Chris is a West Texas artist whose creative roots run deep in the plains of Lubbock, Texas, where he was born and raised. He also spent several years living in Austin during the late 1990s, gaining exposure to a vibrant and diverse artistic culture that broadened his perspective. Despite his time away, West Texas has always remained home and continues to serve as a constant source of inspiration in his work.

From an early age, Chris demonstrated a natural talent for art. Throughout his years in public school, he consistently excelled in artistic endeavors and regularly earned recognition through participation in the Lubbock Arts Festival. During the 1982–1983 school year, his sixth-grade teacher selected Chris and a small group of classmates to receive after-school oil painting lessons — a defining moment that laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to visual expression.

Chris continued to pursue art throughout junior high and high school, refining his skills across a variety of mediums and techniques. He later expanded his education through art and design courses at Texas Tech University, exploring both traditional and contemporary approaches to visual communication.

The landscapes and skies of West Texas remain among Chris's greatest influences. He is especially captivated by the region's dramatic sunrises and sunsets — the vast open horizons, changing light, and endless skies of the South Plains continue to inform his use of color, composition, and mood.