Christine Warjone is proud to have been raised as an Army Brat. The family traveled and lived on army bases in Europe and more than a few cities in the USA including San Francisco where she was born. When Christine was a junior in high school, they put down roots on a 300-acre ranch in Washington State. The nearest town was 15 miles away.
With no conventional jobs nearby, to make money, Christine and her sister Kathi became entrepreneurs. They were “rock hounds” - finding rock fields and charging rock clubs to be led to the location; they picked and sold wild berries in the summer; they picked green fir tree cones in the fall and sold the seed; in winter, they cut Christmas Trees to sell in town along with handmade wreaths.
Warjone recalls: “These were really happy times - working hard on the ranch with an older sister and riding horses at break neck speed - staying out until dark in summer.”
As an adult and a single mother of three daughters, Warjone’s early entrepreneurial skills were honed over 25 years in the hotel business. She started her own company managing hotels owned by investors. An investor herself, she purchased a small resort on the coast in Washington State which was going to be her retirement livelihood.
In 1991, Christine married Jim Warjone, sold the resort, and together, the couple started a real estate company in Seattle. Since then, the venture has grown - they now maintain three brokerages which are now run by a partner - allowing Christine to pursue her art 80% of the time.
There was a turning point for Warjone and she turned to her art for respite and restoration. Recognizing the importance of being close to family, in 2012 the Warjones moved to Sun Valley, Idaho - home to the youngest daughter, her husband and the newest grandchild. Christine knew this was a desirable destination for family and friends to visit.
In 2018, they purchased a home in Ketchum with a guest cottage attached to a large garage. Warjone remodeled this structure turning it into her current private studio. As a Koi Pond addict and avid gardener - she is happily located right next to the Sawtooth Botanical Gardens.
Not only self-taught, Christine Warjone is self-motivated and self-compelled. Through books, documentaries and museums, she has studied the works of the masters and contemporary artists - along the way, learning from every artist she has come in contact with.
Warjone notes: “My training has been in my own studio making mistakes, putting in long hours of experimentation and practice/practice/practice.”
She assesses her work: “Self-awareness has really helped me and having the confidence to run a knife through the finished work if it doesn’t meet my expectations. Never fearing to venture out of my comfort zone knowing I can slash, burn, or rework a piece that is not fit for viewing.
As an artist, Warjone draws on her adult life adventures. She has led teams to perform humanitarian and/or disaster relief work around the globe.
Since 1991, she has traveled numerous times to Romania, Moldova and Uganda; to Oaxaca, Mexico; to New Orleans after Katrina hit. Both adventurous, Christine and Jim have traveled all through Europe on into Finland, the Netherlands and Dubai. They explored different regions of Africa - including both coasts of South Africa with their granddaughters. These travels inform a number of her works.
Warjone has exhibited artwork in juried art shows in Scottsdale AZ, Seattle WA and Sun Valley, ID. She willingly welcomes invitations to donate works of art to support fundraising and special events. Currently, she participates in the summer and winter Wood River Valley Artists’ Studio Tours in the Sun Valley area.
“Chapter One: The Seasons of the Trees”
Currently in 2022: Warjone is working on a series she refers to as “NATURE CHURCH” a collection of paintings and mixed media works that honor the great outdoors. Contemporary in appearance yet easily identified as to the subject.
“RED BIRD” is another contemporary abstract series that she intends to rebuild. The process begins with a base of acrylic paints on pinewood panels - pouring on mediums and resins - leaving some areas without texture so that the pieces have a visible topography.
A Road Series on matte aluminum panels, which produces a visual “high-low” effect. The images are of various sizes feature photos of iconic scenes in the greater Wood River Valley/Sun Valley environs and the Snake River Path of Idaho are on the agenda, too. The panels are mixed substrate - polished and matte - combined on one panel giving the finished image greater depth. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
LIFE and its marvelous sights and sounds - humans and animals - are constant inspirations in Christine Warjone’s art. There have been two particularly influential people in her life.
A best friend painted under the name Terri Humphries (or T.H.) and was a contemporary and courageous artist who was never afraid to go out on a limb to display her truth and talent.
Warjone met William Vincent on a safari expedition in Africa in 1995. Vincent painted in oil in the style of the Old Masters; he mixed his own colors and during the safari expedition he was sketching instead of taking photos - gathering content just as the Old Masters would do.
Like the Old Masters the common thread that runs through Warjone’s artwork - whether acrylic on canvas, original photos on metal, or mixed media on wood - is the juxtaposition of vision, connection, and telling the subject's story in a way that honors and connects.
“The Trout Hunters” a commissioned work
With an abundance of creativity and enthusiasm, as well as experience, Warjone wants to dedicate more of her time to art. Monetarily, she halfway jokingly expresses: I used to say I wanted to sell enough to support my habit of art. Now I say, I want to sell enough to have my husband be a “Kept Man”.
Heartbeats are precious. You will find many of mine here.
“I believe that God gave each of us a finite number of heartbeats, and we all have our own allocation with which to live our lives.
Heartbeats are precious. Unlike day-old bread or yesterday’s fashions...heartbeats cannot be marked down nor purchased on sale before they are outdated. A heartbeat occurs, and then it is gone - never to be retrieved.
In 2009 I nearly lost my heartbeats. My husband and I were not about to give up, and as I regained my health a longing emerged to express my appreciation for life creatively. With precious heartbeats replenished, a supportive family and treasured friends; I launched my business and now offer work publicly. My heart beats with joy as I follow this path.
Thank you for visiting my website - I am honored that you are investing a few of your own precious heartbeats to share mine." - Christine Warjone