About Christian Ives

Christian Ives was born and raised in Missoula, Montana, where he was fortunate to be surrounded by mountains, rivers, and the most amazing skies. This landscape had a huge impact on Christian’s love of colors, textures, and emotions in his art.

It was in college that he fell in love with oil painting. I studied painting and drawing under Harold Schlotzhauer and Robert Smith at MSU Bozeman. In 2007 he received a MFA in Studio Art and an MFA in Art Education.

During this time in college, Christian lived abroad in Cortiano, Italy and Wrecsam, Wales to study art history, drawing, painting, and complete his student teaching. It was this experience that influenced his art to become more focused on capturing the moments in life that are worth remembering.

Christian's work can be found in private collections in Montana, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, Georgia, New York, Virginia, France, Australia and India. He work has been featured in Convergence Gallery, The Dana Gallery, Coos Art Museum, along with his murals in Missoula, Montana, Warrenton, Virginia, and Eugene, Oregon.

Christian currently is an oil painter, muralist, and Middle School/High School Art Teacher. He taught 3 wonderful years in Sutherlin High School as the Art/Ceramics teacher, and is currently the Ceramics and Art teacher at Highland School in Warrenton, Virginia.

Currently Christian is happily living in Leesburg, Virginia with his wife, 3-year-old son, and turtle.

How to Order a Commissioned Painting

Christian Ives Art Statement

The way each of us remembers a particular moment in life has always fascinated me. Our minds can only focus on so many details at a time, which makes how we view any given moment truly unique to each viewer. My paintings represent how I perceive reality while I am living in these moments. Some details are blurred out, while others are hyper-exaggerated.

The way I paint is the most natural and enjoyable way for me to create using this model. Expressive colors and lines create multiple images on one canvas with knives, brushes, and squeegees until my perception of the moment has fully been reached.

My paintings are always inspired by the moments in my life worth remembering; especially with loved ones, wildlife, and places I travel. It has become my way of appreciating these moments in life and doing everything possible to live a fully aware life. Using oil paint on canvas and wood, each painting always influences the next. I enjoy my painting process as each color and subject matter controls the flow of where the painting will go. When finished I take pleasure in seeing what other people find in my art as no one ever sees the same thing.