Chris grew up in the Midwest but has lived in several different cities in the United States as well as a suburb of Sydney, Australia.  Her style of painting has been influenced by the different areas she’s lived and traveled, but none more than her time spent “down under”.  Many of her recent works have more vibrant colors and simpler lines that are a direct result of the light in Australia.  “The light is different in Australia, things seem clearer, crisp, and brighter.” 

Her use of color is also a direct result of being a fan of Wayne Thiebaud. “In college I was so amazed by Thiebaud’s use of color in his shadows I changed the way I saw everything. I went from painting photo-realism to a freer more lively style.  I love the way the edges of some colors drag into another color make a fresh just painted appearance even after it is dry.”  Chris   pays a lot of attention to the shadow cast from the objects that she paints and often finds them more interesting than the objects themselves.

Moving around so much has given her an opportunity to sell work to people from all over the United States as well as Australia.  “My life has been a bit of an adventure and moving around is one way to see a lot of new and interesting places as well as meet many new friends.” 

When not showing, Chris continues to work and sell from her home studio.