Chris Paschke (born 1951) was born in Chicago, IL to a working class family. Her family later relocated to northern California. Chris received an honors degree in Creative Arts and Design from San Jose State University and Humboldt State University. In 1980, she started Design Ink, her own calligraphic design and illustration business. She later moved to Connecticut where her artwork flourished up to 1993. In 2002, Chris relocated to the heart of the Tehachapi Mountains, where she now peacefully resides with her Arabian cats and horses. She has spent her entire life sketching, drawing, painting, framing and lettering. She has also trained to build brushes, make paper, cut quills, grind ink, and frame the finished art. Chris has designed certificates, created logos, and painted original abstract series for corporate collections, but her heart lies with brush in hand, the essence of Zen thought in mind, and the depth of her imagination to put it all together.
Her fascination with pen written letterforms and calligraphy has been a lifelong study. She studies each summer with a Japanese master of sumi calligraphy and painting, Shozo Sato. Her current approach to the art form is very interpretive, with her use of washes, resist, text, layers of written forms, quotations, and accents of gold leaf, which she uses occasionally. Her studies and frequent trips to China have brought a Zen minimalism to her line art referred to as Asian abstract expressionism. Chris’ work can be found in several private and public collections. She has exhibited all over the world. She is also a second generation professional picture framer. This has made her an educator and leader in the framing industry.
