Why Whiski? Story behind the pseudonym.

The photo of me at the top is with Dr. Bill Lumsden ithe head of distilling and whisky creation at Glenmorangie and Ardbeg. Dr. Bill is a really cool guy, he has a PhD in biochemistry from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, and is the Willy Wonka of Whisky in Scotland. I had the pleasure of creating a label for Glenmorangie for a Whiskey Blasphemy event and here were discussing art, whiskey, and taste profiles, as it relates symbolically to alchemy.

Hello, my name is Krissy Whiski. I am an artist. I was born with one of those long, intricate Polish last names—a labyrinth of consonants and vowels that twisted tongues and puzzled pens. A few years into my career as an artist, I noticed how often people struggled to pronounce, spell, or even remember it. I decided it was time to reinvent myself with a pseudonym.

A pseudonym, or pen name, has long been a tool for transformation. It’s not just a name; it’s a statement, a mask, or even a key. Mark Twain, the pen name of Samuel Clemens, gave the world a voice of wit and wisdom. Dr. Seuss, born Theodor Geisel, hid behind not one but three pseudonyms to shape childhoods with rhyme and whimsy. Even Stephen King penned stories as Richard Bachman, exploring darker corners of his imagination. The legendary Marilyn Monroe, born Norma Jean Mortensen, adopted a name that transcended her beginnings to become a symbol of glamour.

For me, a pseudonym was an opportunity to create something that resonated with my identity as an artist—a name that felt like an extension of my creative process. From 2005 to 2014, I signed my work "KSKI," a nod to my Polish heritage. But there are countless "Ski’s" in the art world, and I wanted something distinct, memorable, and reflective of my evolution.

Why Whiski?

The name Whiski is more than a signature—it’s a symbol of my artistic philosophy, a representation of the alchemical process by which experience becomes expression. Let me explain the story and symbolism behind 

The word "whiskey" originates from the Gaelic uisge beatha, meaning "water of life." This ancient elixir embodies transformation. Made from raw grain, it undergoes distillation—a process once regarded by alchemists as capturing the very essence or soul of a substance. They believed distillation released the spirit within, turning base materials into something ethereal. Over time, as whiskey matures in barrels, it absorbs the character of its vessel, becoming richer, more complex, and profoundly unique.

This alchemical transformation mirrors my creative journey. Like whiskey, my art distills my lived experiences. 

The name Whiski is a deliberate invocation of this ritual. Just as distillation is an art form that extracts spirit from substance, my creative process seeks to reveal hidden layers of meaning and depth. Whiskey has often been called the philosopher’s drink, associated with introspection and the pursuit of wisdom. For me, it’s more than a drink—it’s a metaphor for the soul’s journey. We are a vessel whose story becomes more complex and unique as we age. The name Whiski isn’t just about whisky itself. It’s a reflection of my artistic philosophy: to distill experience, emotion, and spirit into something raw, beautiful, and meaningful. To transform base materials like canvas and paint into gold.