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The biography of the artist, Chris Alan Martin.
The biography of the artist, Chris Alan Martin.
Chris was born in San Diego, California on January 8th 1972. His parents are Dennis and Karen Martin. Chris lived only 6 months in California, before the family (parents and older brother Jeff who was only 11 months older than Chris), returned to the hometown of Denny's in Cheboygan Michigan.
The family had one more son, David who was born two years after Chris.
All the boys were introduced to the world around them, and they thrived and loved the world.
Walks in the northern woods in the fall, winter, spring and summer were many. Enjoying the local inland lakes and the shores of Lake Huron were routine.
By the time Chris was five years old, his natural gift for drawing was already obvious. There is a tool used by psychologists to gauge a young child's I.Q., so his mother, an intern at Community Mental Health scored not only the clients of the agency, but one of Chris' drawings, done at age 5. He scored in the genius category.
Chris and his brothers loved drawing, and drawing pads had to be bought almost weekly to keep up.
Most drawing was done during the winter months when there was more indoor time.
All three Martin brothers will tell anyone, their childhoods were exceptional. Their mother pulled together fun Halloween parties and Christmas parties to rival any, anywhere. Simple, inexpensive, but full of imagination. Each birthday each son was treated extra special, complete with a homemade crown each year.
Fast forward to high school. Chris tried to get into art class but it was always too full, too many others trying to get in. One semester, he drew a frog and grasshopper for a science assignment(These can be seen in one of his gallery pages on the site). The drawings so impressed the teacher, he shared them with the art instructor. Chris got in art class at last.
One of Chris' other loves was for all the critters he met. Including pet dogs, Bootsie, Yipper, Bear, Oreo, Apache, Jarvis, Coal, and Africa. He loved cats too, but unfortunately he was extremely allergic to them. He once had a pet python and pet crow. One of the last events Chris attended was a local presentation at the public library: SNAKES ALIVE. He attended with his family and enjoyed petting the snakes. He loved all animals. Once a co-worker of his saw his car parked along side the road and stopped to make sure he was okay. She found him in the ditch embracing a dying deer that he had accidentally struck with his car. He did not want it to be alone in it's final moments.
As an adult Chris continued loving to enjoy the outdoors: hikes in the woods of Ocqueoc, Tahquamenon Falls were special outings; walking in the local State Park just 3 miles from home was a regular event. He and friends went sledding in the winter, and hiking on the frozen bay, much to the worry of his parents.
Like many young and middle-aged males, especially an unmarried guy, he loved to party with his friends.
His favorite pastime with parents was playing the old family game, passed down from Chris grandparents, called “Pedro”. Chris partnered with his brother Dave, and parents partnered up. Chris didn't like to lose. But he eventually took any lost game in stride.
School, and work history:
Chris was an average student in school. He graduated in 1991. His first job was delivering a weekly circular with his brothers every Monday. Later he worked on temporary tasks at a local department store (B&C center's annual August tent sale). Other teen, young adult jobs included: McDonald's Restaurant, Big Boy, Pizza Hut, summer motel cleaning. Eventually, better jobs opened up as he got older. He worked at the two tribal casinos in the area as a card dealer, both at Kewadin Shore Casino in St. Ignace, and the Odawa Casino in Petoskey. In between he had a summer stint at UPS.
At the time of Chris' death he had two part-time jobs. Jobs that allowed him to spend more time out in nature, which mattered so much to him. He worked 24 hours a week at the local newspaper—The Cheboygan Daily Tribune—working along side a lifetime friend from school; and he worked and lived part-time dog sitting for two Boston Terriers.
Chris' art matured and developed throughout his lifetime. His colors became more and more vibrant---note he drew with colored pencils. And worth mentioning, Chris, like his brother Jeff inherited a color deficiency which caused them both to have trouble identifying some shades of red and green with brown. One early example, as a 7 year old he drew brown apples on an apple tree, and magenta-colored branches on a weeping willow.
Chris completed three large canvasses. Each about 33 x 40 inches. Within each of these works, were incredible works of art in every corner, and portion of the larger work. He also did many 11 x 14 inch works.
Chris died on February 20th. He had visited his parents that morning after work, as he left he said he'd be over to play cards the next day. Later that afternoon-evening he partied with his two brothers and sister-in-law; returned to the home where he doggie sat, said hi to the lady he did this for, went to shower, and died within minutes.
Chris left behind scores of friends, parents, brothers, nieces, nephews, aunts and cousins, and a collection of art that showed his true spirit. He won't be forgotten by anyone. Chris was a special human being.
