Chris Van Loan, Sr.

Chris Van Loan, Sr.

Austin, TX

“The relationship between the artist and their canvas is one of give and take. It is fluid. It requires the artist to be open to energy and a consciousness beyond themselves.” Chris Van Loan Sr. feels that this quote by author and artist Dr. Carl B. Gacono accurately describes his creative process. Chris feels driven by a need to bring something unique into being that did not exist before.

Chris (he/him/his) was introduced to art when he was serving in the US Army, stationed at Fort Hood. On his weekends off, he visited Austin where he became enthralled in the rich art and musical culture. Chris hopes that being an ArtLifting artist will inspire other veterans to create and enjoy art. 

Chris is now a tech writer by day and in his free time, he pursues his creativity. His approach starts with a blank canvas, paint and paint tools (brushes, scrapers, palette knives, spatulas, and basically any object that he find that helps him create). He usually pours paint on to the canvas and then starts painting as inspiration moves him. Being a musician (singer/guitarist) influences Chris’ art as he sometimes paints guitars that contain elements of abstraction. Chris has also studied Reiki and Tai Chi, so the concept of movement and energy flow from those practices often come into play. Creativity defines his family as well, as his wife and children also share in his love for music, the spoken word, and general expression. 

Chris feels that being an ArtLifting artist moves him closer to his goal of becoming a full-time artist. He keeps the following quote by Rumi on the wall of his home studio, “When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy." Aside from ArtLifting, Chris runs a group on Facebook for Black artists to share their work and support each other. He comments that Black artists are not often known for their expressionist / abstract work, but are usually thought of as portrait painters. This online network unites artists who are often underrepresented in the art world, in an effort to build visibility, support, and community.

 
20 - ArtLifting
 
A Daughter's Love - ArtLifting
 
A Force of Nature - ArtLifting
 
All The Marbles - ArtLifting
 
All The Marbles - ArtLifting
 
Alternating Currents - ArtLifting
 
Angel Guitar - ArtLifting
 
Bayou Stories - ArtLifting
 
Bloom - ArtLifting
 
Bridges to Eternity - ArtLifting
 
Building Blocks - ArtLifting
 
Calm - ArtLifting
 
Calm - ArtLifting
 
Changing Perspectives - ArtLifting
 
Cityscape Reflection - ArtLifting
 
Community - ArtLifting
 
Community - ArtLifting
 
Confidence - ArtLifting
 
Confidence - ArtLifting
 
Connected - ArtLifting
 
Dreams - ArtLifting
 
Dreams - ArtLifting
 
Earth Tones and Blues - ArtLifting
 
Focus Points - ArtLifting
 
Future Map - ArtLifting
 
Gateway Valley - ArtLifting
 
Gotham 1 - ArtLifting
 
Gotham 2 - ArtLifting
 
Gotham 3 - ArtLifting
 
Hope for Peace - ArtLifting
 
I Hear Colors - ArtLifting
 
Jazz City Blue - ArtLifting
 
Kinetic Energy - ArtLifting
 
Lean On Me - ArtLifting
 
Meditations - ArtLifting
 
Mornings - ArtLifting
 
Nature or Nurture - ArtLifting
 
New Horizons - ArtLifting
 
New Horizons - ArtLifting
 
Renewable Energy - ArtLifting
 
Resilience - ArtLifting
 
Resilience - ArtLifting
 
Rhyme and Reason - ArtLifting
 
Seven - ArtLifting
 
Sway - ArtLifting
 
The Hidden Forest - ArtLifting
 
The Intersection of Art and Commerce - ArtLifting
 
The Mystic - ArtLifting
 
Time Will Tell - ArtLifting