Christie Grimstad

Christie Grimstad brings a fresh perspective with his art.  An artist for most of his life, he works in several media, concentrating on unusual materials.  The resulting repertoire is varied and unexpected.

As an avid outdoor enthusiast and backpacker, Christie has traveled and lived in many cities overseas.  Particulary drawn to visiting places far off the beaten path, he uses watercolor to evoke memories of such places as the Löetschental, Uist Islands, the Val d'Hérens and Nausori Highlands, all depicted with a pleasant simplicity.  A sense of environmental responsibility leads Christie to use organic materials whenever possible and to depict the grandeur of nature, especially The Sierras, the font of much of his inspiration.  He has also expanded his art work into finding used or discarded objects and turning them into compositions using succulent plants.  

Through his work as an opera critic for Paris-based ConcertoNet.com, Christie has entered another field by creating custom-made ink lobby cards, many which are done in a stippling (pointillism) technique.  Has has donated these works to philanthropic patrons and internationally known opera stars.  Additionally, his charitable contributions have been extended to the Los Angeles Human Rights Campaign (HRC) chapter and other local service organizations.

 In December of 2009 he was commissioned to do eight cottages in pointilism that were showcased during the annual Balboa Island Christmas Home Tour. During the month of January 2010 Christie's art was exhibited in Haute Cakes Café, Newport Beach, California.  On May 20,  2010 Christie was one of the selected artists to display his work in conjunction with the organization, RAW Natural Born Artists at the Shorebreak Hotel in Huntington Beach, California.  In September 2010 Christie will donate one of his art works for a silent auction held in conjunction with the University of California Irvine Center for Diabetes Treatment and Research.  

A graduate from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, Christie has been a type 1 diabetic for over 33 years and is an accomplished endurance athlete and motivational speaker.  Such events he has completed are The California Triple Crown 200 mile bicycle races, The Eco-Challenge Adventure Training School and the prestigious Hawaii Ironman Triathlon Championship.  He currently works from his home studio in Southern California which he shares with his pet Vizsla.