CHRIS ARNOLD | EXPRESSIVE FORMS OF BEAUTIFUL ORGANIC LAYERS

An Exclusive Interview With
CHRIS ARNOLD
By Ariel SU

Stay curious and open.
Allow yourself to be influenced by art, music, literature, travel, people, and nature. Inspiration can come from anywhere; the more open you are, the richer your work will become.”
– Chris Arnold

Chris Arnold is an American artist and illustrator whose work explores the profound connections between nature, environmental awareness, and the human experience. His paintings serve as a visual voice for animals, plants, and their environments, reflecting his commitment to environmental equity and conservation. Influenced by cartoonists, Impressionists, and the Art Nouveau movement, Arnold’s work blends bold, expressive forms with intricate natural elements, resulting in playful and thought-provoking compositions.
Arnold’s artistic process is rooted in the interplay between the conscious and subconscious, where memory, place, and emotion converge to create something that is both real and imagined. His paintings are layered with organic forms, vibrant colors, and spontaneous gestures, allowing nature to shape the narrative as much as his own hand. Whether working in the backcountry of a national park or in the gardens of his home, he embraces the unpredictability of the environment, allowing it to influence his work in unexpected ways. Through his art, he aims to inspire curiosity, foster conversation, and deepen awareness of the relationship between people and the natural world.

Arnold received an MFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design and a BFA from the University of Missouri in Columbia. His work has been extensively exhibited, including notable projects for the Ron Finley Project, House Beautiful, and the U.S. National Park Service. His visual storytelling uses the language of art to encourage viewers to engage with the environment and reflect on their place within it.

Chris Arnold’s artwork has been exhibited nationally and internationally through group and solo exhibitions. Some of his notable solo and featured artist exhibitions include: Modern Narrators, Virgil Catherine Gallery, Hinsdale, Illinois (2024) • Meet Me in St. Louis, Houska Gallery, St. Louis, Missouri (2023) • Art from the National Parks, One River School, Evanston, Illinois (2023) • Art of Nature, Rhine Hall, Chicago, Illinois (2022) • Migration, Goebel & Co, St. Louis, Missouri (2018) • Superstition, Rotofugi Gallery, Chicago, Illinois (2016) • Everyone will be Famous for 12 Inches, Castle Fitzjohns Gallery, New York, New York (2014) • 8×8, 567 Gallery, New York, New York (2012) • Year of the Rabbit, Moot Gallery, Hong Kong, China (2011) • Y & K, The Hive Gallery, Los Angeles, California (2009) • Nostalgia, Third Floor Gallery, St. Louis, Missouri (2008) • MFA Thesis Exhibition, Gallery 108, Savannah, Georgia (2007) • Vernisage, Rennard Gallery, Lacoste, France (2006) • Framed, Blue Line Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia (2005) • Landscapes, Foundry Art Center, St. Charles, Missouri (2005) • Peinture, DAC Gallery, Savannah, Georgia (2005) • Paper, Studio Se7en, St. Louis, Missouri (2005) • A New Signature, Gallery 108, Savannah, Georgia (2005) • Alpha, Tellers Gallery, Columbia, Missouri (2002)

Chris Arnold’s work is represented by the Virgil Catherine Gallery, 50 S Washington St, Hinsdale, IL; Elle Laughlin Gallery, 1898 Sheridan Rd, Highland Park, IL; Houska Gallery, 4728 McPherson Ave, St. Louis, MO and Rotofugi Gallery, 2780 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL

An Exclusive Interview With
CHRIS ARNOLD
By Ariel SU

Art Market Magazine: It’s a pleasure to showcase your work, Chris, and to learn more about the passion and process behind it. Let’s start with your childhood. In a previous interview, you mentioned that your love for art was ignited by comic books. Which comic book had the most significant impact on your passion for illustration and art? Could you share more about your childhood? Did you grow up in an artistic environment?

Chris Arnold: It is great to be here, and I really appreciate all these thoughtful questions.  
To start, I had a wonderful childhood. I grew up in a loving and supportive family, had a close group of boyhood friends, and lived during a time when you could still fully experience being a kid. It was a period when technology had not yet taken over everyday life, so much of our experience was rooted in imagination, play, and real face-to-face connection.  
My introduction to comic books was one of the first major sparks of my love of art. My first real formal experience with artwork came from the colorful pages of Superman and Batman, which quickly became my favorites as a little boy. Those comics lit a fire in me — a love for drawing, storytelling, and the power of visual worlds.  
While comic books were a huge influence, they were just one part of a much larger creative landscape that fueled my imagination.
Growing up in the nineteen eighties, there were endless sources of inspiration. Between nineteen eighty and nineteen eighty-nine, my curiosity absolutely exploded. I was captivated by action figures, trading cards, movies in the theater, video games, and animated television shows, among others. These helped shape both my visual vocabulary and my emotional connection to storytelling and design.  

