Meet Chris Sebo | Fine Art Professional

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

Hi Chris, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I have to say risk and evaluating it is very important and it’s played a huge part in my success. Being able to take a step or leap forward in faith without assurances can be difficult but necessary.. I’ve come to learn most times If there is little to no risk then likely there is little reward also. My willingness to take risk time and time again has allowed to me see how far I can really go and also realize what’s not worth risking. To me having the courage to move intuitively and accepting a certain amount of uncomfortable risk has ultimately led to many dreams coming true along with the satisfaction of knowing that I done my best..

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
Well basically I started out as a graffiti artist growing up in inner-city Houston and it wasn’t long before I was involved in the wrong crowd I became proficient with the spray cans and eventually got into trouble for riding graffiti which was a blessing in disguise as I took the paint and started painting on anything and everything else that I could find and occasionally when it was good enough I’d ask $5 or 10 dollars for it just to buy some more paint and Paper. I spent long nights working on the famous six Street in Austin Texas painting into the morning hours I would sell my poster boards to passerby‘s that I just left the club feeling good at the time my art was ok by my own opinion but I saw the potential in making it much more it’s been a slow process over the last 25 years of working with the paint to develop all the different techniques I used to create my paintings little by little I would discover a new idea or a technique today what you see is the accumulation of all those years of practice most of which were spent in touristy destinations late at night painting in the dusty streets dealing with rip offs drug dealers and everything else you can imagine that comes along with the street not quite an artist studio but I made the most of it and it gave me the practice I needed to continue get better and refined my techniques along with just enough money to keep me going. After several years in Las Vegas I moved to Hawaii and opened my first gallery which was very exciting for me as anyone can imagine but then a month after opening I was shut down. The other vendors in the area had wrote a petition against me saying that the crowd I drew from my life painting demonstrations was causing their stores to lose sales and they confronted the management to have me removed after moving my whole life. In.a shipping a container all the way from Las Vegas it was quite a disappointment and I was invented in it up to my neck. I had no choice but to return to the streets but this time in Waikiki where I continue to paint for about 15 years. It was only five years ago that I quit I decided to focus only on selling my work in galleries and stores no more street performing. I had a severe illness that came over me and it was mysterious the doctors were unable to figure it out but a month after that a lot has changed for me in my mindset and what was important in life and I began to work a little less spend more time with my daughter and truly became focused on improving myself and becoming more joyful each day and sharing my joy through my social media posts through my paintings. The first couple years of only working with the galleries were tough especially as Gallery‘s we’re having a hard time to sell art I managed to get my work in a handful of places and then I was sending my social media fans and collectors to them when they would visit the islands is ended up being great for both the Gallery‘s and myself until Covid hit and in 2021I I entered the made in Hawaii contest put on by Parkwest Museum and Gallery in Waikiki and I won out of hundreds of entries it was a dream come true. Park West is the worlds largest art dealer and was fortunate enough to connect with them and become represented by Park West. Which has allowed my artwork to touch even more peoples lives and the chance to meet even more art collectors and art fans . For me there’s almost no better place for me than when I’m deep into my painting and these opportunities allow me to continue to do so which I am extremely grateful for. I have a lot of ideas and want to continue to push my creativity and I want to work more with charities and see how many more wonderful things I can accomplish with my art.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When my friends visit the islands like to take them on a nature tour I’d like take them Kayaking to Chinamans hat on the east side. And spend a day at the Kualoa Ranch were you can ride the zip lines take a tour of the Jurassic parks set and also ride ATVs through breathtaking views . I love to take my friends snorkeling down at the Hanauma Bay or sharks cove and of course pick up some shaved ice on the North Shore as you go down to Waimea Bay to watch the big waves the truth is almost no matter where you go on this island it’s like a national park the beauty surrounds you endlessly. For lunch dining I like to take visitors to Chinatown where they can get unique cuisine from all around Asia and pick up unique feng shui charms along with things you can’t even imagine. Lol Of course no visit is complete without a full day on the North Shore and a day and night in Waikiki. There’s so many good places to eat while you’re out on the North Shore you have to pick up some of the famous Kahuku shrimp in Kahuku for sure. And in Waikiki Sansai sushi is always a hit . it’s very hard to choose a favorite But my guest all love the Waiahole Poi factory on the Windward side. Know if you’re in Waikiki be sure to a ride on the Kapoekai Kai catamaran also known as the booze cruise you don’t have to drink but it’s still the best cell for $40 and comes with a drink. They sail out past Diamond Head crater and back which you can often spot turtles and dolphins and occasionally a whale while sailing. As I cruise around the island I might stop off at the outlet stores and the Dole plantation where you can walk the worlds largest maze and cool down with a fresh Dole whip Ice cream cone afterwards . And if there’s time jump on the train for a quick tour of the plantation which is always unique. I always suggest if folks wanna see Pearl Harbor they wait till the last day because it’s pretty somber and you are visiting a grave so with that it also has an amazing museum full of artifacts and photos of why we should try to never have war.. Of course there’s so many other great places to see and spend the day this is just a few of my favorite’s

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have to send a big shout out to my mother Barbara Smart and the good lord for standing beside me and being a beacon of light in the dark times. My mother is a strong woman who raised 3 kids on her own and worked 3 jobs at times to provide for us she’s my Hero! She’s an amazing mother and author now lover her very much and proud of her.

Website: www.SeboArt.com

Instagram: @chris.sebo

Linkedin: chris sebo linkedin

Twitter: @seboarts

Facebook: @seboarthawaii

Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCdW5iIX6l02kWq8yVrRPjqA