Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Chris Arnold

Chris Arnold shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Chris , thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: Who are you learning from right now?
As someone who believes in lifelong learning, I am always influenced by a wide range of people and experiences. Right now, as we are starting the fall semester, I am learning most from my students. As a professor of illustration at Columbia College Chicago, I have the privilege of working with a group of motivated and talented individuals who bring fresh perspectives and creative energy into the classroom.

I do not see teaching as a one-way exchange but as a shared dialogue. While I bring my background and professional experience, my students contribute their own ideas, approaches, and cultural awareness that challenge me to see things differently. Their curiosity and willingness to explore keep me connected to what is happening in the world and remind me that growth is a collaborative process.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am an artist, and my work has always been a journey of exploration, both of the world around me and of the emotions that connect us to it. After completing my MFA at the Savannah College of Art and Design, I worked on a variety of illustration and design projects, learning from each experience. But it was during the pandemic that my focus shifted in a profound way. I began to look more deeply at nature, emotion, and color, letting these elements guide the work I wanted to create.

Today, I focus on painting landscapes, botanical and animal subjects, bringing together observation, imagination, and a sense of presence. What excites me most is the connection I feel to the natural world while I paint, and how that connection allows me to infuse my work with vibrancy and emotion. Each piece is not just a depiction of a place, creature or plant, but a reflection of how I experience and interpret the world around me.

I am committed to making art that carries both beauty and meaning. I want my paintings and drawings to spark curiosity, invite reflection, and contribute to a larger conversation about conservation and our relationship with the environment. Through exhibitions, collaborations, and sharing my process online, I aim to combine creativity with purpose, continuing to explore the ways that art can move, inspire, and connect people to the world we share.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
This is not an easy question to answer because throughout my life I have had numerous moments that shaped how I see the world. Traveling to different countries, encountering new cultures, and even something as simple as seeing a powerful video online have all influenced my perspective in meaningful ways. But if I were to choose one moment as an artist that truly shifted how I view both the world and my place in it, it would go back to my undergraduate studies at the University of Missouri, Columbia (Mizzou).

I was taking a class on Contemporary Art taught by Professor Klein, who is now at Washington University. To be completely honest, I was not the strongest student in that class. But everything changed the day he presented Pablo Picasso’s Guernica. His lecture on that profound work set my world on fire. It was the first time I truly understood how art could move beyond aesthetics and personal taste to become a force that informs, educates, advocates, and demands an emotional response. That single moment forever changed the way I look at art, and it continues to influence how I create within the world today.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I had the opportunity to say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be, “You become the person you always thought you could be.” I would not want to share any more or any less than that. I think those words alone would give my younger self the reassurance to trust the path ahead and to live life with purpose. At the heart of it, I would want them to know that the goal is not perfection or certainty, but to live a life well lived.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
The short answer to this is yes, the public version of me is the real me, but it is only a portion of who I am. Most people who follow my career know me as the outgoing artist, environmental adventurer, and a leader in higher education. That is all very true, but it is not the full picture. Those who know me best also know that I love a much more private and quiet life than my public one showcases.

Public Chris is always working in his studio, on campus or at an art opening, chatting with people, and bringing his own beer to enjoy a big night out on the town afterwards. Private Chris, on the other hand, isn’t always working and is usually relaxing at home or in bed by ten o’clock on Saturday nights, watching a movie with his fiancé and Scarlet, our dog. Neither version is more authentic than the other. They are both real and they both reflect who I am, but the public version is simply the one most people get to see (especially via social media).

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What will you regret not doing? 
When looking at an entire life, I think every person can look back and see things they wish they would have done or moments they could have approached differently. I am sure I will have many of those thoughts as well. That said, I do not believe in regret. I believe in living a life without regret and understanding that every experience—good, bad, or somewhere in between—contributes to the person you become.

So, while I will never truly regret doing or not doing anything, I imagine there will still be times when I look back and think, “It would have been pretty amazing to have (fill in the blank).” For me, that is less about regret and more about curiosity for the possibilities of life.

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