Bio: A native of Wisconsin, she holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts and a Master’s Degree in Health Care Administration. She has lived in Phoenix, AZ since 1977. Since beginning her commission portrait painting practice in 1991, Saper has completed over 400 commissioned portraits nationally, authored four books and filmed four DVDs on portraiture. “Chris’s newest instructional book, Classic Portrait Painting in Oils: Keys to Mastering Diverse Skin Tones was released by North Light Books in January, 2012. She has also authored North Light Books’ Painting Beautiful Skin Tones in Color and Light (2001), For Love or Money: a Business Handbook for Portrait Painters and Mostly Monochchrome, she has been published in The Best of Portrait Painting, Artist’s Magazine, American Artist, International Artist Magazine, Pastel Artist International, and the Pastel Journal. Her work is also included in North Light Books’ Strokes of Genius: The Best of Portrait Drawing; Strokes of Genius 2: The Best of Light and Shadow; and Drawing & Painting People: The Essential Guide, also published by North Light Books.
In addition to Chris’s portrait commission schedule, she is an active public speaker/painting demonstrator. She has served on the Faculty of the Portrait Society of America and has taught portraiture at the Scottsdale Artist’s School, the Mountain Artists’ Guild in Prescott, AZ, and the Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists. Saper has exhibited at the US Senate Rotunda, The Salmagundi Club and The National Arts Club in New York City, the Bennington Center for the Arts, the Chandler Center for the Arts, the Tempe Arts Center and the Insight Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX.