The Art Box - Episode 23 - Ten Minutes With - ’October 2022 Artist of the Month Chris Picior’

Chris Picior

A native of New York City, Chris began sketching people at Washington Square in Greenwich Village when she was 16. Her first job was at Ace Publishing Company in the Art Department, but it was short-lived as marriage and three children to support became a priority. When her children were little, she worked in oils and then moved to watercolor. 

Chris attended Queens College, Kathryn Gibbs Secretarial School, and Utica College before starting her 25-year career in radio management. While living in Florida, she decided on a career change to Natural Health. Chris received her massage license in Florida, then obtained a Bachelor of Natural Health Studies degree and a Doctor of Naturopathy degree from Clayton College of Natural Health in Birmingham, AL. While working at Clayton College as faculty and in admissions, she also had private practices in Atlanta and Birmingham. Her true love has always been art.

After moving to Mesquite, she became active as a Community Educator for the Mesquite Citizens for Clean Indoor Air for eight years. She also joined a neighborhood group that used acrylics and became a member of the VVAA. Chris started with colored pencils, played with acrylics, and added ink to her new works. In December 2019, Councilman George Gault appointed her to the Mesquite Public Arts Commission. In January 2020, she was elected Chair and still holds that position. Also, that January, she became President of the Virgin Valley Artists' Association, which she retained until December 2021. As Past President, she works with the Membership Committee and actively promotes our group.

Since retiring, one of her favorite hobbies has been making gourds into art pieces. Chris cleans, carves, creates, and decorates gourds, finding it is one of her favorite mediums. She loves learning new techniques and expanding her expertise. Making her artwork into cards intrigued her, but the best part is just having fun with her art. She is looking forward to a class in watercolor and learning more about acrylics and alcohol ink.