About Christine

Christine's artwork was selected for the Orchids! Beauty and Beyond exhibit 2004
U.S. Botanic Garden, Washington D.C.

and

Tied Together: Textile Art in the 21st Century exhibit 2006
Chandler Center for the Arts, Chandler, Arizona

Awards

2003 — People’s Choice, Feel the Mist —Yosemite Renaissance XIX, Yosemite National Park, California
2003 — Honorable Mention, Momentous — Yosemite Renaissance XIX, Yosemite National Park, California
2002 — Honorable Mention, Touched by Lightning — Mariposa County Arts Council, Mariposa, California

My Personal Journey

My first painting sold my second year in high school after my art teacher, Mrs. Hall, watched me throw away my abstract painting after receiving an A grade. She reached into the garbage, retrieved it, and said, "I never want to see you throw any of your artwork away, just give it to me instead." I said, "Okay," feeling scolded. My thoughts of this painting was that it was too easy to get an A grade and I didn't appreciate the grade for the effort I put into it. A week later she sold the painting for $20 and wanted me to have the money, proving her point with a smug smile on her face.

I would learn my abstract art lesson in college years later, after being assigned to choose and copy one painting of any master. I chose Picasso because I didn't like his artwork. This project helped me have an appreciation and understanding that abstract art is more about color, design, and just pure raw power with an innate sense of emotion. It would take me years later to appreciate my own natural talent for it.

Realizing in the middle of my education that I enjoyed figurative art more than the costumed illustration I started my education in, I began taking anatomy. It was obvious to me that I had a passion for painting and drawing the figure. I took as many figurative art classes I could cram into my schedule before graduation. At this same time I was the assistant curator for the anthropology museum on campus. With all the skulls and bones lurking around I felt right at home designing and creating artwork for the exhibits.

People ask me why I paint on silk and my answer is life happened and I happened upon silk painting. I simply found myself frustrated and concerned with a toddler running around me while I was scooping toxic oil paints onto a painting, so I quit painting with oils and started painting with watercolor. While ordering some tie dyes for a project I noticed a silk painting project in the catalog, ordered it, tried it, and my obsession began. At this time I was working as a textile designer allowing a smooth transition into painting silk wearables and scarves.

Unlike most paints, silk dyes flow freely as if they have a life of their own, there is no controlling it except for the use of resist. The speed at which you have to solve problems while creating a painting is part of my lure to painting on silk using dyes. It is this process of painting that gives me a sort of "runners high" that keeps me addicted to it.

Soon after I discovered my delights of silk painting, I moved to Mariposa, California, just 45 miles outside of Yosemite National Park. Figurative art was put on hold since there wasn't a sole around for modelling except for the wild life. My inspiration came from my time hiking around the beautiful area. This solitude gave me the time to develop my technique and this is where my career as a full time artist began.

Currently living and working in Phoenix, Arizona, uncertain of where I will end up geographically, it is unquestionable I will eventually shift into the ease of abstracts, dabble in my figurative art interests, and it is undeniable I will continue to Dye for Art!

Vitae

Christine Sutherland Fine Art, LLC

Born: 1966, Brigham City, Utah, USA

Studio: Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Education: Bachelor of Science in Art/ Illustration

Utah State University, Logan, Utah USA

JURIED EXHIBITIONS

2011 — Ratner Museum — Bethesda, Maryland

2009-11 — Shemer Art Center and Museum — Scottsdale, Arizona

2009-10 — Arizona Fine Art Expo— Scottsdale, Arizona

2009 — American Craft Retailers Expo ACRE— Las Vegas, Nevada

2008 — Celebration of Fine Art— Scottsdale, Arizona

2007-08 — West Valley Art Museum— Phoenix, Arizona

2007 — American Craft Retailers Expo— Las Vegas, Nevada

2006 — Tied Together: Textile Art in the 21^st Century — Chandler Center for the Arts, Chandler, Arizona

2005 — Weaving and Fiber Arts of the Southwest United States — The Art Center at Fuller Lodge, Los Alamos, New Mexico

2004 — Orchids! Beauty and Beyond — U.S. Botanic Garden, Washington, D.C.

