What affect does Oregon have on an artist? We asked Oregon artist Chris Pontrelli, who currently resides in Eugene.

"The long gray winters in Oregon leave me hungry for color and light. Not surprisingly, much of my work addresses the 'great indoors'," Chris says. "I try to create a fantasy world of bright, saturated colors, sharp lines and strong contrasts. The kind of visual reality one might find on a hot July afternoon. It's always summer in my studio.

"Living in a smaller community like Eugene gives me a certain solitude. Without the stresses and distractions of a big city, I find myself in the right frame of mind to be creative and focus my energies on my art. At the same time, there's a strong presence in all the arts in my community. It's often vibrant and fairly accessible to a wide range of artists.

"I suppose I would be considered a 'pop' artist, as my subject matter is gleaned from the popular culture rather than traditional, time honored themes. Being a self taught artist, it's never been exactly clear what I'm not supposed to do. I'm drawn to the power of simple icons generated by our society.

"I greatly admire the work of mid-20th Century designers. There's a quick, lightness to their forms; abbreviated, yet complete. Some believe they were taking cues from the jazz and bebop musicians of that same era.

"Like many artists and musicians throughout history, I'm fascinated by the comparison of the two genres. ('Hearing colors, painting sounds?'): Artists with their constriction of space and musicians limited by time. What can painters learn from the three-minute pop hit single?

"When I was a guitarist performing in rock & roll bands, we never played music with any social relevance. Rather, we focused on driving rhythms and infectious beats. It was more about the body than the brain. Pure energy. To some extent, my approach to art is the same way. Do eyes get hungry just like your stomach? If so, how would you feed them? I want to stimulate and comfort hungry eyes with color and form. It's nice to throw the brain an occasional subplot or punch line, but ultimately, it's about form.

"I was born in Southern California in the 1950s and raised in the Pacific Northwest. I currently reside in Eugene, living in a '50s home complete with furnishings and artifacts of the same era. My career has spanned from broadcasting to graphic design. I still enjoy playing the electric guitar and find much of the inspiration that drives my art from the golden era of rock & roll."