10 Questions with Chris Arnold
Al-Tiba9 Art Magazine ISSUE15 | Featured Artist
Chris Arnold is a Chicago-based contemporary artist and illustrator. Currently, his work is focused on environmental expressionism, with notable collections featuring animals, botanicals, and landscapes. This includes recent projects with the US National Park Service and the Department of the Interior as an Artist-in-Residence. He has earned a BFA in Studio Art from the University of Missouri, Columbia, and an MFA in Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Additionally, he is a tenured member of the Art and Design Department at Columbia College Chicago as an Associate Professor. Chris has also served the academic community in Illinois, teaching at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). Over the last two decades of Arnold’s professional art and illustration career, he has had work featured in more than a dozen one-man exhibitions, included in over fifty curated group shows worldwide, and has been part of countless illustration and design campaigns.
Chris Arnold - Portrait
ARTIST STATEMENT
As an artist, Chris Arnold is inspired by the beauty of nature and champions its conservation. Influenced by the vivid aesthetics of comic art from his youth, his paintings embody bold colors and dynamic linework characteristics. Each artwork often serves as an allegory, weaving visual stories together that invite viewers to reflect on the wonders and vulnerabilities of humanity and our environment. Through his creative endeavors, Chris hopes to instill a profound sense of wonder and appreciation for the world we live in while advocating tirelessly for its protection. His pieces stand as both a testament to his passion for artistic expression and a call to action for the stewardship of the planet.
Joyful Flowers, Acrylic Paint on Canvas, 24x36 in, 2021 © Chris Arnold
AL-TIBA9 ART MAGAZINE ORIGINAL ISSUE15
INTERVIEW
Please introduce yourself to our readers. Who are you, and how did you develop into the artist you are today?
Making my way through the art world has been a vibrant and ever-evolving expedition. Since childhood, I've been captivated by creativity and self-expression, initially inspired by the iconic styles of Jim Davis (Garfield), Gary Larson (The Far Side), and Matt Groening (The Simpsons). Those early attempts at emulating the magic of comics and cartoons planted the seeds of my artistic passion.
Like many artists, my path has been a fusion of successes, failures, and commitment, guiding me toward a professional career in the arts. I started on this path by earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Studio Art from the University of Missouri, Columbia, where I refined my skills and began my serious pursuit of a career in the Fine Arts.
However, my artistic trajectory took a slight turn when I pursued a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Illustration from SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design). This academic pursuit broadened my horizons and equipped me with a diverse artistic toolkit, steering me towards a career more centered on illustration.
From graduate school until the completion of my Tenure-Track at Columbia College Chicago, I've had the privilege of collaborating with diverse clients, exploring various commercial markets in illustration and design. These experiences not only enhanced my artistic versatility but also provided practical opportunities to bring my creative visions to life in commercial settings.
Interestingly, my artistic path took a significant shift, especially during the pandemic. The work I began to develop, still rooted in comics and cartoons, started to bridge the gap between traditional fine art spaces and illustrative and design spheres. This evolution enabled me to create more art for gallery exhibitions and private commissions while continuing to engage in client work as an illustrator and designer.
Today, my creative pursuits persist in their evolution, reflecting my enduring passion for art in all its manifestations. Whether crafting pieces for galleries, collaborating with clients, or sharing my knowledge as an educator, I find profound joy in the ever-changing landscape of creativity. Each step of my journey has unfolded as a unique chapter, and I eagerly anticipate the thrilling artistic endeavors that lie ahead.
Peaceful Garden, Acrylic on Canvas, 48x48 in, 2023 © Xuemeng Zhang
Sweet Little Flowers, Acrylic on Canvas, 12x12 in, 2022 © Chris Arnold
As you mention in your biography, throughout your career, you've participated in numerous exhibitions and illustration campaigns. Can you discuss a particularly memorable project or collaboration that has left a lasting impact on you as an artist?
I've undertaken various professional endeavors as an artist and illustrator, but it's the projects and collaborations with a philanthropic focus that have brought me the most fulfillment. I've contributed artwork to organizations like Make-A-Wish, Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), Special Olympics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Ron Finley Project, University of Missouri Scholarship Events, and numerous others, even those lesser-known. I firmly believe in the importance of giving back whenever possible, and my art has afforded me the opportunity to make a difference and support others.
You have also worked as an Artist-in-Residence with the US National Park Service and the Department of the Interior. Can you share some insights into how these experiences have shaped your perspective on nature and conservation and how they inform your artistic practice?
Working within the parks has had a profound impact on me. Collaborating with park rangers, field scientists, volunteers, and guests has exposed me to a wealth of knowledge about nature and conservation. Each person generously shares their time and insights, reminding me of the responsibility I bear in capturing these experiences in my artwork.
Garden of Joy and Happiness, Acrylic on Canvas, 48x36 in, 2024 © Chris Arnold
As an Associate Professor at Columbia College Chicago and a former instructor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), how do you balance your teaching responsibilities with your artistic practice, and how do they complement each other?
