Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Voeller.
Chris jokes that he originally took art classes in high school because you got a bigger locker, but soon discovered his interest in design, in particular graphic design. He would later attend and receive his BFA in graphic design from Ringling College of Art and Design in 1991.
Chris continues to be a graphic designer and artist living in Denver, Colorado. As a contemporary artist, Chris works from life experiences as well as photographic reference. Through a simplified approach, his artwork breaks down shapes and forms to find a balance between realism and abstraction. This gives the viewer the opportunity to create their own meaning and makes each piece uniquely personal.
I try to make art that offers a bit of an escape from everyday life.
His artistic career resurrected as a creative outlet to balance his digital design work with a more tactile experience. While still holding true to his design esthetic, Chris primarily works from a digital sketch and then uses a combination of bold strokes and palette knives to build color and texture layer upon layer in a way that creates a rich diversity. He often works with bold colors on larger wood panels, usually with acrylic mediums.
When not behind a canvas, you can often find Chris crafting a new logo for a company, screen printing a new idea, or even building custom furniture. His design skills go beyond the brush.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I would say it started on a smooth road but over time has had a few twists and turns along the way. The first time I did an art festival was after taking a screen printing class at Art Students League of Denver. It was a great experience and gave me confidence as an artist. The second-year, I did really well and thought this is how it was going to be going forward. Didn’t take long to realize that the path of a successful artist is long and not a straight path. People’s tastes change, my tastes change, the economy changes, and you have to adapt.
But I don’t think anyone predicted what this year was going to bring. Basically, every show I had planned for the year has been canceled or postponed until next year. I have to admit I also got in my own head – why should I paint if I can’t show them to anyone.
Actually, it has given me time to take a step back and flush out some other ideas that have been lingering in the back of my head and even try some new mediums and techniques. I know this will all pass and look forward to what next year will bring.
Please tell us more about your art.
I tend to work with bright and bold colors. That and I tend to work on wood panels as my canvas. I try not to overthink my artwork and I still get that same feeling today when someone buys a piece of work that I did with my first sale.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I am looking forward to the art scene getting back to some sense of normalcy with shows and festivals. I feel like my work always shows better in person and I love the interaction with people. I’m also looking deeper into increasing my online presence and exploring other avenues in this direction. Big changes for me will be if I can continue to flush out a couple of themes into physical paintings that I’m happy with. I can be my biggest critic sometimes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://chrisvoeller.com
- Phone: 303-746-2570
- Email: art@chrisvoeller.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisvoeller/
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChrisVoellerArt
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