About the artist:

Christiee Anne Hochstine grew up in the suburban wild lands of western New York. She graduated from the State University of New York at Oswego with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art and a minor in Zoology. Despite academics, Christiee considers herself largely self-taught, as she considers art something to learn through experience rather than instruction.

As a lover of animals, Christiee incorporates animals into almost all of her work in some form or another. She works mainly within the fantasy genre, but when creating fantastical beings she looks to animals in nature for inspiration, because, she says, “figments of our imagination should have anatomy too.” Fascinated by anthropomorphic animal characters and shape-shifters, which combine human with non-human features, she incorporates these into her work as often as possible. She considers herself an amateur zoologist and is very knowledgeable about the animal kingdom.

Christiee discovered the joys of costuming at an early age, but didn't create her first professional-quality mascot suit until 2005 when she created Chewtoy, the photosynthetic cat. Her costumes are made of synthetic fur, so as not to harm the real animals in the process of recreating them as wearable art. Her interest in costuming was probably sparked by early exposure to the children's TV show Zoobilee Zoo, Jim Henson's muppets, and radioactive waste.

Christiee currently lives in Buffalo, New York with two roommates, four cats, a borrowed ferret, and a few Great Old Ones haunting the basement. In her spare time, she enjoys reading fantasy, horror, and science fiction stories. She does not watch television, but does own a TV purely for gaming purposes, and occasionally watching movies on.. Because of her respect for animals, Christiee lives a vegan lifestyle. She enjoys good food, mainly Asian dishes which can be easily made to suit vegans and are just as delicious without the meat. Cooking is also one of her passions, and even her omnivorous friends love visiting her for dinner. Yes, she gets enough protein, and no, her shoes are not made of leather.

Christiee can be found on Livejournal and Myspace. She also posts her art on DeviantArt, FurAffinity, VCL, and Portfolios.com. She does freelance illustration and costuming for commissions, so feel free to email her for a price quote.

Resume:

Exhibitions:

2007:

Anthrocon 2007 Art Show. David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA. July 6-8, 2007.
The Art Association of Oswego Lakeside-Statewide Juried Art Exhibition. Oswego Civic Arts Center, Oswego, NY. March10-April 7, 2007.

2006:

State University of New York at Oswego Juried Student Art Exhibition. Tyler Art Gallery, Oswego, NY. March 24-April 19th, 2006.
The Art Association of Oswego Lakeside-Statewide Juried Art Exhibition. Oswego Civic Arts Center, Oswego, NY. April 1-30, 2006.

2003:

Chautauqua County Fair, Dunkirk, New York. July 2003.
Jamestown Community College Student Art Exhibition. Weeks Gallery, Jamestown, NY. Spring 2003.

2002:

Chautauqua County Fair, Dunkirk, New York. July 22-28, 2002.
Adams Art Galley Urbscheit Exhibit. Adams Art Gallery, Dunkirk, New York. May 3-June 12, 2002.
Daemon College All-High Art Exhibit. Fanette Goldman / Carolyn Greenfield Gallery, Buffalo, New York. Spring 2002.

Publications:

2007:

Anthrocon 2007 Convention Book. July, 2007.
Symphonies in Fur Minor: Interlude. July, 2007.
Nightstalkers tee-shirt concept sketch. Image Crazy/UnitPride.com. August 2007.

2006:

Great Lake Review, State University of New York at Oswego Litereary Magazine. Spring 2006.
Poster design for Arcon V Gaming Convention. State university of New York at Oswego Storyteller's Guild. April, 2006.

2005:

Great Lake Review, State University of New York at Oswego Litereary Magazine. Fall 2005.
Midnight Trinity Techno Ball poster illustration. State University of New York at Oswego Story Teller's Guild. October 2005.
The Storyteller's Guild Website, illustration for the Meeting Minutes page. State University of New York at Oswego Storyteller's Guild. September 2005.
Rage Collectible Card Game Online Fan Production, “Coda” set. Rainy Day Publishing in association with White Wolf Games. May 2005.

Awards and Honors:

2006:

L. Roh Hubbard Illustrators of the Future Contest. Finalist for third quarter. October, 2006.

2005:

Online Recognition: Elfwood Moderator's Choice for "No Time for Mourning." November 17, 2005.
Online Recognition: Elfwood Moderator's Choice for “Crowfeather.” January 18, 2005.

2004:

State University of New York at Oswego Biology Club Tee-Shirt Contest Winner. December, 2004
State University of New Yotk at Oswego Story Tellers Guild Banner Contest Winner. October, 2004.

2003:

Chautauqua County Fair, First Prize in “Pencil Drawings, Portrait or Figure” category. July 2003.
Chautauqua County Fair, First Prize in “Print Making, Reduction” category. July 2003.
Chautauqua County Fair, First Prize in “Ink Drawings, Animal or Bird” category. July 2003.
Chautauqua County Fair, First Prize in “Pencil Drawings, Other” category. July 2003.
Chautauqua County Fair, Second Prize in “Pencil Drawings, Animal or Bird” category. July 2003.
Chautauqua County Fair, Second Prize in “Charcoal Drawings, Animal or Bird” category. July 2003.

2002:

Chautauqua County Fair, First Prize in “Pencil Drawings, Other” category. July 2002.
Chautauqua County Fair, First Prize in “Ink Drawings, Other” category. July 2002.
Chautauqua County Fair, Second Prize in “Pencil Drawings, Animal or Bird” category. July 2002.
Adams Art Gallery Certificate of Merit for the 2002 Urbscheit Exhibit. May/June 2002.

Education:

State University of New York at Oswego, majoring in Studio Arts and minoring in Zoology.
Jamestown Community College, majoring in Studio Arts.
Fredonia High School, Area of concentration: Art.

Work Experience:

Wal-Mart Supercenter, 10404 Bennett Road, Fredonia, NY
March-June, 2007
(716)679-3150

Taco Bell/KFC, 10517 Bennett Road, Dunkirk, NY
May-August, 2006
(716) 672-2727

Auxiliary Services, SUNY Oswego, Oswego, NY
September-December, 2005