Bio

Chris Groves’ love of art grew from his early experiences with nature and the introduction of a master sculpture in his youth.
Groves was born in Boulder, Colorado, but soon moved with his family to Slidell, Louisiana. Those early years in Slidell were spent outside, exploring the woods, swimming in the bayou, boating, fishing, playing with snakes and other wild animals. It was during those years that Groves learned to love the outdoors and nature.

At the age of ten, Groves' family returned to Boulder where he continued his exploration of nature with countless hikes, mountain climbs and camping trips. His parents gave him a nature-drawing book and Groves latched onto it as a source of awe and inspiration. He would spend countless hours copying the drawings and enhancing them with his own interpretation. His parents, recognizing their sons’ talent and appreciation of art, hired a private tutor to instruct him in basic techniques. Soon, Groves' interest turned from nature to people. Groves looked to friends and siblings as a source of inspiration and drew detailed portraits of their faces.

In high school, Groves met sculptor, Glenna Goodacre, the mother of a school friend. Meeting with her and seeing some of the success she enjoyed as a artist (Vietnam Women’s memorial, Sacagawea US Dollar design) helped to inspire Groves' own artistic aspirations.

After graduating from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a B.F.A. in Environmental Design, Groves spent the next ten years as an art director for two large companies, all the while continuing to study and hone his fine art skills.

Groves has studied at the Florence Academy of Art in Italy, the Colorado Academy of Art, the Loveland Art Academy, the Cottonwood Art Academy and the Denver Arts Students League. He also enjoyed a private, two- year mentorship with artist Jay Moore.

Groves paintings hang in numerous private and corporate collections and he is the recipient of multiple awards and recognitions listed below.

BORN
Boulder, Colorado

EDUCATION
Florence Academy of Art, Florence, Italy
Colorado Academy of Art: Atelier - Classical Academy Studies with Richard Lack
Colorado University, BFA Environmental Design/Architecture

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Landscape, Still Life and Cast Drawing classes, Horton Hayes Fine Art, 2008-Present
Lead Landscape Instructor Colorado Academy of Art, 2004-2008

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2010
Salon International Show
Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX

Montgomery Museum Auction
Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Montgomery, AL

New Works
CA Gallery, Greenville, NC

Autumn Competition
Bucks County Gallery, New Hope, PA

Reflections - Solo
Horton Hayes Gallery - Charleston, SC

Italy -Light and Life in Tuscany and Florence
Horton Hayes Gallery - Charleston, SC

2009
Nomades del Arte – Selected Artist
Southwest Gallery, Dallas, TX

Charleston Fine Art Auction (Invitational Auction)
Charleston, SC

New Works, Solo Show
Horton Hayes Fine Art, Charleston, SC

The Autumn Show
Anderson Fine Art Gallery, St. Simons, GA

Salmagundi Club Non-Member Juried Exhibition
New York, NY

Summer Solstice
Fountainside Gallery, Wilmington, NC

The Hunt
City Art Gallery, Greenville, NC

Time and Place
Horton Hayes Fine Art, Charleston, SC

One Man Show
Crescent Gallery, Spartanburg, NC

Introductions
Anne Irwin Gallery, Atlanta, GA

Masters in Miniature
CM Russell Museum, Great Falls, MT

Portrait Alliance of the Rockies, Invitational Show
Denver, CO

2008
Oil Painters of America Eastern
Richland Fine Art, Nashville, TN

PaintAmerica Paint the Parks Top 100 – National Traveling Exhibit
Kansas City, MO

Setting the Tone, Solo Show
Horton Hayes Fine Art, Charleston, SC

Hilton Head Art League National Juried Art Exhibit
Hilton Head, SC

New Works
City Art Gallery, Greenville, NC

2007
Paint America Paint the Parks Top 100 Mini50 – National Traveling Exhibit
Kansas City, MO

Rocky Mountain Plein-Air, Invited Artist
Winter Park, CO

Mountains to Sea, Solo Show
Horton Hayes Fine Art, Charleston, SC

Lost and Found: Wanderings and Discoveries along the Carolina Coast
City Art Gallery, Greenville, NC

HONORS AND AWARDS
International Autumn Painting Challenge and Competition - First Prize: Oil
CM Russell Masters in Miniature 2009
2009 Salmagundi Club Open Exhibition
Artist in Residence, Balsam Mountain Preserve, Sylva, NC, September 2009
Oil Painters of America Eastern - Winner Top 100 – 2008
Hilton Head Art League National Juried Art Exhibit 2008
Arts for the Parks – Top 100 – 2008 – Winner: Jurors’ Award
Selected by the City of Charleston, SC to paint “The Nine” firefighters killed in the line of duty
Selected to paint the 9th and 10th Bishops of Colorado
Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters Group - Invited Artist 2007
2007 Arts for the Parks – Top 100 Mini50 – 2007

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
American Artist Magazine, March 2010
American Art Collector, November 2009, Issue 49
American Art Collector, October 2009, Issue 48
Garden And Gun Magazine, August 2009
American Art Collector, March 2007, Issue 17
Post & Courier, July 2007, “The Nine Portraits – Chris Groves”
Carolina Arts, “Chris Groves Mountains to Sea”, March 2007
Times Call, February 2007

CLIENTS AND COLLECTIONS
St John’s Episcopal, Denver, CO
Bush Development, Denver,CO
Black Fox Group
Legendary Properties
RW Goodacre & Co
Colorado Business Bank