Beyond the pop culture of the time, I also spent much time outdoors, which fed my sense of adventure and wonder. I was fortunate to attend an elementary school where visiting artists would come and share their craft with us, leaving lasting impressions. Most importantly, my parents encouraged me to explore any interest that caught my imagination. They never placed limits on what I could dream about or pursue. I love them both dearly and owe them so much. 
All these experiences, from comic books to Saturday morning cartoons to long afternoons outside, created the foundation for my lifelong passion for art and illustration. I feel incredibly grateful for those early years, as they set the stage for everything that has followed.

“Creativity felt natural to me from the very beginning, woven into the fabric of my everyday life. “
– Chris Arnold

Art Market Magazine: When did you start your artistic journey? You have earned your MFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design and a BFA from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri.
Do you see those academic years as the basis for developing your artistic style?

Chris Arnold: I am not sure I can pinpoint a single definitive starting point for my artistic journey. Art has simply always been a part of my life. Some of my earliest memories are of drawing as a young boy and feeling genuine excitement whenever I stepped into an art class. Creativity felt natural to me from the very beginning, woven into the fabric of my everyday life.  
When it comes to more formal training, the education I received through my Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts programs played an important role in shaping me as an artist. During those years, I learned a tremendous amount, not only technical skills but also how to think critically about my work and develop important aspects of my style. Those experiences helped me grow in ways that continue to influence my approach today.  

However, my artistic development has never been limited to the classroom. What I create now is the result of a lifetime of experiences, the lessons I absorbed before my formal education, the growth that happened during those years, and everything that has unfolded afterward. I owe a great deal of my skill, understanding, and passion for art and illustration to the foundations laid by my time in school. I am deeply grateful for the impact both institutions had in helping me achieve so much throughout my career and for setting me on a path that continues to evolve and inspire me.

Art Market Magazine: So why flowers? Does it aim to raise awareness of the message of conservation?

Chris Arnold: Yes, I often use my floral works to raise awareness about the environment and the importance of nature conservation. Flowers are a natural and powerful bridge to conversations about the health of our planet, the fragile beauty we stand to lose, and the urgent need to protect the ecosystems that sustain all life. Their universal appeal makes them an accessible starting point for people to reflect on environmental issues that might otherwise feel distant or overwhelming.
However, my use of flowers in art extends beyond conservation alone. Throughout human history, flowers have carried deep symbolic meanings and have been woven into the fabric of cultures across every continent and civilization. They have appeared in rituals, ceremonies, storytelling, visual arts, and even acts of political resistance.

Flowers mark our most important moments, such as births, weddings, and funerals, and they express emotions ranging from joy to sorrow, from remembrance to renewal. They symbolize life, death, love, resilience, beauty, fragility, and hope.

Through my work, I strive to tap into that rich historical and cultural significance, creating pieces that resonate on both personal and collective levels.
My greater hope is to use the imagery of flowers to make deeper emotional and reflective connections with those who experience my art. I want viewers to appreciate nature’s beauty and feel a profound sense of shared humanity, interconnectedness, and responsibility for the world we all inhabit.

“I approach painting with a mix of planning and intuition.
Some days, I work from reference photos or sketches I have gathered during my travels or time in nature.
On other days, especially with more expressive pieces, I allow the painting to evolve more freely.”
– Chris Arnold

Art Market Magazine: Your artistic style is unique and fascinating. The floral artworks can be defined as Pop Art with a pure influence from the Art Nouveau movement, while the landscape paintings are very Impressionist. The vivid colors make nature’s beauty feel alive and strongly saturated. Can you describe the beginning process of a new artwork?

Chris Arnold: Thank you. I always appreciate when viewers reference movements like Pop Art, Art Nouveau, or Impressionism when describing my work. Those influences are certainly part of it, but I do not see myself as belonging to any single category. My style is more of a blend, a mix of many art forms, artists, and life experiences that have shaped what I create today.

The beginning of a new artwork depends somewhat on its direction. If the work is more representational, like the series I created for the National Parks, my process begins with observation, research, and time spent in the natural world. I love immersing myself in nature. I take long walks, absorb the environment, and capture many photographs to use later as visual references.
However, my goal is never just to copy what I see. I always aim to move past pure representation and into something more expressive. I want the viewer to feel a connection—whether that is wonder, reflection, or curiosity. My work often lives in the space between what is real and what is imagined. It may begin with a real place or memory, but it evolves based on feeling and intuition during the painting process.
Even my floral works, which might appear decorative at first glance, are rooted in deeper ideas about nature, beauty, and storytelling.
I study plants, explore cultural symbolism, and consider how color impacts emotion. Yet, in the end, the goal is always to create something that resonates on a deeper, more human level.
My process balances structure with spontaneity. I enjoy doing the groundwork through research and reference, but I also leave room for discovery and change. It is often in that in-between space that something truly unique begins to emerge.