2004 — Edges Art Show For Risk-Takers — The Art Center at Fuller Lodge, Los Alamos, New Mexico

2003 — Yosemite Renaissance XIX — Traveling Exhibition– Yosemite Museum, California, Turlock, California, Mariposa Gallery, California, Hanford, California, Redwood City, California

2003 — A Celebration of the Exuberance of Spring — Mariposa County Arts Council, Mariposa, California

2002 — Sierra Nevada Art Tour — Mariposa, California

2001 — Art in the Park — Bass Lake, California

2001 — Spring Art Tour — Mariposa, California

2001 — Along the Creek and in the Woods — Mariposa, California

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2005 — Connecticut Orchid Show — Hartford, CT

2004 — Atlanta Botanical Gardens — Atlanta, GA

2003 — A Fresh Look At Winter — Blue Moon Gallery and Studio Gallery, Fresno, California

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2002 — California Naturally — Mariposa County Arts Council, Mariposa, California

AWARDS

2003 — People’s Choice, Feel The Mist —Yosemite Renaissance XIX, Yosemite National Park, California

2003 — Honorable Mention, Momentous — Yosemite Renaissance XIX, Yosemite National Park, California 2002 — Honorable Mention, Touched by Lightning — Mariposa County Arts Council, Mariposa, California

GALLERY REPRESENTATION

Dancing Hands Gallery - Park City, Utah

Dunn Gallery - Kapa'au, Hawaii

Fish House Art Gallery- Stuart, Florida

Gallery Elunario - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Gallery of Dreams - St. David, Arizona

Visions Art Gallery - Chandler, Arizona

Work of Artists Gallery - Scottsdale, Arizona

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Surface Design Association (SDA)

Silk Painters International (SPIN)

Board Member for SPIN 2010-2011

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

Storm Wisdom– Phoenix, Arizona

David Evans & Associates– Phoenix, Arizona

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2012 — Mesa Art Center, Mesa Arizona

2011 — Volunteer to Teach Veterans, Arizona Fine Art EXPO, Scottsdale, Arizona

2011 — Vision Kidz, Chandler, Arizona

2010 — Arizona Fine Art EXPO, Scottsdale, Arizona

2006 — Brio Fine Arts Center, Scottsdale Community College, Scottsdale, Arizona

2005 — Scottsdale Community College, Scottsdale, Arizona

2004 — Adult Learning, Mariposa, California

2003 —Yosemite Middle School Arts Program, Yosemite, California

2001/03 — Mariposa County Arts Council, Mariposa, California

2002 — After School Art Education

2002 — Vision Academy, Oakhurst, California

2001/02 — Mariposa County Unified School District, Foster Children’s Program

BIBLIOGRAPHY/PUBLICATIONS

2009 — Leisure Lifestyle, Cover Art, Encompass Media Group, Inc, November issue

2009 — Mesa Living, Cover Art, Encompass Media Group, Inc, November issue

2009 — Array Design Magazine, June issue

2009 — Surface Design Association, Exposure, January issue

2007 — Cabo Living Magazine, Life at Land's End, Winter issue

2004 — Mariposa Tribune

2002 — Mariposa Tribune, article by Kim Van Meter

2001 — Sierra Star

2001 — Mariposa Gazette, article by Darin and L.A. Phillips

2001 — Mariposa Gazette, article by Darin Phillips

2001 — Merced Sun-Star

1993 — Utah Archaeology 1992 – Utah Statewide Archaeological Society,

Utah Professional Archaeological Council and Utah Division of State History

Representation of Artwork

Dunn Gallery 808- 884-5808 Kapa'au, Hawaii, USA	Dancing Hands Gallery 435- 649-1414 Park City, Utah USA	Gallery of Dreams toll free 877-416-2264 St David, Arizona, USA	Gallery Ellunario Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
	Vision Art Gallery 480-917-6859 Chandler, Arizona, USA	Work of Artists Gallery 480-596-0304 Scottsdale, Arizona, USA

Chakra & OM Floating Silk Panels

Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA)
480-944-9244
Tempe, Arizona, USA

Floating Lotus Yoga Studio &
Natural Healing Center
602- 717-3003
Mesa, Arizona, USA

Hawthorn Healing Arts Center
541-330-0334
Bend Oregon, USA

Christine Sutherland

French Dyes on Silk, Wax Resist