About the artist

I credit my interest in painting to my maternal grandmother, who painted plein air landscapes with watercolors on her visits to Alaska. As as child, I was fortunate to take classes with noted Alaskan painters Alex Combs and Wassily Sommers. I started using watercolors more regularly after college graduation and have enjoyed improving my skills in workshops presented by the Alaska Watercolor Society and, recently, through the Plein Air Painters of Alaska. Several years ago, I was introduced to the possibilities of collage with hand prepared papers. Retirement has afforded me more leisure to apply both approaches to my favorite subjects. My travels around the world and the beauty of Alaska inspire much of my artwork.

Chris Tower Zafren is a life-long Alaskan. She was raised in Anchorage where she continues to reside with her husband. Since her retirement from the Anchorage School District School Psychology department, she has enjoyed traveling, painting, volunteering, gardening, and exercising with friends.