About our homepage artist

Photo caption: Manatees frolic in The Spring of Life, one in a series of eight murals commissioned by the Florida Legislature for permanent display at the Capitol Building in Tallahassee.

With bold and colorful brushstrokes, Tarpon Springs fine artist Christopher Still (profiled in the Winter 2004 issue of Bay Soundings) inspires and educates viewers about Florida's cultural and natural heritage. In the Spring of Life, crystal-clear waters scatter light like azure diamonds while harboring schools of fish and manatees that flock to the warm water refuges each winter. ’ÄúI had the opportunity to sit on the bottom of a spring for a couple of hours and got knocked over by a manatee,’Äù says Still, who learned to dive years ago so he could infuse his paintings with authenticity gained by first-hand observation. Using a pressurized, airtight box outfitted with a small canvas, paints and a sealed glove, the artist produces underwater color sketches that guide his painting in the studio. Still also consults with scientist and technical advisors to portray his subjects accurately.

The Clearwater native received a full scholarship to study at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts before moving to Florence to apprentice in traditional fresco painting techniques. ¬ÝFollowing a European fellowship and further work at the Pennsylvania Academy, he returned to Tampa Bay to ’Äúexplore is home state with new eyes.’Äù

Still’Äôs paintings can be found in museums and private collections around the world, including the Smithsonian Institute, Florida Governor’Äôs Mansion and the Ringling Museum of Art. ¬ÝHe lives and works in historic downtown Tarpon Springs. View his work online at christopherstill.com.

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