Known for Mayan art and Brazilian art, among many others
Presenting Chris - self-described
"In order to be open to creativity one must have the capacity
for the constructive use of solitude. One must overcome
fear of being alone."
--Rollo May--
I was born in Cortez, Colorado a long time ago and I have since traveled the world, but I only began to take drawing seriously about 15 years ago after growing tired of the written word. I began to feel the written and spoken language had so framed itself that no new meaning or life could be depicted or created there any longer.
So, as a child would do, I picked up, to begin
with, Crayola crayons, a Black Pen, and any blank piece of paper I could find and sitting on the floor I began to draw what today I call Waxings.
What makes these picture drawings or Waxings unique is that the technique is as unstudied as a child's and I have indeed studied art from an Art History perspective, but I have not studied drawing or painting specifically and I probably never will since by doing so would take away the innocence of what is intended here.
Perhaps together you could consider all of my work as child's play and I would not be offended.
My art is just as much a tribute to paper and the trees that render it as to anything else. I grew up in tree-houses or least that's where I found the solitude necessary to not be afraid of the creative in myself and in life.
I choose the paper I use very carefully, and I choose it with permanency in mind. Hence all paper used is acid free and of high quality. Furthermore, I use toxic free materials, so you could actually eat my drawings and no harm would come to you, although they are meant to be seen and not eaten or heard.
My art is non-figurative to the extent that it wishes to invite you the viewer into a new world of childlike curiosity and wonder again. In a very real sense, every picture reaches out to you the viewer to help give it meaning and life or least it reaches out to you as a child would do for help with this most difficult, serious and important endeavor.
Finally, my art, in a subtle way, does try to bridge the gap not only between the adult and the child within us but also the gap between East and West, the Old World and the New World, while still trying to preserve the differences therein as sacred, creative and profound. As Richard Sennet has recently said, "Sameness stultifies the mind; diversity stimulates and expands it."
Zaquicaz and Wac is available in the following prints (click to see larger version on Redbubble):
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VI C.P.
XXX C.T.
The above waxings are originally done on coffee paper from Guatemala (as far as I know, the only place in the world that sells such paper) and are designed as a set, though they can, of course, be displayed individually. Note: If you'd like to purchase both, choose the size you'd like from the options below, but contact us with the details instead of ordering through RedBubble and you'll get a discount. Adapted from the Mayan Codices.
VI C.P. is available in the following prints (click to see larger version on Redbubble):
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XXX C.T. is available in the following prints (click to see larger version on Redbubble):
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Blue Snake Flying in Yellow Sky or Zaquicaz
Zaquicaz, the snake, is a character in the Popul Vuh, a legendary story from the Mayan culture. The inspiration for all of my Mayan drawings to date come directly from the Mayan Codices, then their size, color, and to a certain extent, the shapes, which are then reinterpreted by me.
These drawings are done mostly with pen and ink with an occasional use of watercolor pencil and crayon. Many of these drawings are also done on handmade paper produced locally in Guatemala.
Mayan Jaguar is available in the following prints (click to see larger version on Redbubble):
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Brazilian Art
The Immaculate Conception or simply, Mary
I consider my work (whether they are waxings, pen and ink drawings or a mixture of the two) as visual poems so their interpretations or meanings are not limited but expansive. In many ways I would rather the reader/viewer title and interpret my work.
My inspiration for this came form the side of a building on a bus ride in Rio. Crayon with a little watercolor pencil.
The Immaculate Conception or simply, Mary is available in the following prints (click to see larger version on Redbubble):
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The Mouth of the Poor
All Crayola crayons and pen and ink. The inspiration here is obviously the church among the slums and favelas that completely surround Rio. I would call the favelas of Rio de Janeiro sublime because of their overwhelming scale, beauty and terror. Perhaps, in contrast, the church in this waxing holds some of the same essential and powerful feelings.
The Mouth of the Poor is available in the following prints (click to see larger version on Redbubble):
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The Road Not Taken or The Road Less Traveled
Both titles are cliches by now. One obviously from a Robert Frost poem by that name and the other from a bestselling book written by M. Scott Peck. As can be seen from this the religious symbolism in this is also significant. All Crayon on Black Paper and completely non-toxic.
The Road Not Taken or The Road Less Traveled is available in the following prints (click to see larger version on Redbubble):
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At Home Among the Planets and Trees
The inspiration for this waxing is the rainforest on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington, USA where I had the luxury of spending almost a year alone in a cabin reading and writing. Wood needed to be chopped for warmth and the water came from a well a half a mile away.
"In order to be open to creativity one must have the capacity for the constructive use of solitude. One must overcome the fear of being alone." (Rollo May) Of course, my biggest dream was always to experience this with the one I love.
At Home Among the Planets and Trees is available in the following prints (click to see larger version on Redbubble):
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My Jabuti (The Living Ancient)
Civilization rides on the back of a tortoise. Scenes of living Rio de Janeiro and its mystical favelas and famous beaches are the inspiration here. Rio is a very active city hence movement is more than a hint in this drawing.
Also, Rio is not only my home now, but the home of many different cultures and influences. Perhaps you could call it a city of many geographical and geological dialects. This drawing is mostly done in pen and ink with a hint of crayon.
My Jabuti (The Living Ancient) is available in the following prints (click to see larger version on Redbubble):
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Rio 40 graus
There always seems to be a heat underneath Rio de Janeiro, even when it's a bit chilly. People, not from Rio, forget that Rio is very mountainous. This makes it the best of at least two worlds because of the wonderful beaches it is home to as well.
All of the Rio waxings appear to be images that move and wrap around and that is exactly how Rio feels and looks to me.
Rio Blues is available in the following prints (click to see larger version on Redbubble):
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Sitting in the Falling Rain with a Big Bird by the Beach
Where the only light comes from the ground and the company around us. A Pacific Northwest inspiration from beaches near Sequim, WA. yet the waxing was actually done in Rio de Janeiro many years later.
Sitting in the Falling Rain with a Big Bird by the Beach is available in the following prints (click to see larger version on Redbubble):
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Red Sun Sinking
Done entirely with Crayola crayons and a black pen in Portland, Oregon during a cloudy winter. Seen here, the sun falls between us and the land, which in many ways it does. I feel that there is also something very Zen about this waxing as well.
Under the Weather and in the Woods is available in the following prints (click to see larger version on Redbubble):
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with, Crayola crayons, a Black Pen, and any blank piece of paper I could find and sitting on the floor I began to draw what today I call Waxings. 
