Artist Biography

A realist artist, self taught doing portraits and landscapes in charcoal, pastel, watercolor and oil born in Fort Worth, Texas in 1952, Chris has enjoyed pursuing many interests. From early childhood drawing and art were always important. His academic background includes degrees in biology and geology, both of which he used in a developing drawing talent.

In 1987, he and his wife Colleen Carrigan, also a teacher and artist, moved to Washington State to experience the northwest. They eventually settled on the Key Peninsula where they are raising their daughter and sharing with her a passion for nature and art, both of which has truly blossomed in her young life. Chris has taught students science and math for sixteen years at the middle school level and for the past 5 years has taught drawing in an after school program.

Though Chris teaches full time, he always has various art pieces in progress, including commissions.  All his work is completed from life, plein aire or from photo references. He is a member of Two Waters Arts Alliance on the Key Peninsula and the Peninsula Art League in Gig Harbor where he enjoys sharing ideas working with and learning from fellow artists and exhibits at PAL shows as well as the Western Washington Fine Art show.  During the summer of 2002, he exhibited in an open media International Show on the theme of Peace in Cairns, Queensland, Australia.

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