitational, NKollectiv
Denver, CO
Unstoppable, Rosebud Cafe
Denver, CO
2022
Featured Artist – First Friday Show, Transforming Creatives Gallery
Denver, CO
First Friday Art Shows, Transforming Creatives Gallery
Denver, CO
2021
Summer Jungle Series release
Online
First Friday Art Shows, Transforming Creatives Gallery
Denver, CO
SUNNY DAY DESIGN (Art Director & Principal)
Over the past 15 years, Cristina has worked with organizations nationwide creating award-winning graphic design work. www.sunnydaydesign.org
Clients Include: Denver Health, The George Lucas Education Foundation, Head Start, PBS Education, University of Denver, USC Equity Research Institute
CRISTINA RUTTER PHOTOGRAPHY & MULTIMEDIA
From 2008–2017 Cristina created portraits, photo essays, and story-telling slideshows for prominent nonprofit and educational institutions.
Highlights: Published in Audubon, The Nature Conservancy, and SELF magazines.
Clients Include: Audubon, Chicago Public Schools, The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, The Joyce Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, Northwestern University
MEMBER
Women’s Caucus for Art
RiNo Art District
AWARDS
56th Annual Graphic Design USA Award
Client: Abundant Harvest Aquaponics
Global Award for outstanding healthcare advertising
Client: Sanofi
Rx Club Award for healthcare education design
Clients: Sanofi and Roche
Society of Typographic Arts Archive Award
Client: Wren Homes
EDUCATION
University of Wisconsin, Madison
BA, Art & Design
Columbia College, Chicago
Coursework in documentary photography and photojournalism
Maine Media Workshops, Rockport, Maine
Intensive environmental photojournalism workshop with The Nature Conservancy magazine’s photo editor