1xRun: Tell us a little bit about this piece? Is the original for sale?
Chris Saunders: This piece is an evolution of a piece I did a few years ago that originated as a sketch. There is another series that is a variation on this piece, but the original is not for sale.
1xRun: Was this piece part of a recent theme, series or show that you had? If so how did it fit into that given grouping?
Chris Saunders: I have been called to create pieces recently that embody the spirit of certain archetypal animals, such as owls, tigers and wolves. The inspiration for these pieces usually come when I am experiencing an internal shift, and my subconscious presents these images as tools to guide me through that shift and onto my highest path.
1xRun: What materials were used to create these prints?
Chris Saunders: These prints are 8 color serigraphs on Stonehenge fine art paper. The piece started out as a sketch, which I then brought into the computer and created color separations.
1xRun: When was the piece created and how long did it take to complete?
Chris Saunders: This artwork for this piece was created in 2012 and took me about a month to create.
1xRun: Anything you would like to highlight about this piece?
Chris Saunders: This piece looks about 100 times more amazing when you see it in person, the pics don’t really highlight the layers and textural quality of all the inks used.
1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?
Chris Saunders: I was experiencing a massive shift in my life at the time. I was feeling a pull away from my career as a commercial artist to focus on my own art and I had a lot of fear coming up for me. Usually when I experience these shifts I do my best to get out of my head and trust my inner guidance. That inner guidance tends to mold those experiences into the form of different animal forms that guide me through that transition. To me the tiger represents primal instinct and being able to let go and trust yourself and fully trust your intuition.
1xRun: What is unique about this piece?
Chris Saunders: Definitely all the details and layered colors of this serigraph make this piece unique and one of a kind. I feel it captures the essence of that raw primal inner tiger we all have inside of us.
1xRun: Why should people buy this print?
Chris Saunders: The reason this piece came to me was a reminder to trust my instincts, so if you have this print in your space it will be a constant reminder to let go and trust your instinct and take action based on your inner guidance.
1xRun: Describe the print in one gut reaction word.
Chris Saunders: Fierce.
1xRun: You recently helped with the design on Lady Gaga’s upcoming tour, how did that come about and what were you working on?
Chris Saunders: For the last decade or so I have worked a lot in the commercial motion graphics field, conception and designing commercials as a creative consultant. The team that got hired to do all the production found me online, hit me up and asked if I would help with the concept and design. The aesthetic they were going for was very geometric and angular, so my style fit in with the project perfectly.
1xRun: Any teasers you can give us about what people can expect?
Chris Saunders: Usually the way these things work is it’s like a total shit storm for about a week with everyone panicking and freaking out about the deadline to get everything done in time. I use every cell in my body to produce as much design as possible with the direction they give and then the animation team takes elements and animates everything. I usually don’t see the final product until the show is up and running. Everyone is pretty hush hush about everything as well because there are NDAs and all that kind of legal jazz. Once there is footage from the show I will post it up on my site.
1xRun: Aside from that you’re always staying busy, what else have you been up to?
Chris Saunders: Besides my art, I am also co-founder of a start up in Venice, CA called Zebra. We are developing a technology that allows artists to easily get their work onto dope products like skate decks, t-shirts, phone cases and prints. It is my dream to find a solution for artists to easily make more revenue from their art so they can focus more on creating and less about paying the bills. This idea came about from my experience as an artist wanting to get my art onto cool products and found their wasn’t a very easy solution.
1xRun: Any upcoming shows or events you’d like to talk about?
Chris Saunders: I have never been in an art show, mainly because I really just started creating my artwork very recently and didn’t think I had enough art to fill a gallery. That is something I want to do in the next year, is have a solo show.
1xRun: Where else can people find you?
Chris Saunders: Website – Facebook – Instagram@chrissaundersart
-1xRUN