For our third interview of the 2021 Delaware Fun-A-Day, we talk to artist Chris Enty about his DART transportation inspired portrait drawings, interacting with art subjects, public transportation, and managing time to create. Thanks, Chris!
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We like to know how people are connected to Delaware - are you a resident, born and raised? What opportunities have you found here?
I moved to Wilmington near the end of the Summer in 2018. I’m originally from Reisterstown MD. A small town outside of Baltimore. Before that I lived in the West Philadelphia/University City area. I really enjoy the size of Wilmington. With such a small city it didn't take long for me to become a part of the Artist community here.
This is going to be your THIRD year participating! Can you tell us a favorite memory that you’ve experienced throughout your DEFAD career?
I think the best experience is seeing the results of everyone's hard work. With no limitations on medium, It's always so interesting to see what people come up with. It's also really cool to see how much projects change/improve from Day 1-28(31).
Please describe your 2021 project "DARTLIFE PT3".
When I first moved to Delaware I got a job at Jerry’s Artarama in Newark. I live in Trolley Square, so my commute to work was about an hour plus. For nearly that entire hour I would sit on the bus and draw people during my commute. Leaving me with a sketchbook full of quick portraits and silly cartoons about my experiences on the bus. DARTLIFE the title started out as a hashtag. A way to group all my commute related artwork. It evolved into a way for me to fuse my cartooning and Portraits. DARTLIFE PT3 is simply the third version of this style. Every year I learn new things that change my drawing style. You may see some of the same portraits from part one or two drawn in a completely different way.
As a well-seasoned Delaware Fun-A-Day participant, what advice can you give our newcomers? Is there any piece of advice that you believe would be a top priority for rookies to take a hold of?
I would say the hardest thing for me would be time management. Draw a little bit each day. Work on multiple pieces at a time. This will keep you from having to make that long sprint to the finish line near the end of the month. I usually start drawing another portrait while my ink is drying.
What initially sparked the interest in creating a series of art through your daily travels on your DART public transportation routes?
I’ve been drawing on public transportation since I was a kid. I drew people on my commute when I lived in Philly. I used to label those portraits “SEPT-US.” I’m pretty sure there’s still a few on my Instagram profile. I have boxes and boxes of sketchbooks. I’ve always admired how classic painters would create these amazing paintings or studies from their own work. I guess this was my attempt at imitating those guys. Like I mentioned before I also wanted to find a way to merge the different styles of art I create. It’s so cool to see how different my portraits look each year.
Earth Day will be here on April 22nd. Do you think that more Delawareans in particular should consider public transportation so that as a collective we leave less of an ecologically damaging footprint on the state?
Before Covid Yes. Now not so much...You can't pay me to ride the bus now.
We follow you on your Instagram @CNTBg2. The different perspectives and angles you get of other travelers feels very candid. Are your subjects ever aware of your drawing them? Have you ever had an interaction with someone while drawing them? Tell us about your favorite or least favorite experience.
I think there's a certain rhythm you get when you draw people candidly. It comes from having to work fast. When people pose they tend to be sort of stiff. I The drawing does not flow as much. This is not to say I don't enjoy working with models. A great model can mimic that rhythm but it's still not the same. You may only get 10 seconds to draw a person on the bus. You have to be extremely fast. After 30 plus years I would say I'm getting there. I’ve never even thought of asking for permission. Naturally I've had both good and bad experiences. I would say my most memorable experience was in Baltimore when I was a kid, I had a guy come up to me and ask if I worked for the police. Which was completely ridiculous cause I was about eleven at the time.
Do you feel more inspired by people watching or more inspired by the anonymity that drawing in a public setting gives you as an artist?
Honestly I never really thought about it. It just started as a way to pass the time. Then it became a sort of nervous habit. It's just something I do. Whether people watch or not doesn't really matter. I'm going to draw either way. It didn't really become a thing until I got really fast. I guess drawing a portrait in under a minute is sort of impressive. I’m more inspired by an interesting nose or hairstyle.
The DART public transportation system hasn’t always been given praise or love, but so many Delawareans rely on it to get to where they need to go. As a regular DART user, talk to us about how it has become this amazing source of inspiration for your Delaware Fun-A-Day projects.
You meet so many people on the bus from all different walks of life. You hear so many things. I don't ride the bus anymore, but I definitely miss meeting and drawing interesting people.
Do you exhibit in other shows or participate in other events throughout the year?
I usually do Talleyville’s Big Little Art Show. I believe it got cancelled this year. That’s another fun show with a smaller format. I definitely recommend that show. Met a lot of cool people there. I have another show in the works but no solid dates yet.
Where can people see more of your work or connect with you?
You can check me out or contact me on my Instagram. It's also where I put daily sketches and snippets. I usually rotate the images often so it stays fresh. Check out my blog enty123.blogspot.com for older and more finished stuff like comics and longer drawings.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Time is the only thing you can't get back. Don't apologize for being you. Spread Love. Make Art. Be Awesome. Wear a Mask. Wash your Hands.