Chris Burkheart is one of the founding members and creative geniuses behind the local art collective known as Oddity Commodity. In 2008, Chris and his super-team of eccentric artists took Phoenix by storm and became cult favorites at pop-culture events throughout the valley as they produced their unique brand of original art on-the-fly for long lines of rabid fans who would enthusiastically cheer, “Woo OddCo,” with every completed sketch.
The OddCo collective has recently disbanded as its members pursue individual projects under their own names, but the group of friends still lend their support to each other and to the valley art community as a whole. Chris is currently focusing on his professional art career and is working with BIGCHRIS and Burst Online Entertainment developing art for video games, as well as working on other projects like creating the awesome cool mural at the new Pop Culture Paradise location.
Chris is a quiet, humble and unassuming artist with unlimited and multifaceted creativity. He has designed clothing, created trading cards, comic books and fine art, and he has illustrated hundreds of unique original sketches for his legion of fans.
While busy with his work and preparing for the 2012 Phoenix Comicon, Chris found a few minutes to participate in our Nerdvana Artist Profile series by answering some questions about his art and artistic influences.
What is your secret origin?
I’m from a small town in Arizona called Coolidge, where I started drawing in the first grade. I have been pursuing art ever since.
How do you describe your artwork?
I try not to describe my artwork, honestly. I mainly do comic book style art but I continue to learn and grow as an artist every day.
What is your goal/ambition with your art?
My goal is to create. Whatever comes after that is just icing on the cake.
What projects are you currently working on?
I currently work for a video game company called Burst Online with my friends and fellow local artists, James Hiralez, Big Chris Wood and Shelby Robertson.
Who/what has influenced you most artistically? Which artist(s) do you most admire?
Some of the many artists that I admire are Frank Frazetta, Alex Pardee, Gris Grimly, Skottie Young and Chris Bachalo. I really like artists with their own original style.
Who is your favorite local artist?
There are a lot of local artists making some really great art right now. Jason Mandell is creating some phenomenal unicycle pieces and people NEED to see them!
What is your favorite music to listen to while working on your art?
I like to listen to a lot of instrumentals and movie soundtracks when I draw.
What is your favorite movie and how has it influenced your art?
My favorite movie is Unbreakable. Alex Ross, the painter, did some amazing artwork for that movie.
What are you most looking forward to at Phoenix Comicon?
I’m looking forward to seeing awesome people and winning every single one of the raffles from the Big Chris Art booth.
Are you offering any special exclusives for fans at Comicon?
I will definitely have some new prints. I may, or may not, be working on a collaborative piece with someone I’ll be sitting very close to at Comicon.
What is the craziest thing you’ve been asked to sketch?
I have had so many strange requests, but the one that always seems to come to mind is Mermaid Hitler.
If you had a superpower, what would it be and how did you acquire it?
I do have a superpower. I’m super good at avoiding questions.
You can find Chris at the 2012 Phoenix Comicon in booth #831 where he’ll be sharing a table with fellow artist, Shelby Robertson. You can also follow Chris on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or on his website at chrisburkheart.com.
Arizona catches a lot of heat in the media and from the nation as a whole, but nevertheless our crazy ‘Hellscape’ is proudly called “home” by some of the greatest pop culture artistic talent in the country. So leading up to the 2012 Phoenix Comicon (May 24 – 27), Nerdvana will showcase a series of posts profiling some of the amazing local artists that will be appearing at this year’s convention. Read ALL the Nerdvana’s Artist Profiles!
