CHRIS ADESSA, Oil Painter
Studio 278
415-925-1934
www.ChrisAdessa.com
Chris@ChrisAdessa.com

Chris Adessa is an award-winning oil painter living in Marin County, California. She paints landscapes alla prima (all in one session) and often on-site.  From western New York State, Chris is passionate about the majestic California landscape and glorious climate.  Plein air painting (painting outside) is a personal and true joy.  She enjoys capturing the essence of the landscape with a spiritual, meditative feeling; her personal style has been said to evoke "a sense of memory." 

Her work won the “Crystal Award of Excellence” at the 2005 California Fine Art Competition and two Awards of Merit in 2006.  It was also chosen by the Napa Valley Museum for their 2005 Plein Air Biennial Exhibit.  The Bolinas Museum has invited her to participate in their 18th Annual Invitational Mini Show and Exhibition this year.  The Environmental Action Committee of West Marin featured her work in West Marin Wild, a 2005 benefit for the Pt. Reyes National Seashore.   She often donates her work for the benefit of environmental causes, including Marin Organics and Art on the Farm.

Her work is collected internationally and she has exhibited across the U.S. from California to Virginia.  Her paintings have been on the cover of the Mill Valley Gallery Guide and on the front page of the Twin Cities Times.  She's also won awards from the Napa Valley Mustard Festival, Marin County Fair - Fine Art Division, Marin Society of Artists, and College of Marin.

Chris was hired in 2004 by a film production company to paint a vineyard vista for a national TV and print advertising campaign, and as technical advisor to the director.  The TV ad is currently running nationwide.

Her work has been shown in numerous venues across Northern California: Napa Valley Museum-Plein Air Biennial, California State Fine Art Competition in Sacramento, the William Lester Gallery, Switzer Gallery, The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, St. Supery Vineyards and Winery, Marin Community Foundation, Dimitroff’s Frame Shop and Gallery, Falkirk Cultural Center, Artisans, Marin Society of Artists, and The Group Show in San Francisco.  She has painted in the Point Reyes Plein Air Paint-Off and in the Mill Valley Art Commission's Plein Air Paint-Off. 

Chris received her B.S. with honors in Art Education from the Pennsylvania State University.  More recently, she has studied with truly inspirational artists who have shared much painting wisdom, including Chester Arnold, Randall Sexton, Armand Cabrera, Brian Blood, Van Waldron and others.  Chris's affiliations are with Oil Painters of America, Landscape Artists International and Marin Arts Council. 

Please visit and see her latest work at the ICB Winter Open Studios, December 2 and 3, 2006 in studio 278, ICB Building, 480 Gate 5 Road, Sausalito.