Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Weeks.
Hi Christine, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi, I’m Christine Weeks and I am a local portrait and mural artist that also teaches drawing and painting classes to all ages of students. I’ve been involved with art since I was a child. My mom was an artist and her portfolio was an inspiration to me. My favorite medium, growing up, was always pencil drawing. I started drawing portraits in high school and my teacher’s at Columbine High School in Colorado said I have a gift of realistically portraying people. I liked drawing interesting faces such as Barbara Streisand, Michael Jackson and Mick Jagger but also did drawings of several teachers and children back then. When I moved to Florida I kept up with my portraiture but also started a family with my husband Adam(who is one of my biggest supporters) and we have four children, I began teaching drawing and painting classes at Chocachatti Elementary School in 2001 and am starting my 25th year there. Watching children learn to express themselves through art is one of my greatest joys in life. I painted five murals at my school as well as a sensory path. As people started seeing my work I kept getting referrals for more mural jobs and over the years have completed almost 100 murals. Some of my favorites are the big bugs and flowers at Wellcome OM Integral Healing center, All you need is love mural for Brooksville Main Street with a 17 foot guitar, Spring Hill Outdoor Power Equipment with large scale workers using power tools, Educational murals I’ve painted at Springs Coast Environmental Center depicting our beautiful Florida environment and Pencil Poles at school. I’m currently working on a mural for the Humane Society of the Nature Coast and will be unveiling it this coming week. My artwork has been featured in several galleries and I have also won a few awards as well throughout the years. I still get excited each time I look at a blank wall and envision the possibilities. If you’d like to see more of my work, my portfolio of can be viewed on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/christineweekscanvascreations?igsh=MTR3cjhiOGVnZDlsbQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’ve faced quite a few obstacles and challenges in my artistic journey. One of my greatest was having confidence in my art. While I was accepted to Pratt Institute in NY from a National talent search in 1985, I was unable to attend due to some logistics. So over the years felt that without that degree people wouldn’t take my work seriously. I’ve only recently developed the confidence to call myself an artist and feel accepted by my peers even though I have been working as an artist for forty years. There are so many artists I admire and I am so happy and honored that they appreciate my work and have become good friends with them too. Our art community definitely cheers each other on and that’s a beautiful thing.
Another challenge, which I believe every artist goes through, is pricing their work. It is so hard to put a value on something that feels like a part of you because the connection you have to a piece and the amount of time and love you put into it.
Our local Arts Council has done a tremendous job supporting local artists and has had a great impact on my career as well.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I work with all mediums from simple pencil and paper to chalk pastels, watercolors, acrylic and oil paints as well as interior and exterior house paint for painting my murals. My favorite subjects to depict are people and nature so that’s what I specialize in. I’m known by a lot of people as Mrs Weeks because I teach classes to children grades K-12 at our local elementary school as well as adult painting parties for all ages at my home studio called Canvas Creations. It is such a wonderful thing to watch children create. Their imagination is amazing and watching them grow in their art over the years is one of my greatest joys in my career. I’m most proud of how far I’ve come and that I have stayed true to myself in all of my endeavors. Something that sets me apart is no matter if I’m doing a project for free or a fee, I will always go over and above what is requested of me. I’m very detail oriented and I am my own worst critic so even if someone says that’s good enough, I will keep working until I feel satisfied with my work.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I absolutely love observing people and nature. I take so many photos on a daily basis that inspire my artwork and I use them for reference in a lot of my work. Recently, I had three of my photographs on display at the Around the World in a hundred days exhibition in Littleton Colorado. I was chosen to represent our area in my photography.
I love riding my bike and camping, traveling and exploring our beautiful area.
I wish everyone could understand the impact we as humans have on our planet and dislike how we are not protecting our environment.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christineweekscanvascreations?igsh=MTR3cjhiOGVnZDlsbQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CTCAtxD6V/?mibextid=wwXIfr
