Chris Bloom Biography

Chris Bloom creates vibrant ,bold contemporary impressionist paintings at The Artworks in Wilmington, NC.   She challenges herself to excel at painting still life and landscape paintings by studying with nationally known oil painters, Dan Beck, John Poon, and Kelli Folsom and by receiving two regional artist grants from the North Carolina Arts Council.

Chris is well known locally having been juried into the WAA’s annual spring show, shows through Gallery Citrine and the Landfall Art Show. Most recently, she has been juried into the Art in the Arboretum’s annual show and the Art League of Leland annual show. . Chris Bloom also enjoys painting en plein air and has participated in numerous plein air events in North Carolina, including the Azalea Festival Paint Out, Southport Paint Out and Blowing Rock plein Air Paint Out.  Her work can be found on her webpage and  at her studio at the Artworks.

Artist Statement

When I am doing plein air painting or in my studio with visitors, I often hear them say that they have no talent or can’t draw as if there is a secret DNA gene that makes you an artist.  Well, once upon a time, I believed that too.  But… one day I observed a talented art teacher in her classroom and realized that I  could learn to become a painter.  I was determined then to become an artist.  In the last ten years, I have learned that perseverance and passion are the real qualities that make a good painter, and the ability to accept multiple failures.  I had to paint a thousand paintings and many had to be trashed.  I did take classes and workshops and persevered.  I learned to love oil paint and putting it on canvas and mixing colors and thinking about line, shape, value, color…

I also love plein air events and shows where I can meet people and talk art.  So, do I have the talent gene, probably not, but I am  committed to express my joy in painting on the canvas.