Featured Artist – Christopher Reach

Name: Christopher Reach

Age: 25

Country of residence: USA

When did you start creating art? It wasn’t until about a quarter of the way through college that I changed majors and I became serious about pursuing art as a career. Proof, if nothing else, that it isn’t over until it’s over. The late start meant many late nights, but nothing was going to stop me at that point.

What media do you work in? Most of my professional work is created digitally. I still break out the acrylics and oil paints on the occasion for my personal work.

Where your work has been featured? My work has been featured in RPG sourcebooks, web apps, and more recently some promotional and advertising material. I have an art exhibition coming up on December 10 which will include professional and personal work, and details for that can be found on my blog at ChristopherReach.com.

What was the motivation / story behind the featured piece? The more life went on, the more skeptical I became of nuclear energy, and so over the last couple of years an anti-nuclear theme began to take root in my work. I have nothing against the sun, just the human-engineered variety. It seems awfully short sighted. Beyond that, unexplained (and some might say paranormal) incidences like the Tunguska Event and the Dyatlov Pass Incident inspired this specific piece.

Where should someone go if they wanted to view / buy some of your works? I have a website at ChristopherReach.com that features selected works and a semi-regularly updated sketch blog. There is no store front on the site, but if anyone would like to commission a piece or buy a print of an existing piece they can email me and I’d be happy to fill them in on the details.

What were your early influences? I really like the Spanish Painters spanning the 17th ,18th, and 19th centuries (Goya, El Greco, Velazquez, Zurbaran, etc.). Rembrandt seemed to know what he was doing, and had very textural brushwork that I greatly admire. I like the blockiness and separation of values achieved in Constructivist art. I also really like the golden age American Illustrators NC Wyeth and Howard Pyle.

What are your current influences? While a piece of me is still partial to the old dead guys, some contemporary influence is always a positive thing. Greg Manchess has to be at the top of my list, his brushwork and control of value is brilliant. I can go on forever with names, but all you have to do is open a Spectrum annual, or check out one of the various art sites online, and you will be blown away by the talent.

Have you had any notable failures, and how has failure affected your work? In school, they do not really teach the business side of art. There were a few embarrassing moments and missteps right out of the gate, but you get through these, and you learn, and try not to make the same mistake twice.

What have been your greatest successes? How has success impacted you / your work? I have been working freelance full time for about half a year now. I’m beginning to see things pick up, so that is exciting. I’ve met a lot of great people, and have had the pleasure of working with some of them now on multiple occasions. The positive interactions, and excellent response I’ve received, keeps me going and encourages me to aim higher every time.

What do you hope to accomplish with your art? Ideally I would like my paintings to not only succeed on a narrative and technical level (although these things are very important) but also on an intellectual level. I like art that encourages contemplation and closer inspection. I feel it is a more rewarding viewing experience when everything does not jump out at you all at once.