Chris grew up in New England and spent many of his formative years along the coast. He learned traditional drawing and painting from his father, George Augusta, a renowned portrait and landscape painter. With his father as the guide, he learned the importance of working directly from nature and that drawing and painting are excellent ways to experience and study how the world works .

Mr. Augusta considers himself heir to several strains of visual representation and philosophical traditions. He has been and continues to be influenced by the works of Rembrandt, Breughl, Goya, Turner, Homer, Gaugin, Degas, and Redon, among others. Having spent a great deal of time in Central America, in Belize in particular, he also studied and absorbed Mayan art and iconography.

Mr. Augusta’s working methods in the field are in the tradition of nineteenth century artists and naturalists such as Audubon, Fuertes and Liljefors. This often includes detailed studies of particular animals and other phenomena. He has also mastered making sketches underwater. From these underwater experiences he creates other compositions.