Meet Chris Dougherty | Artist, Art Educator, and Zumba Shakin’ Mom and Wife

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chris Dougherty and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chris, why did you pursue a creative career?
Well, I picked up markers, paintbrushes, pencils, and as a child and never looked back. Art found me early in life and it just clicked, it was the only thing I wanted to do everyday and still is.
When your doing what you love, it doesn’t feel like work-it feels like alignment. There is something electric about being around a true creatives-its contagious with magnetic energy. Its a feel good to be happy in your practice and enthusiastic about what you create. I was fortunate to be around inspiring, creative art teachers and professors who sparked my flames.
Knowing I have this gift, it was natural to want to use it daily for my career. My forever fave, Jane Febock, gently nudged me into teaching. She noted my strengths in 2-d and 3-d art work, and ability to create art realistically and abstractly. My range of artistic abilities would bode well to help kids make art. Teaching art allows me a chunk of time to be personally creative using my free time to paint large, abstract expressionist oil paintings in the summer or try my hand at the potters wheel. Plus the added bonus of free therapy painting and any art making provides me. Time stands still and I just feel so good when I’m in my practice. Losing track of time in the studio reassures me this is exactly where I’m supposed to me. Life is too short not to be obsessed with what you do.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
How did you get to where you are today?

Ever since I was a child, I was interested in creating with anything I could get my hands on: dirt doodles, cookbook graffiti, watercolor masterpieces on scrap envelopes… Anything that could hold a mark, I turned it into my canvas. I was fortunate enough to have a mother who encouraged me and was my biggest cheerleader and a father who purchased every art supply available as he recognized my God-given gift. By the age of 6, I was front and center in my living room with my Bob Ross setup complete with easel, oil paints and a sea of plastic garbage bags on the carpet- (sorry, Mom). Once I met oils at this young age, I was all in.

My professional career began teaching art in middle school and quickly transitioned to high school where I saw potential in students and pushed them to their artistic limits. I taught in the New Berlin and Germantown Public School System and in my spare time I held true to my roots of oils where I painted freely during winter and summer breaks. During the summer, I sold (and still sell) my paintings at local art festivals around WI, IL and MN, sharing my artistic joy.

After twenty years of teaching, struggles of life and heartbreak changed everything. Becoming a mom of twins in my 40’s and losing one of the twins at just six weeks old reminded me of how fleeting this life is. I chose to slow down and lean into what brings me joy: raising my kids and painting full time for summer shows and commissioned work. Our family moved to a place that has land where I can just be…be inspired, breathe, observe nature, and run with the littles and dogs. This land also contained my greatest gift: a barn turned art studio inspired by nature. The barn is dedicated to our daughter, Luna, the upper 2-D studio is named the Painted Moon and the lower 3-D ceramics studio the Sculpted Moon. I love the stillness of time creating alone in my studio, but I also miss my students! So in 2023 when an opportunity for an artist in residence project came up, I dove in. I completed my first indoor residency with many little hands using Sculpey clay creating one 3-D giant sculptural mural. In 2025 I took it outdoors to create a 72′ mural where every student had their hand in painting on the mural and drawing doodles in spaces to create depth and design. I feel like I have the best of both worlds: teaching in a school for a short period of time and painting in my studio. It felt like coming full circle.

So would I say this journey was easy?
Not even close. My struggles were messy and painful, but full of growth which truly turned into my source of inspiration and peace. I started painting seriously in my 20’s (when my mom’s cancer had progressed). I was lucky enough to obtain her x-rays and viewed leukemia smear under a microscope. This became a source of inspiration for dealing with her dying and a way to process grief. How to portray death in a beautiful way? These circular forms (leukemia like blood smears) of energy lived and flowed in a colorful-abstracted environment that leaned toward a playful feel. The abstract, emotional, “Circular Beings” in all their glory were directly evident as I believe in the strong bond a cyclical image holds: Life, marriage, death, rebirth. Circles still show up in my work, subtly woven into the textural landscapes full of color that I create today.

Nature is my forever muse and healer; perfectly imperfect, organic, fluid and breathtakingly raw. Whether it’s deer nibbling on arborvitae, a sunset hike with the fam and dogs, or lazy beach days, I find experiences and the emotions in those experiences worth capturing. My paintings of today hold pieces of my past, healing, and my joy. My camera is always by my side ready to capture the artistic potential.

One thing I’ve learned is to trust the process. You’ll fail, you’ll hurt and you’ll doubt, but if you keep showing up and creating from the heart, you’ll find your way. I’m grateful for my gift and this life that I get to live creatively out loud.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Born and raised in Wisconsin over here and I love all four seasons. If I had to pick a favorite time to show off my hometown, it’s spring or summer when Milwaukee is alive with festivities. We would kick it off with a long walk along Milwaukee’s lakefront in spring or summer where you can see the city vibe and visit the best art galleries, rooftop restaurants, and quaint shops in Milwaukee’s Third Ward. A stop at the Milwaukee Art Museum to see the Calatrava when the wings are open is a must. Think city charm meets artsy soul.

Saturday morning? Ease into the day with a local coffee in hand and visit the South Shore farmers market: food trucks, handmade goods from local artisans, the kind of farm-fresh veggies that make you want to cook, and fresh flowers for a fun feast for the eyes.

If you’re in the mood for an artistic evening, visit downtown Waukesha for the art galleries, music and my absolute favorite restaurant of all time, Tofte’s Table. It’s a relaxing, cozy and elegant atmosphere where you share small plates from local farm-grown produce, handcrafted local beverages and delectable desserts.

If you’re seeking peace and serenity then a hike on the bluffs in Kohler Andre State park is a must. It’s a beautiful, peaceful, serene slice of heaven. Then take a short ride to Port Washington where you can rent a bike for the day and bike the downtown area and stop at your leisure for a bite to eat at one of many local restaurants.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There’s no way I could tell my story without honoring the people who have helped me believe in it. To my husband who is a silent supporter of all things art- to the 4am renovations of my art studio, the summer set-up and take-down of art festivals, and making you critique my work, I thank you! To my deceased parents, who never told me to pursue a “real job” and let me follow my heart all while still cheering me on today and pushing me to my greatest potential, I feel your presence and I thank you. To my students who are a daily reminder of why art matters- watching you beam with pride over your work brings me such joy. To my aunts who are believers in me and my talent, all while giving me their precious time for whatever I need to be creative- I thank you. To my besties, mentors and creatives who held space for me, inspired me, gave creative advice and reminded me I’m never alone- this shoutout is for you. Art may be a solo practice, but becoming the artist I am today takes a village.

Website: https://www.chrisneumanpaint.com

Instagram: @chrisneumanpaint

Facebook: @chrisneumanpaints