Chris Crites Bagpainter

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Why did you choose the medium you work with? I had worked on paper bag in life drawing in school, with conte and charcoal and loved the effect black and white had on the brown background.  In 1999 I tore up a lunch bag, painted 4 mug shots on it in 5 colors each and that sealed the deal.  The combination of the mug shot and the paper is that I am recycling both the material and the subjet matter.  Discards of our society.

What problems do you encounter in your art practice? “Is it archival?” is the number one question I get.  On one hand, it is of some concern to me, but only slightly.  I don’t paint these with any illusions that they will be here in 500 years.  Neither will I.  Besides, it is acrylic, which is plastic, and that isn’t going anywhere.  I have them professionally framed and think that they will last.