Meet Christine Tyler | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christine Tyler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christine, how do you think about risk?
I really believe in trusting your own instincts and questioning authority. If you feel your decision is right for you, do it! (as long as you’re not hurting anyone else). I see so many people who get so bogged down with decision making and questioning every angle that they never make a decision at all. If you make a mistake it is more than likely not the end of the world and maybe you’ll learn something about yourself from it.

Forging ahead and doing the risky thing has almost always worked out for me and it has certainly made life a lot more interesting.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a painter who has been creating and selling art for the past thirty five years.

I learned by doing. As a child I spent hours making elaborate drawings of imaginary landscapes, candy factories, farms, cities, people, and even a fully costumed opera starring frogs. I also loved the illustrations in children’s books and studied them closely. You can see the artistic influences of illustrators such as Tove Jansson, Mary Chalmers, and Kay Thompson in my work.

I went on to create as an adult and haven’t stopped since. I really couldn’t stop painting and drawing if I tried!

Recently, after a lot of searching, I found my birth family and discovered that I come from a long line of women artists. This really helped explain my ongoing compulsion to create ever since I can remember.

In the last few years I’ve shifted from painting the substantive, to the fanciful. As I get older my mind seems to return to the freedom of my childhood imagination. A lot of my ideas originate from the experience of growing up in the seventies and eighties. In drawing upon these memories, I attempt to stir emotions in the observer that can be wistful, farcical, but always thought provoking.

My paintings begin a story, the viewer then brings it to completion through their own life experience

What I’ve learned over the years is to trust my own instincts, rarely listen to authority, and work to hone my skills every day.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I absolutely love Buford Highway. You can literally eat at a different restaurant everyday for at least a year and never repeat an experience. I definitely take all my friends there when they visit. I’m a big fan of Zoo Atlanta as well. I could watch the gorillas forever.
I’ve raised my kids in Decatur and I have to say it is a really wonderful town to live in. Decatur Square on a summer evening can be a magical and entertaining place for all ages.
My husband and I love to hike around Sweet Water Creek State Park. Such a nice place to get out so close to the City.
And of course seeing a show at The Fox Theater is such a treat. I’m so glad that it was not torn down. It is a true gem for Atlanta.
Really, Atlanta is so full of opportunity for entertainment. I absolutely love this city.
My current favorite place is our farm just south of town where we are raising miniature donkeys!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband, mom, and family have all been extremely supportive of my work. My husband, Mike Hamilton, not only frames most of my paintings but also literally hand built a studio for me.

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