Meet Christopher Still | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christopher Still and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christopher, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I have wanted to be an artist since my earliest memories. So for me, it wasn’t so much about wanting to start my own business but wanting to be an independent artist that could choose my own subject matter and pursue my own projects.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Artist Christopher Still grew up in Florida with a creative family and spent as much time as he could outdoors.. The only thing he loved as much as painting was fishing. Still is known for his realistic works of art exploring the history and natural beauty of Florida, captured in landscapes, still lifes, and portraits. His detailed compositions contain multiple levels of symbolism and historic references. In his teens, Still won a national scholarship to attend the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia and then studied in Europe. He returned to Florida and dedicated his life to painting the beauty of his home state.
The City of Tarpon Springs recently opened a permanent exhibition “The Great State of Florida” at the Heritage Museum.
The exhibition includes several original works of art donated from private collections, large scale giclée reproductions, display cases demonstrating the artist’s process and tools as well as a 30-minute documentary titled “Beautiful Historic Tarpon Springs”

Still says “The Great State of Florida” exhibition is “an effort to define a sense of place and who we are as Floridians and celebrate the beautiful and historic city of Tampa Springs.”

Celebrating Tarpon Springs Artist Christopher Still

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are so many beautiful places to go in Tampa Bay but I love taking visitors to Tarpon Springs. If I had a guest visit for one day I would probably have them come to my studio and then walk over to Craig Park to enjoy Spring Bayou and look for the manatees and dolphins. We could visit the Heritage Museum and learn about the history of the town and see my exhibit, “The Great State of Florida.” We could then walk to the sponge docks. After enjoying the scenery of our working waterfront I would take them to see my friends the Russell Family at Rusty Bellies Waterfront Grill. This family owned restaurant does everything from catch the seafood, help cook the seafood and then run the seafood market Pelican Point next store. It doesn’t get more fresh or family owned. Then I would take them snorkeling in the grass flats at Fred Howard Park. Hopefully we could stay long enough to watch the sunset with Anclote Key lighthouse visible in the distance. And then after the sunset, visit my friends Barry and Lisa Butler and enjoy a drink at the Tarpon Springs Distillery. For me that is a perfect day in Tampa Bay.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family, friends and patrons have made my life as an artist possible. I have lived and worked in Tarpon Springs, FL for many years and I can’t thank the City and the community enough for their support. The Tampa Bay Area is a great place to live and work. There’s so many great people and beautiful places and we have such an interesting history. I am very proud to be a Floridian.

Website: https://www.christopherstill.com

Instagram: @christophermstill

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christophermstill

Youtube: https://youtu.be/6WC4sSnVQ_s?si=j5_TcLedVaXZLWva

Other: https://tarponarts.org/the-great-state-of-florida-paintings-by-christopher-still/