The river welds its muse to shape the stories we tell ourselves.

Ask people to look at what the water is saying, hear her poetry, and sense her magic. We feel so much better sitting at the river’s edge.

— KRISTIN MAIJA PETERSON

River Divinations

This series began with an audio story recorded by a first-year University of Saint Thomas student telling about his experiences with the Mississippi River. Wanting to take an authentic approach to the project (Mississippi River Stories Exhibit), I retraced this student’s steps as best I could and discovered a portal into an oasis of peace and beauty.

Light filtered through flaming autumn maple leaves in stunning color, creating a magical experience. I began taking lots of reference photos and, in doing so, noticed patterns and arrangements of rocks, seeds, sticks, leaves, and sand along the shore. It made me start thinking about divinations and their meaning.

We live in Minnesota, a state with the most freshwater in the world, home to the source of the Mississippi River. Water shapes our stories, songs, art, and culture. Though we have made efforts in restoration and conservation, we have done much damage to our life-giving water. It’s time to wake up to what the river is telling us.

Mississippi River shoreline sand, scattered rocks, leaves, seeds, watercolor painting by Minnesota artist Kristin Maija Peterson — part of the River Divination series

River Divination No. 1

READING THE MISSISSIPPI SHORE
This watercolor was created in participation with the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO), The Natural Heritage Project, and the University of St. Thomas’ Sustainable Communities Project for the exhibit Mississippi River Stories.

DETAILS
$2000
Watercolor on 300 lb. 100% Cotton Hot Press Fabriano Watercolor Paper. Painting: 24” x 18.” Framed: 36” x 30.5.” Professionally framed with generous double thick white mat in simple pine wooden frame with plexiglass.

Read the Back Story

We Will Know When We Get There a new 2023 watercolor by Kristin Maija Peterson as part of her River Divination series

River Divination No. 3

WE WILL KNOW WHEN WE GET THERE
This piece is an extension of River Divination No. 2: Passing Through. You can see a few of the same stones, the rusted bolt washed up long ago, and a dog’s paw print in the sand, but from a different perspective and lighting. It’s how our minds view and interpret the world, looking for signs to guide us on where to go next. The strong afternoon light, in contrast to what could be my shadow, stood there, observing the patterns and organic forms designed by the river, whispering to me where I should go next. $1500

Original watercolor — In Private Collection
Limited-edition archival prints available for collectors

View Limited Edition Print

River Divination No. 2

PASSING THROUGH
There was so much to take in that day by the Mississippi shoreline and I took many reference photos to bring back to the studio. I noticed a dog’s paw print with indentations of water drops scattered on the sand. The dog must have enjoyed a river dip before trotting back onto the bank. While I was relieved not to see trash scattered about, I didn’t see any evidence of human occupation with the exception of a lone rusted bolt that had washed ashore.

DETAILS
$1500
Watercolor on 300 lb. 100% Cotton Hot Press Fabriano Watercolor Paper. Painting 15” x 15.” Framed 28” x 28.” (framed) Professionally framed with generous double-thick white mat in a simple pine wooden frame with plexiglass.
© 2021 Kristin Maija Peterson

large square watercolor detail view of suburban marsh ecosystem in autumn with floating russet, pink, orange pin oak leaves, branches and clouds reflecting on the water

River Divination No. 4

MARSHLAND: CASTING SPELLS
This is a view into the marsh that lives behind our house. It’s autumn with a few clouds reflecting on its shallow waters. In spring this Minnesota wetland bursts into frog song. Later the arrowheads and blue flags will bloom. Red-winged blackbirds nest in the reeds. Muskrats patrol Mallard ducks all summer long. That’s just the surface. I know there are many organisms that call the marsh home.

People sometimes use marsh and swamp interchangeably. I didn’t know the difference until I looked it up. Both are shallow bodies of water but their identification is based on where they reside. Marshes are found in open areas like prairie wetlands and swamps in forested areas. Both are vital and vibrate, diverse ecosystems.

DETAILS
$1800
Watercolor on 300 lb. 100% Cotton Hot Press Fabriano Watercolor Paper. Painting: 21” x 21.” Framed: 32” x 32.” Professionally framed with generous double-thick white mat in a simple pine wooden frame with plexiglass.  © 2023 Kristin Maija Peterson

River Divination No. 5

DEVOTION
There are times when nature orchestrates a moment that feels like it was intended for you. Like a Zen master, she asks you to pay attention to this moment and be devoted to it.

An autumn leaf lands on a rock, just so, on the banks of the Mississippi River, October 18, 2021. $800

Original watercolor — In Private Collection
Limited-edition archival prints available for collectors

View Limited Edition Print

Giving Back.

10% of all Terra Kind Studio Co.’s annual art sales are donated to nonprofits devoted to environmental and climate change issues.
By supporting my work as an artist, you’ll have nature’s beauty dressing your walls while doing good in the world.

ABOUT

Terra Kind Studio showcases the creative work of visual artist and designer Kristin Maija Peterson. Growing up among prairies, lakes, rivers, and oak savannas along with her project work with environmental organizations have collectively influenced her creative path. Kristin works in watercolor, graphite, color pencil, oil pastels, and pen and ink, interpreting in detail the beautiful chaos she finds in native wild spaces and its inhabitants who call these spaces home. Kristin sees all living creatures as kin and is always kind to spiders.