Hi there, thanks for stopping by. I'm Chris Marshall, an expressive mixed-media artist living in Perth, Western Australia.
I'm a self-taught artist who 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 absolutely authentic art straight from my soul. Most of the artworks that I exhibit and sell are semi-abstract (or sometimes pure abstract) acrylic-based mixed media/collage paintings with the occasional straight acrylic painting thrown in.
Although I choose to create expressive, abstract art, I am mainly inspired by nature and am totally in awe of Gaia as an artist/sculptor. When I look at the natural world, I “see” it in terms of layered mixed-media images. My photograper husband and I enjoy road trips that allow us to connect 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. I'm particularly 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. I enjoy mixing my media whilst recycling everyday “stuff” (particularly fabrics, completed cryptic crosswords and used packaging), creating "something" out of "nothing". Every artwork is totally unique with something of me in it.
"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, from an exhibition opening speech
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!)
For 20 years I was involved with management of a local Community Arts Centre and Gallery (while still doing a bit of IT work). In early 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 creative journey with regular posts on instagram (@steveandchrismarshallperth).
FYI - I love to work in a variety of shapes and sizes so I have a formula for pricing my artworks based on size (height x width x rate) plus any direct costs I've incurred (eg cost of the ground; these vary enormously depending on what it's made of, weight-of-fabric and if it's a standard size or custom-made). An acrylic painting may seem cheaper than a mixed-media/collage of the same size as the latter is typically on a heavier-duty canvas and generally takes a lot longer.
On Gallery247 my work can also be viewed in 7 themed Collections eg Shaped by Nature, Abstracts - these contain more artworks than I have in my public gallery at any one time. For those of you interested in small works, I have also setup a collection of paintings with the longest side up to 12 inches (approx 30cms).
You are welcome to contact me with any queries.
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 1st 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
2021 onwards, a variety of virtual art shows managed by Gallery 247. | 