Each year juggling my position in Higher Education and my career as a studio artist has presented unique challenges. The toughest period was during my tenure-track at Columbia College Chicago, where I faced immense pressure to excel in both teaching, service and artistic endeavors. Despite the challenges, finding ways to intertwine my personal passions with my professional pursuits proved to be a saving grace during that time.
I sought to deepen the connections between my fieldwork, materials, observation-based artwork, and classroom activities. By intertwining these elements, I could conduct research, foster creative development, and explore professional practices that further bridged together science, art, and education. This integration not only enriched my own artistic journey but also benefited students in the Art & Design Department. It revitalized my career as an artist and reignited my enthusiasm for teaching. Ultimately, it enabled me to share firsthand experiences from the contemporary worlds of illustration, fine art, and scientific field observation with my students, colleagues, and the academic community.
You define your work as centered on environmental expressionism; conservation and environmental advocacy are central themes. How did you get interested in such themes? And how do you incorporate them into your work?
The genesis of this perspective can be traced back to the moment I first encountered Pablo Picasso's painting, “Guernica.” It was during Professor John Klein’s Art History class at the University of Missouri (Mizzou) that my perception of art underwent a profound shift. Prior to that, I primarily viewed art based on personal preferences and aesthetic appeal. However, after that class and his lesson on Picasso’s masterpiece, I began to consider the broader potential of art to inform, educate, advocate, and evoke powerful emotions. This revelation had an immediate impact on my artistic practice and laid the groundwork for the environmental expressionist paintings I create today.
How do you see your work contributing to conversations about the importance of environmental consciousness? And what do you think is art's role in raising awareness about environmental issues?
I envision my work contributing to conversations about the importance of environmental consciousness by highlighting the interconnectedness between personal actions and their impact on the environment. Through my art and illustration, I strive to translate my own environmental concerns into visually compelling compositions and narratives. My goal is to utilize art as a form of accessible visual communication that is both playful and thought-provoking. By challenging viewers to engage and be curious, I aim to spark conversations and inspire action towards greater environmental awareness and stewardship. Art's role in raising awareness about environmental issues lies in its ability to evoke emotional responses and foster connections between individuals and the natural world.
Secret Garden, Acrylic on Canvas, 30x24 in, 2022 © Chris Arnold
Parkway Garden, Acrylic on Canvas, 48x36 in, 2023 © Chris Arnold
Your paintings feature bold colors, dynamic lines, and shapes. Can you delve into your creative process and techniques to create visually striking compositions?
My creative process is deeply immersive, driven by a passion for exploration and a desire to fully embody the subjects of my art. While I may not approach it as intensely as a method actor, I aim to live and breathe the essence of what I create. I engage all my senses – tasting, smelling, touching, hearing, and feeling life – and translate these experiences into my artwork. For me, materials and techniques serve as the means to manifest these sensations and emotions visually. Bold colors, dynamic lines, and shapes emerge as expressions of the vitality and vibrancy I perceive in the world around me. Ultimately, my goal is to create compositions that captivate the viewer and invite them to share in the richness of my experiences.
The vivid aesthetics of comic art greatly influence your work. How do you integrate elements of comic art into your paintings, and what unique qualities do they bring to your artistic expression?
The vibrant aesthetics of comic art deeply influence my work, shaping its style and substance through confident compositions and expressive narratives. These elements evoke a sense of familiarity and nostalgia, inviting viewers to connect with my art on a personal level. My interest in comic stylization originates from childhood connections to art and storytelling, aiming to evoke those same feelings in my audience, transcending mere visual appeal and fostering wonder and engagement.
While my paintings often mirror the simplicity and immediacy of comics, offering easily identifiable images and themes, they also harbor deeper layers of meaning and complexity upon closer inspection. Like comics, my work encourages active engagement and interpretation, requiring viewers to delve deeper into its narratives. Overall, integrating comic art elements enriches my artistic expression, infusing my work with a dynamic energy and accessibility that resonates across diverse audiences.
Flower Garden, Acrylic Paint on Canvas, 20x24 in, 2021 © Chris Arnold
You already have an impressive career and a well-defined style and practice. Is there anything else you would like to experiment with or introduce into your work?
As an artist, I believe there's always space for experimentation and growth, regardless of one's level of success. While I don't foresee significant changes to my artistic style in the near future, I'm interested in broadening the themes within my work. My passion lies in nature, science, and the environment, and I'm particularly intrigued by exploring new subjects such as weather patterns, ocean waves, and coral reefs in the years ahead.
And lastly, what are your plans for 2024? Do you have any projects or exhibitions you are looking forward to?
In the upcoming year of 2024, I am excited to be featured in new exhibitions that will grace the walls of both the Virgil Catherine Gallery and the Laughlin Gallery this summer and fall. My own adventures will take me to Iceland this spring, the captivating land of fire and ice, where I'll immerse myself in research, drawing, and painting. Amidst fulfilling commissions and planned projects, I'm carving out time to craft a personal collection inspired by the breathtaking landscapes and botanical wonders of this journey. Lastly, I am working on a solo show for 2026, with details coming at the end of this year.
