Christine Altmann always had a desire to paint but put her art career on hold while raising her family.  In 2006, she returned to her paints and brushes.  With a passion for all things Halloween, she naturally chose this holiday as her primary subject.  Her vivid imagination and nonstop flow of ideas propelled her to dive in headfirst.  After selling several one-of-a-kind pieces on eBay, she started offering reproductions of her artwork to reach a broader audience.  In just a few years, she has established a name for herself in the genre of Halloween artwork.  

With painstaking detail, Christine tells a story  with some of her paintings.  Look closely, and you're bound to find something you didn't see before.  That's the magic of Christine Altmann's artwork, which is often referred to as charming, folksy, and reminiscent of days gone by.  Over the years, collectors have come to know her artwork for its delightful portrayal of the subject matter at hand.  You'll see everything from children gleefully preparing for Halloween to a witch riding a bicycle due to a broken broom.  There's everything from the obvious to the not-so-obvious in all of Christine's paintings.  Don't be surprised if a certain black cat looking out at you makes an appearance in more than one of her pictures.

In addition to Halloween, Christine also creates lovely winter and Christmas paintings in her trademark style.  Her ability to tell a story easily carries over into warm and inviting winter scenes.  Ornately-decorated gingerbread houses, Christmas carolers bundled up to brave the cold, and whimsical snowmen sporting colorful scarves all represent the magic of Christine Altmann's art.  With each new release, collectors are pleasantly surprised with the fresh, new ideas portrayed in her artwork.  A natural storyteller, she  hopes to work on a book featuring her Halloween artwork and stories.

The Creative Process  

Each painting starts with an idea, sometimes triggered by an event or a simple observance of everyday life. With her vivid imagination she can transform the ordinary scene  into the  extraordinary. Through her creative process she can bring the viewer into her work by telling  them the story of how this painting came to be. Sometimes it's a childhood memory or a minds eye view of a scene from a favorite story.  This prolific artist often works on more than one painting at a time because she can't wait to watch each painting take shape.

  Her sketch tablet is her constant companion used to capture thumbnail sketches and to jot down any ideas that come to mind. Using tracing paper for the sketching process because it's durable and can take the constant revisions of a pencil and an eraser.  Once she's happy with the final sketch, she'll transfer the drawing to her painting surface.  Sometimes she  uses canvas but often  she'll opt to use a piece of Masonite board.  The artist works with acrylic paints because she enjoys the quick drying time, color vibrancy and their versatility.  Working on several pieces simultaneously her work area is always full. Tenacity is synonymous with Christine Altmann's name. She Says she's  never thrown a canvas away , as she puts it "I won't  give up until it feels  RIGHT!"

This artist cites many sources of inspiration for her pictures. The rich and colorful lore of Halloween  and the warm and cozy feelings  during  the Christmas season , all work to bring Christine Altmanns paintings to life.  From the old Victorian house that she calls home to the months of preparing for her favorite holidays, she lives and breathes  her work.  It's who she is, and it's what comes naturally to her.  

Christine has made many new friends through the love of Halloween, and the painting journey continues with each and every brush stroke.  She truly enjoys the kind words she receives about her artwork, and she hopes to make new friends along the way.

Learn more about Christine in the news and and press areas.