Artist Proof: Chris Dyer is a beaming source of positive energy and as an illustrator you can see his great vibe translating into his work. As an artist and as a person Chris is always aiming for higher grounds of ‘self realization’ and you can see this eminating from his body of work. Chris currently resides in Montreal, Canada, but like myself, he loves to travel, so you never know where he will pop up next.
Artsprojekt: What inspires your art?
Chris Dyer: Everything I come in contact ends up entering the realm of my paintings. So it is important I am influenced by good meaningfull things in my life, if not the abundant crap that pollutes our misguided world will reflect in my soul expressions. I like to travell and the cultures I learn from end up in there. Of course the colorfull 80s culture I grew up with show up. Stuff like skateboarding, surfing, vynil records, video games, action figures are all broken down and become pieces of a puzzle where everything is part of the oneness of the absolute reality we are part of. I am a spiritual person and this vision of unity is the glue that holds all of these many influences together.
AP: What is the relationship between technique and content in your work?
Dyer: I think that technique is important in that you have to be good enough in the way you express yourself. It’s insulting to be out there as a professional artist when your art is so undeveloped it hurts the eyes. But in the end, if your technique is crisp but youre saying nothing, your work is empty and dosnt appeal to me. Art is a powerfull tool to convey messenges, but if were just using it to be “cool” it is a power that has been misused. So content is crucial, hopefully something that uplifts the souls of the viewers, something that teaches us to be better humans and helps us manifest a better reality for all. Technique will always be improoving, but if the messege of your art is clear and good, you can’t loose.
AP: Describe your first experience of making art and how it affected your life’s journey
Dyer: I have been a creative person as long as I remember. I used to draw all the time as a kid and would also build robots made out of junk, or club houses, mix tapes, etc. Art didnt affect my life. Life affected my art.
AP: Describe your most recent experience of making art.
Dyer: I cant stop making art. If I do, I loose my groundation and the mind beats the living crap out of me. I have the inevitable need of constant expression. I was supposed to chill out during christmas, but I coudn’t so I painted another skateboard. It came out super sick, if I may say it myself, so I was stoked. It was some kind of energetical abstract fish, that represents my need to eat this watery living creature, despite my intention of being a vegetarian.
AP: Take us on a guided tour through a day in your life as an artist
Dyer: I get up on an average of 2pm. Its not that Im lazy, it’s cause I cant stop working and keep on going till 5 or 6 o 7am, when I just drop. Once Im up I do some quick yoga to stretch the muscles, and make breakfast for my girlfriend n me (oatmeal n bagels). I then put in a couple of hours into answering my many emails and then probably go out to run aerons (post office, buying materials n such). By the time it gets dark I am already doing some kind of art, either painting, drawing or photoshop. On saturdays I go out for breakfast a block away from here. I rarely party unless there’s a real need for it (which is rare) and hit the seldom art show like once a month (probably cause my art will be part of it n need to rep). For fun I will go out skating sometimes or hit a the record shop n dig crates. That’s when Im in the city (Montreal) cause when I’m traveling, each day presents itself more spontaneously.
AP: Please let us know what you have coming up. Are you working on art for a new show? Working on a new product line? Working on a commission piece?
Dyer: Right now I am about to go to Belgium to get legally married with my girlfriend who’s from there. I don’t have any major shows coming up. I am just taking personal commissions from clients. My latest one was a 8 foot surfboard for an old friend in Peru. In Europe I will be painting a Cd cover and a book cover. I wish I was working on a solo show for a big gallery, just doing whatever comes from my heart, but I am still very unknownin in the gallery mainstream and am forced to use my time on jobs that pay right away.
But I do believe this year will be great for me getting to that level of recognition though, as I believe the level of my art is already there. First of all, I have a full on art book to be published sometime this year. It will be 250 color pages of all the different art I’ve done through the years.
Also, a documentary about my art, that I have been working on for a couple of years, will finally be released at a bunch of film festivals and the on dvd. Andy Howell is in the flick, together with many other artists, pro skaters, musicians and conscious cats in general. It’s gonna be awesome and very inspiring. So yeah, I appreciate the support of Artsprojekt in helping me get these projects and art out to the masses, so they can give some very needed spiritual healing, as well as getting my artistic career established. Big Ups!
Check out Chris Dyer’s Artsprojekt Store
Here are some videos Chris would like to share:
Trailer to “Positive Creations” The Movie
Creation Skateboards’ artist Chris Dyer
