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Born July 1st, 1975 Discovery, Transvaal, South Africa
Christopher Reid is an internationally recognized artist that paints everything from portraits to landscapes to wildlife. Reid paints in pastel, acrylic, watercolor, and charcoal. His style has been described as “contemporary realism with an emphasis on color and depth.”
Reid was born in South Africa but moved to the US with his family at an early age. There he studied art at the famous Savannah College of Art & Design. He founded an advertising firm to pay for his college and worked in graphic design for many years before returning his focus to his true love of fine art. He moved back to South Africa in 2015 to spend time with family and explore his homeland’s scenery and culture.
Artist’s Statement
“I am passionate about art, enjoy the act of creation, and hope to help people who view my artwork appreciate the beauty already around them. Too many people stumble through life without enjoying nature. Art is a form of communication and it is as important what you say as to how you say it. I am an optimist at heart and I choose to use my art to talk about beauty. Since nature provides the inspiration for art, I enjoy painting en plein air so that I can be out in nature and incorporate all the senses into my paintings and better communicate an experience of the place. When I paint from photographs, I am able to incorporate all the information I have observed from direct experience about color and light into my paintings. My portraits are informed by the thousands of life drawings I have done.”
2017 Selected Exhibitions
2017 Awards
Workshop Descriptions
Chris teaches a series of workshops that build upon skills to bring even an absolute beginner to being able to paint and draw. This list is a basic guide to what he teaches, as lessons are adapted to the time available for the workshop and the needs of the students.
Drawing Fundamentals (graphite on paper)
improvement of drawing skills, proportions, negative space, right brain exercises, blind contour, rapid drawing, sight sizing, drawing through, cross contour, media studies, enveloping, line variation, drawing curves with straight lines, simplification and squinting, checking accuracy, reverse sight sizing, linear perspective.
Value (charcoal on paper)
value scales, simultaneous contrast, lost and found edges, value structure, media studies, building form, illusion of depth, dominant values, geometric solids, blending techniques, negative drawing.
Composition (charcoal and ballpoint pen on paper)
division of space, elements of design, principles of design, planning a composition, simplifying design, asymmetry, picture plane formats, cropping.
Color Theory (pastel on paper or any color media)
language of color, lightfastness, color wheel, color notation, color mapping, color strings, double primary system, palette selection, color schemes, atmospheric perspective, lowering chroma, color temperature, separating color from value, limited palettes, creating chromatic neutrals, maintaining color harmony, color coronas, subsurface scattering, light source colors, optical mixing, isolation techniques.
Pastel Painting (pastel on paper)
how pastel is made, pastel selection, color mixing, swatch matching, application techniques, types of pastels.
Advanced Pastel Painting (pastel on panel)
custom pastel surfaces, underpainting, sequencing, edge control, glazing, framing pastels.
Watercolor Painting (watercolor on paper)
palette and brush selection, watercolor papers, brushwork, glaze/wash/drybrush technique, advanced techniques, using transparent effects.
Acrylic Painting (acrylic on panel or canvas)
history of acrylic, advantages of acrylic paint, surface preparation, brushwork, mixing colors, grisaille underpainting.
Plein Air Painting (any medium)
equipment tips, setting up, selecting a composition, planning for changing conditions, capturing the essence, enhancing atmosphere and depth, binocular disparity.
Portraiture (any medium)
basic facial anatomy, form first, seeing skin colors, portrait composition, lighting styles, color harmony, limited palettes, mixing flesh colors.