Chris was born in San Diego, California on January 8th 1972. His parents are Dennis and Karen Martin. Chris lived only 6 months in California, before the family (parents and older brother Jeff who was only 11 months older than Chris), returned to the hometown of Denny's in Cheboygan Michigan.
The family had one more son, David who was born two years after Chris.
All the boys were introduced to the world around them, and they thrived and loved the world.
Walks in the northern woods in the fall, winter, spring and summer were many. Enjoying the local inland lakes and the shores of Lake Huron were routine.
By the time Chris was five years old, his natural gift for drawing was already obvious. There is a tool used by psychologists to gauge a young child's I.Q., so his mother, an intern at Community Mental Health scored not only the clients of the agency, but one of Chris' drawings, done at age 5. He scored in the genius category.
Chris and his brothers loved drawing, and drawing pads had to be bought almost weekly to keep up.
Most drawing was done during the winter months when there was more indoor time.
All three Martin brothers will tell anyone, their childhoods were exceptional. Their mother pulled together fun Halloween parties and Christmas parties to rival any, anywhere. Simple, inexpensive, but full of imagination. Each birthday each son was treated extra special, complete with a homemade crown each year.
Fast forward to high school. Chris tried to get into art class but it was always too full, too many others trying to get in. One semester, he drew a frog and grasshopper for a science assignment(These can be seen in one of his gallery pages on the site). The drawings so impressed the teacher, he shared them with the art instructor. Chris got in art class at last.
One of Chris' other loves was for all the critters he met. Including pet dogs, Bootsie, Yipper, Bear, Oreo, Apache, Jarvis, Coal, and Africa. He loved cats too, but unfortunately he was extremely allergic to them. He once had a pet python and pet crow. One of the last events Chris attended was a local presentation at the public library: SNAKES ALIVE. He attended with his family and enjoyed petting the snakes. He loved all animals. Once a co-worker of his saw his car parked along side the road and stopped to make sure he was okay. She found him in the ditch embracing a dying deer that he had accidentally struck with his car. He did not want it to be alone in it's final moments.
As an adult Chris continued loving to enjoy the outdoors: hikes in the woods of Ocqueoc, Tahquamenon Falls were special outings; walking in the local State Park just 3 miles from home was a regular event. He and friends went sledding in the winter, and hiking on the frozen bay, much to the worry of his parents.
Like many young and middle-aged males, especially an unmarried guy, he loved to party with his friends.
His favorite pastime with parents was playing the old family game, passed down from Chris grandparents, called “Pedro”. Chris partnered with his brother Dave, and parents partnered up. Chris didn't like to lose. But he eventually took any lost game in stride.
School, and work history:
Chris was an average student in school. He graduated in 1991. His first job was delivering a weekly circular with his brothers every Monday. Later he worked on temporary tasks at a local department store (B&C center's annual August tent sale). Other teen, young adult jobs included: McDonald's Restaurant, Big Boy, Pizza Hut, summer motel cleaning. Eventually, better jobs opened up as he got older. He worked at the two tribal casinos in the area as a card dealer, both at Kewadin Shore Casino in St. Ignace, and the Odawa Casino in Petoskey. In between he had a summer stint at UPS.
At the time of Chris' death he had two part-time jobs. Jobs that allowed him to spend more time out in nature, which mattered so much to him. He worked 24 hours a week at the local newspaper—The Cheboygan Daily Tribune—working along side a lifetime friend from school; and he worked and lived part-time dog sitting for two Boston Terriers.
Chris' art matured and developed throughout his lifetime. His colors became more and more vibrant---note he drew with colored pencils. And worth mentioning, Chris, like his brother Jeff inherited a color deficiency which caused them both to have trouble identifying some shades of red and green with brown. One early example, as a 7 year old he drew brown apples on an apple tree, and magenta-colored branches on a weeping willow.
Chris completed three large canvasses. Each about 33 x 40 inches. Within each of these works, were incredible works of art in every corner, and portion of the larger work. He also did many 11 x 14 inch works.
Chris died on February 20th. He had visited his parents that morning after work, as he left he said he'd be over to play cards the next day. Later that afternoon-evening he partied with his two brothers and sister-in-law; returned to the home where he doggie sat, said hi to the lady he did this for, went to shower, and died within minutes.
Chris left behind scores of friends, parents, brothers, nieces, nephews, aunts and cousins, and a collection of art that showed his true spirit. He won't be forgotten by anyone. Chris was a special human being.
