Jennifer McChristian -- About the Artist

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Jennifer McChristian

biography

Award winning artist, Jennifer McChristian, was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be an artist.
Upon completing high school, McChristian began her art education at Dawson’s College in Montreal, Canada. In 1986, she and her family took permanent residency in California, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Art Degree with Honors from Otis Art Institute in 1990.

McChristian was employed as a full-time animation artist and worked on projects for various animation studios including Disney and Nickelodeon. She has continued her studies under the tutelage of renowned artists Robert Blue, Karl Dempwolf, Scott Burdick and Steve Huston. Her inspirations consist of notable artists such as John Singer Sargent, Anders Zorn and Arthur Streeton. McChristian primarily paints in oils and occasionally watercolors. She has an affinity for painting ‘en plein air’ and also enjoys creating studio works using her outdoor sketches as inspiration. “Plein-air painting is somewhat of a spiritual experience for me. Although challenging at times, the end result evokes within me a sense of elation, nostalgia and harmony”.

Since 2000, McChristian has devoted herself to painting full-time and actively participates in art events. She conducts an ongoing, uninstructed figure drawing/painting workshop twice a week out of her spacious 1200 square foot studio (that she refers to as her ‘sanctuary’) located in the heart of Los Feliz Village, CA. She also finds the time to pursue other artistic interests such as classical ballet. McChristian believes learning is a never-ending process and continues to develop and refine her artistic talent through workshops, research, travel and frequent excursions to museums and galleries.

McChristian was recently invited to participate at the Pasadena Museum of History's 'Artistic Eden' August 2007 exhibition. She was also featured as an ‘Artist to Watch’ in Southwest Art magazine for the 2007 November publication. She is a founding member of the Plein Air Painters of the West (PAPW) and an Associate Member of Oil Painters of America (OPA).

Ms. McChristian is currently represented by Segil Fine Art Source in Old Town Monrovia, Aarnun Gallery in Pasadena, Trowbridge Gallery in Ojai, Timber Stand Gallery in Idaho and Greenwich Workshop Gallery in Connecticut. She currently resides in Los Angeles, CA with her significant other, Ben Fried, and a magically inclined calico cat named Bamboo.

Selected Group Shows, Solo Shows, Awards and Publications

SELECTED GROUP SHOWS:

2008 - "Two Person Show " at Greenwich Workshop Gallery, Fairfield, CT

2008 - "Salon International 2008" Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX

2008 - “C.M. Russell Auction and Exhibitors' Show” Great Falls, MT
2008 - “OPA’s 17th National Juried Exhibition” Dana Gallery, Missoula, MT

2008 - “Urban LA and the Allure of Southern California” Segil Fine Art Source, Monrovia, CA

2007 - “Holiday Red Ribbon Group Show” Segil Fine Art Source, Monrovia, CA

2007 - “SmallWorks ~ North America” Greenwich Workshop Gallery, Fairfield, CT

2007 - "Sixth Annual Invitational" Fort Worth, TX

2007 - “Contemporary Masters, Artistic Eden” Pasadena Museum of History, Pasadena, CA

2007 - “A Decade of Inspiration” Bedlam Warehouse, Los Angeles, CA

2007 - “GET:ART” Annual Fundraiser, Bonhams and Butterfields, Los Angeles, CA

2006 - “Treasures” Segil Fine Art Source, Monrovia, CA

2006 - “Winter Group Show” Aarnun Gallery, Pasadena, CA

2006 - “42nd Pasadena Showcase House of Design” Pasadena, CA

2006 - “Salon International 2006” Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX

2006 - “Live Draw!” DAC Fine Art with Human Rights Project, Los Angeles, CA

2006 - “Music and art in the Park” Glendale Orchestra Assoc. and Segil Fine Art Source, Glendale, CA

2005 - “3rd Annual Small Works Show” Segil Fine Art Source, Monrovia, CA

2005 - “Jardins En Plein Air” Whites Gallery, Montrose, CA

2005 - “The 39th Annual Mother Lode Art Exhibition” Our House Defines Art Gallery, El Dorado Hills, CA

2005 - “Winter Group Show” Segil Fine Art Source, Monrovia, CA

2005 - “Annual Russian Winter Ball Fundraiser” Los Angeles-St. Petersburg Sister City Committee,

Casa Del Mar Hotel, Los Angeles, CA

2004 - “Holiday Show” Aarnun Gallery, Pasadena, CA

2004 - “Second Annual Holiday Small Works Show” Segil Fine Art Gallery, Monrovia, CA

2004 - “Spring Salon” The Arroyo Collection, Pasadena, CA

2004 - “CAC Annual Ebell Club Exhibition” Los Angeles, CA

2003 - “Fall Salon” The Arroyo Collection, Pasadena, CA

2003 - “Ode to the Open Road” The Arroyo Collection, Pasadena, CA

2003 - “Artist’s Choice” Women’s City Club, Pasadena, CA

2002 - Melrose and Mississippi Gallery, La Canada, CA

2002 - “Paintings of the Old Mill” California Art Club Gallery, San Marino, CA

2002 - “Paintings Created in the Studio-Still Life and Figurative” Women’s City Club, Pasadena, CA

2002 - “East Valley Association Open Art Show,” West Covina, CA

2000 - Film Roman, Inc., N. Hollywood, CA

1994 - Otis Parsons Main Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

SOLO SHOWS:

2007 - “Forgotten Places Remembered”- Solo Exhibition Segil Fine Art Source, Monrovia, CA

2006 - “Off the Beaten Path”- Solo Exhibition Segil Fine Art Source, Monrovia, CA

2003 - “First Steps” Patrick’s Cafe@The Local Hang Gallery, Glendale, CA

AWARDS RECEIVED:

2008 - Award of Excellence - OPA 17th National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils

2007 - Red Ribbon - Holiday Group Show, Segil Fine Art Source

2005 - Award of Merit - The 39th Annual Mother Lode National Art Exhibition

2004 - Third Place - Second Annual Holiday Small Works Show, Mountainside Fine Art Gallery

2002 - Honorable Mention - East Valley Art Association

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

Plein Air Painters of the West (PAPW) - Founding Member
Oil Painters of America (OPA) - Associate Member

DEMOS AND WORKSHOPS:

2007 - San Gabriel Fine Arts Association (2 hour demo) - San Gabriel, CA

PRESS AND PUBLICATIONS:

2008 - Monrovia Weekly / 'Art of Living' section : Volume13, No. 19, March 2008

2008 - 'Informed Collector’ : featured in February 2008 online newsletter

2007 - ‘Southwest Art’ magazine :“Artists to Watch ” November 2007 issue

2007 - 'Focus in the Mix with Denise Ames' television show ~ AMGA Studios~

News segment aired on October 19th and 21st on Channel 26 and 99/ Charter

Communications and Time Warner Cable.

2007 - 'Focus in the Mix with Denise Ames' television show ~ AMGA Studios~

(5 minute interview)

Aired November 16th, 18th and 20th on Channel 26 and 99/ Charter

Communications and Time Warner Cable.

2007 - ‘Lines and Color’ : review written by Charley Parker for online newsletter blog

2007 - ‘O-News : featured in Otis Parsons' December newsletter