Christopher Remmers: Redefining Large-Scale Narrative Realism from Bellingham

By Artefex | Reading Time: 4 Minutes

The Pursuit of Permanent Narrative

In the quiet, often damp corners of the Pacific Northwest, Christopher Remmers is engaged in a kind of modern alchemy. Based in Bellingham, Washington, Remmers doesn’t just paint figures; he constructs monumental narratives that bridge the gap between ancient mythology and the complexities of the contemporary human psyche. For an artist whose work has graced the halls of Sotheby’s and earned top accolades from the Art Renewal Center (ARC), the act of painting is an investment in a legacy that must outlast the artist themselves.

The Environmental Challenge to Art Longevity

In a climate like Washington’s, that legacy is constantly under siege. Every professional painter knows the silent anxiety of the “environmental shift”. Traditional supports—wood boards, MDF, and even high-quality stretched canvases—act as hygroscopic materials. They absorb coastal humidity, swelling and contracting until the inevitable warping occurs. There is a specific kind of heartbreak in watching a narrative piece that took months to execute begin to “potato chip” because the substrate surrendered to the air around it. This instability doesn’t just ruin the aesthetic; it threatens the structural bond of the oil paint, leading to delamination and cracking over time.

Engineered for Permanence: The Artefex Choice

Christopher Remmers doesn’t leave the survival of his work to chance. He relies on a foundation engineered for permanence: Artefex archival panels.

By utilizing Aluminum Composite Material (ACM), Remmers bypasses the flaws of natural wood entirely. A 3mm ACM panel remains perfectly flat regardless of whether it’s in a humid Bellingham studio or a climate-controlled gallery in London. For his large-scale narrative works, the 6mm Honeycomb panels provide aerospace-grade rigidity. These supports offer the strength of a heavy wood cradle at 60% less weight, making monumental commissions manageable to handle and significantly more efficient to ship.

Remmers’ approach is shared with his students at the Georgetown Atelier in Seattle, where he emphasizes that a masterpiece is only as stable as what lies beneath the first layer of primer. Whether he is working on a historical Copper Panel for its unique bond with oil or using an Oleo panel to prevent color “sink,” the choice is always about protecting the artwork for generations.

The Christopher Remmers Professional Surface

Christopher specifically utilizes Artefex foundations to ensure his narrative works maintain their structural integrity over time. You can now use the same substrates trusted in his Bellingham studio and his Seattle workshops.

• Shop Christopher Remmers Workshop Panels: Curated surfaces selected by Christopher for high-level realism and archival permanence.

Your art is worth more than a temporary support. It is worth a foundation that serves as an insurance policy for your collectors.

About Christopher Remmers

Christopher Remmers is a Northwest-based artist whose work is a contemporary exploration of narrative realism. His paintings are an attempt to weave together the classical traditions of the past with the psychological complexities of the present. He serves as a core instructor at the Georgetown Atelier in Seattle and is a leading voice in the revival of representational art.

Selected Awards & International Recognition

Christopher’s work has been recognized by the most prestigious organizations in the fine art world:

• Art Renewal Center (ARC): Multi-time Finalist and award winner in the International ARC Salon, the most prestigious competition for representational art.
• Sotheby’s: His works have been featured in the Sotheby’s New York exhibitions in conjunction with the ARC Salon.
• Oil Painters of America (OPA): Recognized for excellence in OPA National and Regional Exhibitions.
• Portrait Society of America: Awarded for technical proficiency and narrative depth.
• Fine Art Connoisseur: Featured in numerous publications highlighting the leaders of the Modern Realism movement.