Chris Alvarez has been interested in art since he was a young boy growing up in his home town of Silver City, NM. He learned to draw by watching an older cousin copy pictures out of a magazine. When he grew older he took some bad advice given with good intention and tried to find something “to fall back on”, in case art didn’t work out. He spent a lot of energy looking for that safety net with some success. He experimented, trying his hand at different endeavors such as bartending, working with at risk youth, and working as an ophthalmic assistant. In 1988 he even enlisted in the US Army. Although Chris found all of these experiences valuable and rewarding, art was always there calling. In1997 Alvarez decided to commit to becoming a professional artist. He signed up for classes at what was the Cottonwood Art Academy and studied with Sparky LeBold and Chuck Mardosz. He also enrolled in work shops taught by such established artists as Skip Whitcomb, Matt Smith, Mary Dolph Wood, Eric Michaels and Kim English. Chris became one of the first students of the current Cottonwood Artists’ School to become an instructor, where he currently teaches drawing and painting. He also earned a BA in fine art with distinction at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, where he taught drawing for five years. He’s won several awards for his plein air work, such as Plein Air Magazine’s grand prize at the Paint Historic Manitou Springs paint out in 2005 and the grand prize at the Victor Celebrates the Arts paint out in 2002. Alvarez is currently represented by Elemental Arts in Silver City, NM, The Gallery at Rich Design, Colorado Springs, Co and www.chrisalvarezpaintings.com.