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Christopher Pothier - Encore Act This Summer
|  | | The Road by Christopher Pothier |
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Sanctuary Arts is pleased to announce that Christopher
Pothier is returning this summer to teach two classes; Still Life Painting in Oil and Painting the Figure in the Garden and Studio. I study
painting with Chris whenever I can, learning a great deal from his teaching
methods and thoroughly enjoy his infectious sense of humor.
Christopher came about becoming a painter indirectly. His
family wanted their kids to do really well in school, and let them explore their
own interests. Although they knew nothing about art, they were very
encouraging, positive and supportive. He wanted to be a scientist as a young
kid and as he grew older, got more involved in the study of philosophy and
architecture. A very visual person whose brain teamed with images, he realized
he needed to express himself visually and began drawing and painting on his
own.
 | | Still Life by Christopher Pothier |
Dropping out of college for a couple of years, he studied drawing, took a
couple of continuing education courses, and immersed himself in art. Returning
to U Mass Amherst, Chris was fortunate to find a mentor- realist painter
William Patterson (represented by Sherry French Gallery)- who taught him all
the technical stuff. Under his one-on-one tutelage, Chris painted reproductions
of Renaissance paintings from museums and books, learned to work with color
juxtaposition and organize and correct mistakes. He feels he owes so much to
Patterson, who was the only representational instructor at that mostly
conceptual school.
I asked Chris about his transition from student to
professional artist, a
 | | Self Anguish by Christopher Pothier |
transition that can be extremely daunting. Chris
attributes his success in his artistic path to his arrogant and stubborn
nature. He thought he could do anything better than any boss and, after working
a year in construction and painting houses in Boston, decided he needed to be
self employed. Knowing a lot of Irish guys who owned pubs, Chris began teaching
himself to do decorative finishes and murals, while doing commissioned and
personal paintings on the side. His mural business lasted 12 http://years, allowing
him to develop his personal work, painting for himself without worrying what
anyone thought. As the economy deteriorated, his mural work dwindled and he
went to his studio just to paint. He was fortunate to find markets to sell his
work, especially Bowersock Gallery in Provincetown, who really appreciate his
work. Chris has also taught part time for the last 6 years, enjoying the social
aspects of teaching and mentoring others.
 | | The Married Couple by Christopher Pothier |
I quizzed Chris about his personal work. He doesn't like to
be pigeonholed, using the figure in many ways; single or in multiples, in low
lit interiors or outside scenes with many figures, expressing emotion and
creative narratives that are open to interpretation. Many of his paintings come
from dreams or thoughts, especially his work with multiple figures. In his more
intimate work, he uses his own and his wife's figures, not as portraits, but as
symbols for serious subjects. His still life paintings portray objects that are
part of his personal collection, examined from different perspectives and
angles.
He enjoys creating a weird narrative, sometimes organizing
objects according to constellations. While his figure work comes from a
combination of observing life and working with photographs, his still life
painting are completely painted from observation.
 | | Old Bottles and Marbles by Christopher Pothier |
Chris is a workaholic, spending 8 – 10 hours a day in his
studio. Working alone since he was 26 years old, he enjoys researching and
creating a painting, appreciating the solitude his studio life provides, in
contrast to the chaos of a home life with three young children. Chris enjoys
the social aspects of teaching and is generous with his knowledge. As a
painter, he is an avid observer of the human condition and as a teacher, an
excellent purveyor of the technical and philosophical aspects of painting.
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