Chris Chapman’s California landscapes are distinctive and direct, with an economy of means that is at the heart of her intention.  A childhood spent on horseback exploring foothills and orchards now gone to tracts instilled in Chris a deep calling to beauty and solitude.  This sense of stillness pervades her work.  A native Californian, much of her work is grounded in her Santa Barbara home.  Chris and painter husband, John Iwerks, also enjoy the adventure of many long distance painting trips each year. 

She is a naturalist, gardener and botanical gatherer, carefully collecting for her watercolor botanical plant portraits, a more intimate exploration of the landscape.

Chris is a member of the Oak Group, a Santa Barbara based group of landscape painters and environmental preservationists who formed in 1986 under the inspiration of Ray Strong to paint and preserve endangered environments.  Since that time the Oak Group has raised well over one million dollars to preserve open spaces. 

She is an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Santa Barbara Art Association and managed and served as executive director for Gallery 113, the artists’ cooperative for SBAA.  Chris is a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America.  She is represented by the Easton Gallery in Santa Barbara, California.