Chris Blackmon: Artist of the Month

Artist Chris Blackmon sees himself as a hyperrealism, charcoal pencil artist. Blackmon is the featured artist of the month for September at the Chester Branch Library located at 11800 Centre St. The Artist of the Month is sponsored by the Chesterfield Center for the Arts in Chester, in partnership with the Chester Friends of the Library and the Chester Branch Library.

“I enjoy my artform – realism – because being able to capture an image and recreate it on paper, in a sense enables you to recreate the thoughts and feelings that were experienced at that moment, while sparking new ones as well,” he said. “In sharing my work with the world, my passion and desire is to encourage others to pursue their given talents and passions.”

With no formal artistic training, Blackmon said he is self-taught with lots of views of YouTube.

Upon graduating high school, he served in the United States Navy for seven years as an Operations (Navigation) Specialist. After his military career he worked in a number of sales positions, which included a telecommunications company in the Hampton Roads and D. C. area

“I worked at American Family Fitness in Chester for one- and a-half-years as well, upon first moving to Richmond in 2012,” he said.”Currently I am a Healthy Lifestyle Coach/Personal Trainer/Massage Therapist working for a wellness company in the Glen Allen area named inHEALTH. I have worked there for almost two years now.”

Blackmon’s work may be viewed by visiting the Chester Library during visiting hours through the month of September.