Artist Statement
Every person is important, created for a purpose in this life. Everyone has gifts, talents, a story. That mixture of the innate and experiential—good and bad experiences—makes a unique, special and beautiful person.
I illustrate the inherent value of every person through the beauty of creation, especially of the human face and form. I use cast-off treasures like paper scraps, bits of jewelry, gemstones, typography, stamps, handwriting, parts of old photos and other embellishments, with highly-rendered main subjects to make a new creation which emphasizes the hope of redemption and new life from discarded things. The result is a one-of-a-kind painting.
As with people, there are many layers of detail, and stories that whisper through the surface. With the current clashes of hatred and violence between people in this world, if I can show the value and treasured identity of human beings and what we were created to be, maybe I can encourage people to think about their neighbor differently, and with love and hope.
Biography
Christine Kerrick is an artist from West Chester, Pennsylvania who earned her BFA in Illustration and Design at Philadelphia University of the Arts. Her influences include the drawings of DaVinci, Michelangelo, Michael Parkes, Alphonse Mucha and contemporaries Martha Erlebacher, Phyllis Purves-Smith, and Peter deSeve.
Christine learned forensic facial imaging at FBI Academy: giving identity to unknown persons through composite drawing using cognitive interview, postmortem drawing, and facial reconstruction from skeletal remains. She has used forensic art to help law enforcement capture criminals and identify homicide victims in Florida, and for the Philadelphia’s Medical Examiner, to identify human remains.
Christine has illustrated books, comic books and album covers and designed logos and brand identities. She has exhibited her work across the U.S., and licenses her work globally.
Curriculum Vitae
Solo and Group Exhibitions
2010 to present. Visual Expansion Gallery, West Chester, PA
2018. Gifted Show. Art Trust, West Chester, PA
2018 and 2019. Chester County Studio Tour. Exhibited 25 works in my studio. Open-studio show included 100+ other artists across the county.
2018. Main Street Banner Competition. Winner, Public Arts Trust. Art chosen for a banner to be displayed for a year in West Chester, PA
2017. Gryphon Café, Wayne, PA
2016. Manayunk Arts Festival, Manayunk, PA
2014. WizardCon, Philadelphia, PA
2009. Gallery 101, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
2006. Florida Supercon, Hollywood, FL
1996, 1997, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007. Comicon International, San Diego. One of the largest comic and pop culture shows in the world. Exhibited and spoke most years on the ‘Spiritual Themes in Comics’ panel.
Collections
Private collections in Delaware, Hawaii, Nevada, New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Iceland
Appearances
March 2019
Lancaster Christian Writers
Presentation: 10 Mistakes in Books, TV and Film that Forensic Artists Hate
October 2017
WMMR’s Preston and Steve Show
Christine Kerrick (center) with the Preston and Steve Morning Show, WMMR.
Podcast: www.wmmr.com (Scroll down to the 10/18/17 podcast)
Christine’s interview: 1:52:55 to 2:14:50
Christine’s ‘age progression’ drawing of Kathy Romano: 2:55:25 to 2:57:57
Pencil with Photoshop color.
Texts/Publishing
2020. EMPIRE: End of the Age. 132-page graphic novel of the three collected EMPIRE comic books by Christine.
2020. BLAM- Black Lives Always Mattered!: Hidden African American Philadelphia of the Twentieth Century original graphic novel project. Illustrated nine pages of notable Philadelphian Dr. Ethel Allen.
2018. Journal of Forensic Science. Forensic art drawing process sketches and photos used in medical conference presentation by Dr. John Nase.
2018. Philadelphia Jazz Project: Volume 1. Publisher: BLAM, through Temple University. A book of a collection of notable Philadelphia jazz musicians. Painted one collage piece of drummer George ‘Butch’ Ballard.
2016. How To Tell A Prince From A Frog – Law enforcement techniques for knowing who you’re dating. Non-fiction book with spot illustrations.
2014. Kerrickters. A sketchbook by Christine Kerrick. 24 pages.
2011. To Romance, With Love. Dave Valletta, publisher. 115 page illustrated cookbook.
2010. Swimming with Mr. Blue. Children’s book illustration
2007. Soul Trappers. 32-page comic book about a police officer fighting human trafficking.
2006. Diary of Hope.Full color graphic novel featuring mixed media paintings
2001. EMPIRE 3: The Return. 60-page pencil-illustrated graphic novel of the end of the EMPIRE story, based on the book of Revelation.
1998. EMPIRE 2: Antichrist. 32-page comic book based on the book of Revelation.
1996. EMPIRE 1: The Vanishing. 32-page comic book based on the book of Revelation.
Please email me to see my full resume.