Hi, I'm Chris Marshall, an expressive mixed-media artist from Perth, Western Australia.

I took up art on January 1, 2000 as my New Year's resolution for the new millennium following much soulsearching after the death of my father. It ended up changing my entire life!. I have worked in Information Technology for many years, which tends to be rather left-brained, so I go for a complete contrast with my art.

I work intuitively, creating art straight from my soul.  Most of the artworks that I exhibit and sell are semi-abstract (or occasionally pure abstract) acrylic or mixed media/collage paintings or prints of my digital art. I see my digital art as an extension of my mixed-media which brings together different strands of my life (IT background and passion for art and photography).

Although I choose to create expressive, abstract art, I am totally in awe of nature as an artist/sculptor and “see” the natural world as layered mixed-media images. My photograper husband and  I enjoy travelling and connecting with nature; I love to observe, photograph and/or sketch things that catch my eye. I am looking for their essence, what was it about them that caught my eye in the first place, how they got to look like that. All these observations inform my markmaking and the eventual look of my artworks. My semi-abstract works are mainly inspired by nature. I'm always intrigued by nature's processes and how they shape the landscape; I seek to interpret them and emulate them rather than portray any specific scene.

I love organic markmaking, colour, texture and observing the world around me. I go on a new journey with every artwork (even sketches). I have fun with my art, love to experiment and let my art flow from deep within me so every artwork is absolutely unique with something of me in it. I enjoy mixing my media whilst recycling everyday “stuff” (particularly fabrics and used packaging), creating "something" out of "nothing".

"Chris’ work oozes the expressive qualities of the Modernist approach to representation.…. Layer upon layer, with vibrant use of colour, painterly techniques and collage, Chris responds and interprets Nature. Recycled materials and a myriad of textures confront and excite us ... " Camilla Loveridge

In October 2021 my mixed media / collage painting "Gaia" was included in an online article "5 Creative and Eco-Conscious Artists Who Use Recycled Materials" written and published by Renee Phillips, founder of The Healing Power of Art in Manhattan. You can read the article at https://www.healing-power-of-art.org/5-creative-and-eco-conscious-artists-who-use-recycled-materials (the painting now looks a bit different having had more layers on it!)

I was involved with management of a local Community Arts Centre and Gallery for 20 years (while still doing a bit of IT work). In January 2021 we dropped our arts management services allowing me to focus on my own art which had taken a back seat for many years. I thought I'd miss talking art so I'm documenting my journey with daily posts on instagram. I'm absolutely convinced that letting art and culture into your life and connecting with nature and your creative self improves your mental health and general wellbeing.

Exhibitions

2001 onwards - Numerous art shows and group exhibitions throughout Western Australia

2003   Solo exhibition at Ngala Family Resource Centre
           Joint Exhibitions in Jakarta and Bogor - "Friendship Through Art”
           Solo Exhibition "Figure It Out", Atwell Gallery

2004   Collective Exhibition at GaleriaZero, Barcelona "About Painting and Pixels"
           Group exhibition "Utopia – Artists Working Towards a Better World", Fremantle

           Group Exhibition “Snap To Grid” – Los Angeles Centre for Digital Art

          4 Artists exhibition at Aspro Cottage, Araluen Botanic Park

          Group exhibition “The Two Rivers Project” at Heathcote Museum & Gallery organised/curated by myself and Debra Scidone

          Alfred Cove Art Society “Different Strokes” Old Royal George Gallery, East Fremantle

2006  Digital Art displayed in group exhibitions in Germany, UK, Ecuador, Argentina & USA

         “Different Perspectives” at Gallery 101, The WA Club with the other Heathcote Studio Artists

         Joint Exhibition with Lori Spencer-Neuzerling at Aspro Cottage, Araluen Botanic Park
          Group Exhibition “Snap To Grid” – Los Angeles Centre for Digital Art

2007  1^st International Festival of Nanoart, Kotka, Finland

          “Climate Change – The Impact” – Webist group exhibition – online exhibition (Germany based), real-life exhibitions in Durango, Colorado, USA and Toronto, Canada

         Group Exhibition “Snap To Grid” – Los Angeles Centre for Digital Art
         “Gerhard Hoberth & Webism – A Global Movement”, Wasserburg Am Inn, Germany

2010 “The Artist’s Landscape” invited artists curated by Laurie Cochrane

         "Trio” with Mary Thomas and Debra Scidone at Atwell Gallery

2011 “Mandjar Blues” collaborative exhibition with Debra Scidone at the Alcoa Mandurah Performing Arts Centre Art Gallery