Christian Hamrick is the artist behind the unique murals at Moe's Original Bar-B-Que. Those murals, however, barely scratch the surface of his many artistic talents.
"I was painting a mural in the back of Little Italy and (a guy) came in to get a pizza for the crew constructing the innards of Moe's Bar-B-Q," Hamrick said. "He seemed interested in what I was doing, and asked if I would paint their restaurant next door."
Hamrick said he was then introduced to one of the owners named John Moss.
"Moss told me I had two days to paint before they opened--I didn't sleep for the next two days," he said. "A few months later, they asked for the outside patio to be painted."
As far as the creative inspiration behind the murals at Moe's, Hamrick said he was given a lot of freedom.
"The only specific item they asked for was the menu board," Hamrick said. "The crew and I brainstormed throughout the process, and the inspiration was barbecue, music and good people."
Hamrick said he used paint and spray paint to do the murals. To be specific, he said he used chalk, charcoal, ink, sharpie, house paint, acrylic paint and a few other forms of media.
He said he did a sketch or two for the menu board, but besides that didn't really map anything out on paper. He also said he first painted a few outlines on the walls at the restuarant and went from there.
"Most of it was in the moment," Hamrick said.
Additionally, Hamrick said he didn't find painting the murals time-consuming or nerve-wracking at all.
"I guess I've learned to ignore the woes of late nights," he said.
Hamrick said that the best description of his art is found in the artwork itself.
"As far as words go, I am searching for the heartbeat--everyone has a heartbeat but we rarely notice its presence; it's not just knowing you're alive, but truly realizing you're alive," Hamrick said. "My art, at least recently, is the hope of this realization. Personally, I find the heartbeat in the process of creating."
Aside from his work at Moe's Bar-B-Que, Hamrick has also painted other murals around Auburn and Opelika, including the murals in Little Italy, Seoul BBQ and Las Margaritas.
And Hamrick doesn't need to say much about what he believes to be the best and hardest part of what he does. "The best part is the most challenging part, and the most challenging part is the best part," he said.
He said that on a good day, he spends about 24 hours in the studio, and is usually involved in multiple projects at the same time, whether those projects be collaborative or individual
"Today, I put paint on a piano for the Keynote Project, sketched out a few sculptures, and brainstormed community garden options," he said.
Additionally, Hamrick said he prepped a canvas to continue a series of subconscious portraiture and "talked with some folks about the blossoming of the Cotton Seed Studio in Opelika."
While time in the studio takes up much of Hamrick's time, he uses what spare time he does have enjoying much of what life has to offer.
"I drink coffee, fish, travel, breathe," he said. "I get lost, go outside when it storms, make friends, read, dream, and go to shows--I tend to find enjoyment in many things."
Hamrick added that he was looking forward to Richard Hagans' solo show, "Out of Place," at The Railyard in Opelika on Friday, April 12 and Saturday, 13.
"I caught a sneak peak of some of the work he is planning to show, and it is something I recommend no one miss," Hamrick said.
What Hamrick does is very unique, but he is not yet sure what exactly it was that got him interested in art.
"I'm still figuring it out," he said. "I have always been passionate, not just about art, but other things in general." The weather, movement, humans and cooking were some of his other passions that he named.
With regards to the future, Hamrick has a few words to describe the impact he hopes his work will have. "I hope it strums the soul," he said.
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