Christopher Patrick Turner, 32
Owner, Art By Christopher Turner, and art teacher, McKinley High School
Christopher Turner has the unique artistic ability to capture events, concerts, weddings and sports as they’re happening in live paintings. His business, Art By Christopher Turner, has spearheaded the live painting movement locally while also gaining national recognition. His live painting at the 2012 NCAA Final Four hangs in the NCAA Hall of Champions, and he recently partnered with Modify Watches to create The Turner Collection with his artwork on the watch faces. In the local community, Turner uses his talent to give back by donating original artwork to nonprofits and by guiding the next generation of creators as an art teacher. He also volunteers as director of marketing at Full Gospel United Pentecostal Church, and as marketing coordinator at the SE Mackey Center.
NAME THREE MAJOR PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
- Painting live in Tiger Stadium in front 80,000-plus fans.
- The live painting created at the NCAA Final Four, which is currently on display at the NCAA Hall of Champions.
- Partnering with Modify Watches to create several watches based on my original artwork.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR VOLUNTEER & COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS AND INVOLVEMENT.
I volunteer as director of marketing at Full Gospel United Pentecostal Church as well as marketing coordinator at the S.E. Mackey Center. I also donate original artwork to several nonprofits throughout the year.
NAME ONE BOOK THAT HAS INSPIRED YOU PROFESSIONALLY.
The Lean Startup by Eric Ries.
WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
As a child, I wanted to be an airplane pilot in the Air Force. However, that quickly changed to an animator for Walt Disney!
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB, HOW OLD WERE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT?
My first job was a stock clerk at Winn Dixie at the age of 15. While working there I learned that great customer service is the key to a great business.
WHAT IS THE STRANGEST JOB YOU’VE EVER HAD?
I was a prison extra in the Jim Carey movie, I Love You Phillip Morris.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH IN BATON ROUGE, AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISH THERE?
Stroubes, chicken and waffles!
HOW DO YOU GET PUMPED UP BEFORE A BIG MEETING, PRESENTATION OR PITCH?
Prayer and my favorite song at that time.
WHAT WAS YOUR PROFESSIONAL “AHA MOMENT?”
Realizing that live painting was profitable.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED THE HARD WAY?
Word of mouth is still the greatest marketing tool.
HOW DO YOU TYPICALLY DRESS FOR WORK—CASUAL? PROFESSIONAL? BUSINESS CASUAL? OTHER?
My work attire varies, depending on what’s on the schedule.
WHAT PART OF YOUR JOB DO YOU LOVE? WHAT PART DO YOU HATE?
I love every part of what I do!
WHAT IS THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN FROM A COLLEAGUE OR BOSS?
A colleague once complimented that I know how to lead and be a team player when necessary.
MAC OR PC?
For me it will always be a PC!
ARE YOU ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA? IF SO, ON WHICH PLATFORMS ARE YOU MOST ACTIVE?
Instagram @wedpainting.
HOW MANY TEXTS DO YOU SEND ON AN AVERAGE DAY? HOW MANY EMAILS?
I send about 20 text messages and 15 emails a day.
HOW LOW WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR REMAINING PHONE OR COMPUTER BATTERY LIFE GET (IN %) BEFORE YOU HAVE AN ANXIETY ATTACK?
5% is anxiety attack level.
HOW MANY UNREAD MESSAGES ARE IN YOUR INBOX RIGHT NOW?
Right now there are five unread messages in my inbox.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE APP AT THE MOMENT?
My favorite app at the moment is Givelify.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OF THE PAST DECADE?
Hands down, the smartphone is the greatest technological advancement in the past decade!
WHAT TIME DO YOU GET UP ON WORKDAY MORNINGS?
My workday begins at 5 a.m.
BREAKFAST AT HOME? BREAKFAST ON THE GO? BREAKFAST AT YOUR DESK? NO BREAKFAST AT ALL?
No breakfast at all.
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE “GROWN UP”?
I realized that I was a “grown up” when I had to pay my own bills, by myself!
WHAT WAS THE BEST VACATION YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN?
My best vacation was when my wife surprised me for my 30th birthday with a cruise to Mexico.
FAVORITE GIFT YOU WERE GIVEN AS A CHILD?
My favorite gift as a child will forever be the Nintendo 64 because I was the first kid in the neighborhood to have one.
WHAT’S A NICKNAME YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE FOR YOU?
Big C or Teddy P.
WHAT ARE YOU SUPERSTITIOUS ABOUT?
I’ve never believed in superstitions.
WHO FASCINATES YOU?
The CEO of Snapchat, Evan Spiegel, is very fascinating to me right now.
WHICH FICTIONAL CHARACTER DO YOU MOST IDENTIFY WITH?
My daughter would tell you that I identify with Batman, businessman by day, super hero by night!
FAVORITE DRINK?
My favorite drink is orange juice and none of that concentrate stuff.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BAND OR SONG?
Although my wife teases me about this all the time, my favorite song is Jesus, Jesus, Jesus by Reverend Timothy Wright.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?
My favorite movie is Love Jones.
WHO WOULD PLAY YOU IN A MOVIE?
Will Smith would definitely play me in movie!
WHAT SCARED YOU AS A CHILD, AND WHAT SCARES YOU NOW?
The same thing scared me both then and now: not being prepared for heaven.
PETS?
Although I don’t own any pets, I love dogs.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY MEMORABLE CELEBRITY ENCOUNTERS? WHAT HAPPENED?
Andrew Zimmern was my greatest celebrity encounter. I was blessed to be included in an episode of his show, and he was amazed by the live painting on set. He took plenty of pictures and posted them to his social media. It was great!
TELL US ABOUT A MOMENT THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE.
While driving a freight truck from Alabama, I had a bad accident that could have easily taken my life, but I walked away with only minor scratches.
WHAT’S THE NEXT BIG PERSONAL OR CAREER CHALLENGE YOU PLAN TO TAKE ON?
My next career goal is to make Art By Christopher Turner a household name.
WHAT CONCERNS YOU MOST ABOUT THE FUTURE?
What concerns me most about the future is the availability of quality education for our emerging youth.
WHAT GIVES YOU THE MOST HOPE ABOUT THE FUTURE?
Prayer and my daughters give me the most hope for the future.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR FUTURE FORTY UNDER 40 HONOREES?
I would advise the future Forty Under 40 honorees to stay diligent.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST HOPE FOR BATON ROUGE?
My hope is that Baton Rouge will become the most successful metropolitan city in Louisiana.
