christopher was born in hollywood, california. he initially studied at the pasadena museum of california art in 1974. he then went art center college of design in pasadena to receive his bachelor in fine arts in 1979 where he studied with the noted california artists lorser feitelson and ward kimball. he supported himself during school by doing drawings at disney in anaheim. christopher grew up "in the la hot rod / skateboard culture" which influenced his art.