
Chris Buzelli is an accomplished illustrator based in New York City. He graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design and began his career in illustration. Buzelli's oil paintings have been featured in several national publications, books, and projects for design firms and advertising agencies. One of his notable works is Strength in Numbers, which he painted for an article in PLANSPONSOR magazine. The painting depicts a flock of birds forming a large bird that has successfully caught its aquatic prey, symbolizing the advantage of businesses collaborating.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist | Chris Buzelli |
| Title | Strength in Numbers |
| Medium | Oil paint |
| Subject | A flock of birds forming one large bird that has caught its aquatic prey |
| Theme | The advantage of businesses joining forces and working together |
| Publication | PLANSPONSOR magazine |
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What You'll Learn
- Chris Buzelli's 'Strength in Numbers' was painted for a PLANSPONSOR magazine article
- The painting depicts a flock of birds forming one large bird
- The birds have caught aquatic prey, reflecting businesses joining forces
- Buzelli's work often features animals, with adult themes underlying child-friendly art
- He is based in New York and graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design

Chris Buzelli's 'Strength in Numbers' was painted for a PLANSPONSOR magazine article
Chris Buzelli's "Strength in Numbers" was painted for a PLANSPONSOR magazine article. The piece depicts a flock of birds forming one large bird that has caught its aquatic prey. The painting illustrates the advantage of businesses joining forces and working together, reflecting the theme of the article it was commissioned for. Buzelli's work often includes animals, and his aesthetic tends to be child-friendly with a soft, colourful palette, while also exploring more serious, adult themes.
Buzelli is an accomplished illustrator based in New York. He graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design and began his career in illustration. His oil paintings have appeared in numerous national publications, books, and projects for design firms and advertising agencies. He currently exhibits his original paintings in galleries across the US and teaches at his alma mater, RISD, and at SVA.
"Strength in Numbers" is a surreal oil painting that adds a whimsical and imaginative visual element to the magazine article. Buzelli's creative process involves a concept phase, a drawing phase, and a painting phase, each presenting unique challenges and requiring perseverance. He aims to make the final artwork appear effortless, even though the process can be a "serious battle."
The painting has received recognition, with "Strength in Numbers" being featured alongside other notable works in various publications. Buzelli's art has been described as giving new meaning to the saying, "birds of a feather flock together." His unique style and ability to incorporate serious themes within a playful aesthetic have gained attention and contributed to his success as an illustrator.
Overall, Chris Buzelli's "Strength in Numbers" is a captivating and thought-provoking painting that enhances the accompanying article in PLANSPONSOR magazine. The artwork reflects Buzelli's talent for creating surreal and whimsical visuals that effectively communicate the themes and messages of the written content.
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The painting depicts a flock of birds forming one large bird
Chris Buzelli's painting, "Strength in Numbers," depicts a flock of birds coming together to form one large bird that has successfully caught its aquatic prey. This surreal oil painting gives new meaning to the saying, "birds of a feather flock together." Buzelli, a New York-based illustrator, created this artwork for an article in PLANSPONSOR magazine, which discusses the advantages of businesses collaborating. The painting's message aligns with this theme, suggesting that there is strength and success in unity and collective effort.
Buzelli's artistic process typically involves a concept phase, a drawing phase, and a painting phase. His work often features animals, sometimes in accurate presentations and other times as Frankenstein-like amalgamations. In "Strength in Numbers," the individual birds form a larger bird, creating a unique and powerful creature. This concept of unity and collaboration is further reinforced by the theme of the accompanying article in PLANSPONSOR magazine.
The use of oil painting as a medium adds a soft and colorful palette to Buzelli's work, making it aesthetically pleasing and child-friendly. However, beneath this innocent appearance, there are often more serious, adult themes at play. Buzelli's illustrations are known for their ability to add visual appeal while also conveying important messages or interpretations. His work is whimsical and imaginative, as seen in his depiction of a tiny man dragging a giant snail to clear snow, which expresses the strain of a never-ending winter season.
"Strength in Numbers" showcases Buzelli's talent for using art to convey complex ideas. By bringing together multiple birds to form a single powerful entity, he visually represents the concept of strength in numbers. This painting is a testament to Buzelli's skill in creating thought-provoking and engaging illustrations that capture the viewer's attention and offer a unique perspective on familiar themes.
Overall, Chris Buzelli's "Strength in Numbers" is a captivating illustration that utilizes a flock of birds forming a larger bird as a metaphor for the power of collaboration. Through this painting, Buzelli emphasizes the advantages of unity and collective action, creating a thought-provoking piece that enhances the accompanying article's message on business collaborations. This artwork is a testament to Buzelli's ability to infuse his illustrations with meaning and visual appeal.
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The birds have caught aquatic prey, reflecting businesses joining forces
Strength in Numbers, a painting by Chris Buzelli, depicts a flock of birds forming a large bird that has caught its aquatic prey. This painting illustrates the concept of businesses joining forces and working together, a theme often explored by Buzelli in his work. The birds, by uniting, have achieved a common goal, mirroring how companies can benefit from collaboration.
