Conversations with Chris Hutter

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Hutter.

Hi Chris, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Born and raised in western Connecticut. Started doing art at a young age and went to college for art. I received a BS degrees in Studio Art with a concentration in Graphic design & printmaking. 4 months after graduation I was hit head on by a drunk driver on a divided highway at the crest of a hill. Needless to say my art and life were put on hold for 5 years. I was now physically disabled and have TBI, (traumatic brain injury.) not letting that stop me I moved to Arizona in 1995 for my health and got married to my wife of 28 years
I thought no big deal, I was an editorial layout artist with a degree so getting a job shouldn’t be that hard. While recovering the graphics industry changed, it was no longer manual it was all computerized. I did get a job with LearJet and was a silkscreen artist for them for five years but got board with the work. I then got a job silkscreening for a company that printed for the University of Arizona and completed the courses to become a high school art teacher. Found out the hard way, Arizona is not looking for art teachers. I substitute instead to create income to support me and my wife while I use my art background to create my own genre of art which I have been doing for 20 years now. I have a plethora of art that I want to share with the world that I call Abstract Graphics.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Life is not a smooth journey. I was involved in a drunk driving accident in 1987 my junior year in college. This left me with TBI(Traumatic brain injury) and limited use to my left arm. I am left handed. I had to reinvent my art, I could no longer draw the way I use to. I did. 2 years later I had just graduated college in 1990 and got my first graphic design job. 3 months later I was hit head on by a drunk driver on a divided highway at the crest of a hill.,this left me disabled from the waist down. After a lengthy recovery I moved to Arizona in May of 1995, it was more conducive for my disability. I moved with nothing but a duffle bag of cloths. After 3 months I secured a job with LearJet silkscreening jet aircraft. The next five years were kind of a highlight. I got married to wonderful Hispanic women who was a massage therapist and vegetarian. Whom I am still very much in love with after 28 years of marriage. We bought a house and lived fine. After 5 years of LearJet I had to stop because it was to physically strenuous for my disability. I finished the courses I needed so I could teach only to find out I can’t teach because I’m TBI So I collect SSDI and work part time as a high school substitute teacher while I continue work on creating my own genre of art I call Abstract Graphics.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
It’s funny how my profession has nothing to do with art but is directly related to how my art starts. I am a high school substitute teacher and because I do my job so well that I’m considered the mellow sub. With the free time I have, I doodle and this is where all my initial designs start. I guess it has something to do with the creativity that happens in an educational environment. Once I have my initial design I then perfect it on my own time at home.. I m most proud of the fact that I can do my job and my art at the same time though I don’t tell anyone what I’m doing with my art and my thought process is what makes me unique and sets me apart from others.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Covid taught me that digital media is where the future lies. So my art now has to be digital.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @chutterart
• Facebook: /chrishutter
• Twitter: @1Chutterart
• Other: http://chutter.redbubble.com/