Oil paintings by Cincinnati artist Christopher Brian.
Commissioned Landscape, Still Life & Portrait Oil Paintings on Canvas.

Chris Brian is an impatient/patient artist, a man with a mission. He is, he maintains, still looking for confidence-particularly as he seeks balance in his compositions—while attempting to find the essence of images. He is passionate in his study of the old masters; Caravaggio is, in a sense, his mentor. Like him, Brian goes to canvas, skipping the preliminaries of drawing, loving the feel of the art materials. While investigating the Old Masters’, Brian develops visual narrative; he loves studying art history books, and the viewer can see influences from Millet and Bouguereau. His still lives are beautifully rendered, and he is particularly insightful when interpreting light. He feels humbled by the classical works of the 15th through the 17th centuries, including the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

A student of Classical Realism, Brian paints in oil because of the proven permanence and lasting beauty of this medium; the paintings can last for 400 years. When coloration is done well, “it’s like candy for the eyes”, he states. His prizewinning still life, ‘Onions and Garlics’, is very effective, both in its depth and lighting as well as in its minimal use of color. ‘Morning in Deep Woods’, is a moody, misty oil on canvas painted with astute understanding. His penetrating eye sees interactions of color and light that we associate with the Old Masters. Brian has a great reverence for a well-executed painting; he maintains that he “would like to interview Rembrandt”. Brian is an artist to watch. This former businessman used to employ 50 people, but states that “making art is even more challenging”.

Chris Brian is a refreshing and intelligent painter, a thoughtful man “on purpose”. He, like other mid-career artists, is investigating and reinterpreting the concepts of art history, while also searching for beauty; qualities that I find coming back into art these days. I recommend Chris Brian’s work enthusiastically.

Daniel Brown
International Society of Art Critics
New York and Paris