About
The Styles
Techniques, Mediums & Creative Range
Since beginning my artistic path, I have embraced the freedom to explore a wide range of creative techniques and mediums. I first worked exclusively with acrylic paint, then gradually expanded into textured applications and multi-depth surfaces that add dimension, movement, and presence to my work. Each new material offers a different way to shape emotion and atmosphere, and I continue to experiment with methods that push my creativity forward.
My artistic range spans from realism to abstract expression, allowing me to move fluidly between capturing lifelike subjects and interpreting ideas through color, motion, and form. Whether I am painting the calm rhythm of Lake Michigan, creating deeply personal custom works, or completing dog portrait commissions, I approach each piece with intention and curiosity.
Texture plays a central role in much of my work. I build surfaces with layered paint, sculptural applications, and mixed media elements — including real Lake Michigan beach sand, newspaper and magazine integration, and dimensional materials that give paintings physical presence beyond the flat canvas.
My backlit style represents a significant evolution in my practice. These patent-pending pieces combine painting with integrated lighting systems, controlled by remote, to create work that transforms depending on whether the lights are on or off. It’s a style I developed to push the boundaries of what a painting can be.
What remains constant across all my styles is the connection I build with my clients. I value the opportunity to understand what each person is looking for — whether it’s a piece that completes a room or one that fills a space in their heart. This collaboration and purpose-driven approach continues to shape my art and fuel my commitment to grow, explore, and discover new possibilities in every style I pursue.
Each new material offers a different way to shape emotion and atmosphere.
– Chris “Clean the Artist” McLaughlin
A Style for Every Space
From bold abstracts and textured florals to serene nature scenes and officially licensed Notre Dame artwork, my styles offer something for a wide range of collectors and spaces. Some pieces demand attention — large-scale backlit canvases that transform a room. Others bring quiet balance — coastal waterscapes that invite stillness. Functional art like my handcrafted clocks blend creativity with everyday use. And mixed media work pushes beyond traditional painting into dimensional, tactile territory. Whatever your space calls for, there’s likely a style here that fits.
Abstract
Bold colors, textured surfaces, and expressive compositions that prioritize emotion over representation. These paintings reward a closer look — what appears spontaneous often reveals deliberate structure beneath the surface.
Backlit Illuminated
Patent-pending illuminated canvases with built-in lighting systems controlled by remote. These pieces exist in two states — lit and unlit — offering a viewing experience that changes with the flip of a switch.
Mixed Media
Work that goes beyond paint — incorporating real Lake Michigan beach sand, layered materials, newspaper elements, and dimensional textures. These pieces have physical presence you can see and feel.