Education and Shows

Chris with Nubby and Scout

Chris works in a variety of genre from still life, to animals to landscape. Working in the studio from still life set-ups, painting outdoors and from her own photographs, she strives to capture her own unique vision in oil or pastel.

Chris has a Bachelor of Arts / Fine Arts degree from the University of South Florida. Like many aspiring artists, she found it necessary to get a "real job" and several years after finishing college went back to school to study computer technology. She spent many years working in New York City as a software developer and systems analyst.  One day she decided it was time to give up the corporate world and again went back to school; this time to study photography at the Rocky Mountain School of Photography in Missoula, Montana.

After moving to Colorado, Chris focused on fine art photography exclusively, especially black and white, infrared and hand tinted works and Polaroid transfers. Her photographs were sold at several local Evergreen galleries including Hiwan Gallery, Evergreen Gallery and Shadow Mountain Gallery.

Experiments in alternative photographic methods eventually led her to pursue more painterly techniques and it was only a matter of time before she started experimenting with acrylics on various surfaces. In 2005, she started taking classes in pastel and later oil at Foothills Art Center and the Art Students League of Denver.

She continues to use her photography skills in both her work as a home-based web designer and as reference material for her paintings. She feels that the years spent working as a photographer and in the darkroom have proven to be invaluable tools to understanding light, color and value.

In 2007, Chris and her husband Dan Orlikowski built a 24 x 28 detached garage with a fabulous art studio above. The new art studio provides new opportunities to work on multiple projects in different mediums. Having the luxury of space has allowed Chris to work in larger sizes. "The new art studio has become my other home! I find myself getting lost in my art and losing all sense of time. It's so exciting to be able to work on an oil painting and then turn right around and work on a pastel. All of my pastels, oils, brushes and easels are right there all of the time. Having a studio is really a dream come true."

Chris currently studies at the Art Students League of Denver as well as the Center For the Arts - Evergreen. She has taken classes with many Colorado artists/teachers including Joshua Fallik, Doug Dawson, Susie Hyer, Steve Tracy,  Don Sahli and has taken workshops mini workshops with Pem Dunn and Ken Valastro.

She is a member of the The Art Students League of Denver, Center for the Arts Evergreen,  Evergreen Artists Association and is a founding member of Artists With Altitude.

Shows & Events

2010

• "More Passion", Artists With Altitude Annual Show, January & February, Rotary Gallery At Center Stage Theatre, Evergreen, CO

• Door Studios, Artists of Evergreen, September 2010

• Paint, Sculpt, Shoot, Center For The Arts, Evergreen,

• "Beads, Baubles and Bling", Holiday Gift Show in my art studio, November, 2010

• Evergreen Crafters in downtown Evergreen, CO representing original jewelry

• Evergreen National Bank: The bank hosts an on-going display featuring the work of Evergreen Artists.

2009

• "Passion", Artists With Altitude Annual Show, February 13th through February 27th,
  Center for the Arts, Evergreen

• Frames For All Reasons, Evergreen, Guest Artist. March 1 - 31st.

• Standley Lake Library Grand Reopening, Arvada, Colorado. Guest Artist, March 21st - April 30th.

• Open Door Studios, Artists of Evergreen, September 19th and 29th.

• Paint, Sculpt, Shoot, Center For The Arts, Evergreen,

• "Beads, Baubles and Bling", Holiday Gift Show in my art studio, November 7, 2009

• Evergreen Crafters in downtown Evergreen, CO representing original jewelry

• Evergreen National Bank: The bank hosts an on-going display featuring the work of Evergreen Artists.

• EAA Fall Members' Show at Center For the Arts Evergreen, October 30 through November 20th.

• Artists With Altitude Group Exhibit, Standley Lake Library, Arvada, CO

• Holiday Art Show at Center For the Arts Evergreen. Friday, November 27th - December 31st.

2008

• "A Burst of Color", Rotary Gallery, Artists With Altitude Group Show, March 8th to April 6th

• 100 for $100, Center for the Arts Evergreen, April 18, 2008

• Evergreen Artists Association Gallery, Center for the Arts Evergreen, April - May 2008

• Summer Art Market, Art Students League of Denver, June 14th & 15th

• Evergreen National Bank Lobby, Ongoing show (juried, new show quarterly)

• Open Door Studios, Artists of Evergreen, September 20th and 21st

• Artists With Altitude, Painted Toe Society Joint Show, Center for the Arts Evergreen, June, July

• Evergreen Artists Association Annual Fall Juried Show: October 24th - November 14th.

• "Art In School: Montessori Welcomes Artists: Invitational exhibit and sale,
  Montessori School of Evergreen, December 11 - 13th.

2007

• "Wild Things", Rotary Gallery, Artists With Altitude Group Show, April, May 2007

• Mini March Madness, Arts Students League of Denver, March

• 100 for $100, Center for the Arts Evergreen, April

• Bow Wow Benefit, Saks Gallery, Denver, May

• Summer Art Market, Art Students League of Denver, June 9th & 10th

• Exploration: A 21st Century Exhibition, Center for the Arts, Evergreen, June

• Paint, Sculpt, Shoot, Evergreen, Center for the Arts Evergreen, September, First Place Award

• Evergreen Artists Association, Fall Juried Show

• Open Door Studios, Artists of Evergreen, September 20th and 21st

• Molly Brown Summer House, Artists With Altitude Miniature Show, November 3rd & 4th

• Evergreen National Bank Lobby, Ongoing show (juried, new show quarterly)

• Center For the Arts, Evergreen, Christmas Gallery

2006

• "Showstoppers", Foothills Art Center, Jan - March

• A Closer Look at Colorado, Lakewood Arts Council Juried Show, South Union Gallery, Jan - Feb

• 100 for $100, Center for the Arts Evergreen

• Mt. Vernon Country Club Show Sponsored by Foothills Art Center

• Summer Art Market, Art Students League of Denver

• Paint, Sculpt, Shoot, Evergreen, Center for the Arts Evergreen, September

Professional Organizations:

• Oil Painters of America

• Artists With Altitude

• Evergreen Artists Association

• Art Student League of Denver

• Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce

Publications:

• Canyon Courier, Visual Arts, Gallery Events, March 2008

• Canyon Courier, Visual Arts, Gallery Events, September 2007

• Canyon Courier, Community Arts, March 2007

Feature Article:

"Painter finds her true passion in life"
By Sara Miller
January 21, 2009

"Chris Coyle Orlikowski has finally figured out what she wants to be when she grows up. Tucked away in her second-floor studio in Evergreen, Coyle is downright giddy as she leads a tour of her creative haven and her artistic career."   Click here to read the full article from the Canyon Courier.