Krista Hartmann has always considered herself an artist, and was invited to join her hometown’s gifted art program at an early age.  Growing up in Lynchburg, Virginia, Krista participated in many shows received several local art awards.  She first focused on realistic pencil drawings that merely exhibited her talent.  As her perfectionist mind produced these intricate renderings, however, she realized she was failing to expand her skills and limiting her expression.  She began to explore new mediums, including oil pastels and charcoal, which forced her away from her realistic past.  Her passion for art intensified as her style morphed from dull still lifes to fervent, impressionistic portraits.  At UVA, Krista has progressed from expressionism to pure abstraction and is currently interested in the combination of abstract watercolor with the delicate lines and marks created by ink pens.  Krista’s skills as an artist—specifically her self-determination, critical thinking, and creativity—assist her in her scientific research pursuits.  She hopes to double major in Studio Art and Biology and eventually explore the therapeutic qualities of art in medicine.