BIO: Christopher Smith is a wildlife artist from Interlochen,MI, and specializes in wildlife scenes and dog portraits for clients across the country.Smith has illustrated over a dozen hunting and fishing books, as well as contributed artwork to a number of national magazines including
The Retriever Journal,
Pointing Dog Journal,
Shooting Sportsman,
Ruffed Grouse Society,
Upland Almanac, and
Ducks Unlimited, and several others. He is author and illustrator of
Field Guide to Upland Birds and Waterfowl, and co-author, along with brother Jason, of
Waterfowling Horizons.In 2005, Smith took first place in the Michigan Duck Stamp Contest, and just recently took top honors in the contest for the 2009 Michigan Ducks Unlimited Sponsor Artist of the year.
Chris attended NMC in Traverse City, and is a graduate of Lake Superior State University, earning a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Management. He, along with wife and art teacher Lani, live with their two children, Nathan (7) and Audrey (4), and yellow Lab, Libby. Chris has hunted, fished, and photographed across much of North America, adding hands-on experiences to his formal education in the wildlife sciences.
 |
Redhead Respite by Christopher Smith
|
Being self employed allows for one perk, namely, I hunt, at least for an hour or two, nearly every day of the season, from opening of Grouse to the end of waterfowl. I thoroughly enjoy the dog work, my Lab being an old pro at 9 years old. I've been hunting since I was 10, in, and every year I seem to find something else I like about it. I always have my camera and collect many photos for my paintings in the fall-- it sounds like an excuse, but the pictures I get on my hunts are invaluable--I couldn't work without them. Luckily, my wife Lani understands, or at least humors me, from September through November (I do the cooking, so she's willing to negotiate), and then of course there's turkey, trout, steelhead, geese...ok, she's a saint. My children are 7 and 4, Nate and Audrey, and Lani is an art teacher, and we're very happy keeping it simple here in northern Michigan. As much as I love to hunt and fish, it's faith and family first. The good Lord has blessed me many times over, and I hope I'm using my talent in a way that glorifies Him. In addition to the fine art I do for a living, I'm very engaged in martial arts, working toward my 2nd degree black belt in songham taekwondo this summer, 2009."
Please check out my website at: www.chrissmithart.com
And my e-mail address is: northernimages@chartermi.net