Meet Chris Sellen | Person that draws stuff

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chris Sellen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chris, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I’m from a little town in Florida called Orlando. The town is overshadowed by a mouse overlord. It’s a blessing and a curse, in some ways we are an international city but in a lot of ways we are still an underdog city when it comes to art and art culture. I think that juxtaposition had a lot to do with my upbringing and rebellious nature which was embraced and soothed by the skate, surf, wakeboard and wakeskate(I’m very aware no one knows what it is) scene in Orlando. Skate culture was the most important to me artistically, growing up looking at the art on the bottom of decks and reading thrasher opened my eyes to the fact that art and expression wasn’t just in galleries. And not only that but coiuld be raw and shity in the best possible way.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
All my art is based around my love for drawing, which turned into the fancier word illustration once I learned that you don’t have to be traditionally good at drawing to get people into it or express your self throw the medium. Which I learned from the skateboarding world, who led me to punk rock. Then punk was kind enough to point me in the direction of all sorts of raw and loose art of the past 100 years. I channel all these influences when I draw and try to portray some sort of emotion feeling, frustration etc threw the art.

The other thing that has had a large influence on my art was growing up with dyslexia. That one is a double edge dagger to be sure. There are so many issues struggles and child hood scars that go with it. But at the same time it helps me see things differently than most people. When you have learning disabilities it literally wires your brain differently so in a lot of ways I don’t have to try to be “different” or unique thats already built in. So I use that to my advantage when ever I can.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Me and my imaginary friend would go fishing with @stoinkz then hang on the beach and go to the botanical gardens, swing by Wynwood bump into Iggy and then go to Kill Your Idol for a night cap.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Skateboarding , surfing and the community and friendships that surround it. And of course Joyce and Jim my parents.

Website: https://www.chrissellen.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chris_sellen/?hl=en

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgyQtpsI_iUdhHCjTkTIs_Q/videos