Businesses joining forces has been a strategy for survival and mutual growth, especially for small businesses. During challenging periods, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, local businesses have supported each other by sharing resources, staff, and operational spaces. For instance, during the pandemic, Park City, Utah-based companies Cotopaxi and Uncharted Supply Co. collaborated. Uncharted, facing high demand for its survival gear, received staffing support from Cotopaxi, allowing them to retain their employees.
Another example is the partnership between Crazy Chick Heritage Farm and Doko Farm in South Carolina. By sharing a farmers' market tent, they offered customers a one-stop shop for various meat products, benefiting both businesses and consumers. These collaborations foster a sense of community and help businesses stay resilient during difficult times.
Joining forces often involves businesses with complementary services working together. For instance, a theatre company might partner with a restaurant to offer picnic baskets for outdoor plays, creating a unique experience for customers. Such partnerships can also involve reciprocal referrals, cross-promotion, and joint products, enhancing both businesses' visibility and appeal.
The painting Strength in Numbers by Chris Buzelli captures the essence of businesses uniting and thriving together. By working collaboratively, businesses can achieve their goals, just like the birds in Buzelli's painting, which caught their prey by forming a united front.
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Buzelli's work often features animals, with adult themes underlying child-friendly art
Chris Buzelli's work often features animals, with his illustrations likened to viewing the world through a "dream lens". Animals are a frequent theme in Buzelli's illustrations, though this wasn't always the case in his professional work. During a break from an injury, he returned to using animals as subjects, as he had done when he was younger. This shift marked a turning point in his artistic approach, as it allowed him to focus more on the action and verb of each piece, enhancing the visual language of his art.
Buzelli's animal-centric illustrations include the SVA Subway Series, which he created using oil paints on paper, later scanning them digitally. He also dressed a bird in armour for a Planadvisor story on protecting businesses and their clients. His illustrations often blend the whimsical and the mature, such as personifying stress as a bifurcated brain for Science News.
Buzelli's work blurs the line between child-friendly art and adult themes. His illustrations for Rolling Stone, in which he transformed DJ Khaled into a ringmaster and Kesha into a rainbow angel, showcase his ability to create fantastical and playful imagery. At the same time, his illustrations for the New York Times, such as the tennis player constellations, demonstrate a more sophisticated and nuanced style.
The artist acknowledges the importance of finding a balance between commercial work and creating art for himself. By infusing a bit of himself into his creative jobs, he ensures that his illustrations are more than just pleasing to art directors—they become pieces that sustain his artistic passion and contribute to a longer career. This conscious approach to his craft allows Buzelli to create illustrations that captivate audiences with their unique blend of fantasy and maturity.
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He is based in New York and graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design
Chris Buzelli is an illustrator and oil painter based in New York City. He graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 1995 and moved to New York to begin his career. He has since taught at his alma mater, RISD, as well as at SVA.
Buzelli's work often features animals, with wildlife appearing in almost all of his paintings. His aesthetic is often described as child-friendly, with a soft and colourful palette, although his work also explores more serious, adult themes. One of his most notable works, 'Strength in Numbers', depicts a flock of birds forming one large bird that has caught its aquatic prey. The painting was created for an article in PLANSPONSOR magazine, illustrating the advantage of businesses joining forces.
Buzelli's work has appeared in numerous national publications, books, and projects for design firms and advertising agencies. He has created illustrations for prominent clients such as Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone magazine, The New York Times, ESPN Creative Networks, and United Airlines. Additionally, his oil paintings have been exhibited in galleries throughout the United States.
Born in Chicago, Buzelli was influenced by painting alongside his grandfather, Armondo Buzelli, during his childhood. He continued to pursue his passion for art and attended the Rhode Island School of Design, where he benefited from the guidance of renowned teachers such as David Macaulay, Barry Moser, Russell Jones, and Lenny Long. After graduating, he relocated to New York City to embark on his professional journey as an illustrator and artist.
Buzelli's talent and dedication to his craft have contributed to his success in the competitive world of art and illustration. His unique style, combining whimsical elements with deeper themes, has gained recognition and led to various commissions and exhibitions. By teaching at RISD and sharing his knowledge with aspiring artists, Buzelli is not only contributing to the next generation of illustrators but also giving back to the community that helped shape his career.
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Frequently asked questions
'Strength in Numbers' was painted by Chris Buzelli sometime before June 16, 2016.
The painting depicts a flock of birds forming one large bird that has caught its aquatic prey. It symbolizes the advantage of businesses joining forces and working together, which was the theme of an article in PLANSPONSOR magazine that the artwork was commissioned for.
Chris Buzelli is known for his surreal and whimsical style, often featuring animals in his artwork. His aesthetic tends to be child-friendly with a soft and colorful palette, while also exploring more serious, adult themes.
















