Sailfin Art

Chris begins each piece by sketching freehand on heavyweight paper such as bristol or watercolor paper. For reference, Chris uses photos of fish that he or others have caught. A consumate perfectionist, sketching takes Chris several hours to complete.
Colored pencil, watercolor pencil, inks, acrylic and airbrush paints are used to color the image. The coloring process is painstaking, and often, Chris will go over a given area numerous times to add detail. It is not uncommon for Chris to spend over a hundred hours coloring the image.
As a veternarian, Chris has a unique understanding of the biology and physiology of every fish captured in his art. This knowledge allows Chris to add detail in the paintings that others in his field might overlook. The scars and scales of each fish brings it to life, making it leap from the page.
Though Chris rarely sells the original artwork, prefering to keep it for his private collection, Limited-run, signed and numbered Giclée print reproductions of Chris' artwork are available for purchase through this site or in select art galleries. Chris will consider releasing an original at a premium. All original artwork comes framed behind museum quality glass with a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist, and a guarantee that all remaining reproductions will be destroyed.