about CHRIS HILL
I grew up in Ormond Beach, Florida and early on I fell in love with the sea. From endless summers spent surfing, sailing, & working as a lifeguard, most of my early life lessons were learned in the ocean. Taking up scuba diving deepened my awareness & respect for this incredible ecosystem. Throughout those years I also developed a deep passion for creating art. I graduated from the Savannah College of Art & Design with a BFA in painting & a strong sense of wanderlust. I took my first job as a sculptor in the Bahamas & I’ve been traveling the world ever since, blending my love of adventure, water time & creating art wherever I go.
OCEAN AWARENESS PROJECTS
I’ve enjoyed working on a variety of ocean-focused environmental projects over the years, including serving as an art director for the Wyland Foundation’s “Ocean Challenge” 50 state bus tour, painting ocean murals in schools with students & city walls across the United States. I've worked as an art teacher onboard a School @ Sea Program as Art Teacher, sailing through the Caribbean for a semester at sea which was true ocean living with humpback whale encounters and creating art with students. I also worked as Art Coordinator on GreenPeace's "Save Our Sea's" Mediterranean Sea Tour, creating environmental chalk art with kids in countries around the Med.
SONAR ART:
CREATING ART WITH SOUND
I’ve always been fascinated by sonar – the idea that pings of sound can create a perfect map of what lies beneath the sea. It just so happens I have a brother-from-another-mother, Brent von Twistern, who is a hydrographer. Brent & I had a blast collaborating on a sonar art series designed to reveal new perspectives of the ocean. We collected high resolution sonar imagery while on location in Hawaii, merged it with above water photography, & then I embellished the images with paint. Our expedition was featured in Hawaiian Airlines "Hana Hou" inflight magazine. Take a closer look!
MY DAY JOB
I’ve spent the past 25+ years working as a production designer, field art director & lead artist in the theming industry, helping bring to life a variety of world-famous theme park attractions and resorts. Early in my career, I had the true honor of art directing the remodel of Bob Marley’s Bahamian residence into a resort destination. I. Through my work, I hope to inspire a sense of wonder & magic in hearts young & old. I’ve also been incredibly fortunate that my career has taken me around the world, fostering my love of adventure & providing me with endless opportunities to create the ocean- & travel-inspired art I love so much. I invite you to click on the images below for a closer look at my journey.
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