Art Market Magazine: Your works are so optimistic. Do you have an optimistic personality in everyday life?

Chris Arnold: I appreciate that observation about my work. As for my personality, yes, I try to maintain an optimistic outlook in everyday life. There is a natural optimism in my approach to art.
I enjoy seeing and seeking out the beauty in the world, even in difficult situations, and I try to share that positive energy through my work. I am fortunate to be surrounded by supportive people and a lifestyle that lets me engage with nature and creativity, naturally influencing my mindset. Life isn’t always easy, but I believe in a good attitude, finding hope in the small things, and maintaining a sense of curiosity and wonder. That optimism definitely spills over into my art and how I approach the world.

Art Market Magazine: What does a typical day of painting look like?

Chris Arnold: My day always starts with my dog Scarlet, a vizsla, and a morning walk. It is a fantastic way to begin each day with fresh air and often an incredible sunrise. That quiet time in nature, even if it is just around the neighborhood, gives me space to clear my mind and get centered.
After breakfast together, I get off to the studio, where I like to begin by settling into the space. That might mean putting on some music or even just taking a few minutes of quiet reflection and looking at the work in progress. I approach painting with a mix of planning and intuition.

Some days, I work from reference photos or sketches I have gathered during my travels or time in nature. On other days, especially with more expressive pieces, I allow the painting to evolve more freely.
I often work in layers, building the surface slowly with washes of color and textured brushwork. I love to move around the canvas and let the energy flow, sometimes painting for hours without realizing how much time has passed. The studio becomes its own little world. Depending on the project, I might be working on one large piece or several smaller ones at once, switching between them as each stage dries or reveals something new.
The day usually wraps up with cleaning, documenting progress, using social media, and stepping back to look at what the work is becoming. Painting is a constant balance of control and letting go, and each day brings something a little different. But no matter what, I always feel grateful for the chance to make something meaningful.

Art Market Magazine: In the past 25 years, you have featured your work in countless group and solo exhibitions worldwide and gained fantastic success. What would be your advice to the young artist starting their journey in the art world?

Chris Arnold: I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to share my work with so many people over the years. Looking back, one of the most important things to a young artist just beginning their journey is to stay deeply connected to why you make art in the first place. That personal drive and curiosity will be your foundation through both the exciting moments and the more challenging ones.
Also, be patient with your growth. Developing your voice as an artist takes time, and it should. Give yourself space to explore, experiment, and make mistakes. Try not to rush the process or compare your journey to others. Every artist’s path is different, and success looks different for everyone.

Another piece of advice is to stay curious and open. Allow yourself to be influenced by art, music, literature, travel, people, and nature. Inspiration can come from anywhere; the more open you are, the richer your work will become. Also, learn how to talk about your work and share it. That could be through social media, exhibitions, studio visits, or conversations with fellow artists. The more you can articulate your ideas, the more people can connect with them.
Lastly, find your community. Whether it is through school, residencies, collectives, or online groups, surrounding yourself with other creative people helps you grow and reminds you that you are not doing this alone. There is no perfect formula, but staying honest, working hard, and being willing to evolve will always carry you forward.

Art Market Magazine: How would you describe the art market for a young artist?

Chris Arnold: It is a fascinating time for young or new artists. That does not necessarily mean it is any easier, but there are more pathways to find success than ever before. Specifically, with the introduction of the internet and the rise of social media, artists and those who love and support art now have more access and agency.

In the past, the traditional art world was much more closed off. Opportunities were often limited to those who lived in major cities, had gallery representation, or had access to influential networks. Today, young artists can build their platforms, share their work directly with audiences worldwide, and cultivate their own communities of collectors, fans, and collaborators. Artists can create websites, online stores, and virtual exhibitions and use social media to showcase their work to people who might never have otherwise encountered it. Of course, with these new opportunities comes a new set of challenges.
The market is more crowded and competitive, and it can take time and strategy to stand out. But at the same time, the variety of opportunities, whether it be selling original art, offering prints, licensing designs, participating in online exhibitions, or even connecting with brands and collectors through digital platforms, gives artists more control over their careers than ever before.
Overall, the art market for a young artist is full of potential. It requires a lot of hard work, adaptability, and persistence, but the possibilities for creative expression and professional growth are wide open. If you are willing to stay curious, keep learning, and remain true to your vision, there has never been a better time to make your mark.

Art Market Magazine:  What does the future hold? Are there any scheduled exhibitions or auctions this year? 

Chris Arnold: The next couple of years are both exciting and action-packed. I am currently working on several large commission projects, including a major one where multiple paintings will be unveiled this summer at a new brand hospital opening soon. In addition to that, I will be participating in exhibits with the galleries that represent me, and I am likely to be involved in a few art fairs as well. It is still a little early to announce all the details, but I am thrilled to share that I have a new solo show scheduled for 2026. There is a lot on the horizon, and I look forward to everything ahead.

See the full article in Art Market Magazine Edition #103