About

Bio

Born in 1931 in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Bryn Craig graduated from the Philadelphia Museum College of Art and attended the Art Students League of New York.

After two years as an instructor in the Army Corps of Engineers map making school at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Craig became an art director for several advertising agencies in Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Since art school he has been painting and showing in galleries, then, at age 58 he left the ad business to paint full time. He has always been a plein air painter, but more and more he works in oils in his studio. Sometimes using watercolor and, or photos for reference.

Although his work is representational, Craig is not a photo realist. He says, "I look for the poetry in even the most ordinary subjects, not just the surface appearance. I hope to stimulate that same response in the viewer". His subjects range from the surf crashing wildly on a rocky coastline in northern California to a quiet corner in a city at night, to a rural landscape and even the occasional portrait.

He uses traditional techniques and materials (oil on canvas, watercolor on paper) and is not interested in what he considers unnecessary showmanship.

Craig's influences are many and varied from Fairfield Porter, to John Singer Sargent, but he is most identified with Edward Hopper. Influenced by, but very much true to his own style and outlook.

Artist Statement

Although my work is representational, I am definitely not a photo realist. I try to include much more than just the surface of a place. I want to express my emotions about the subject and to stimulate emotions in the viewer.

What makes me respond to, and want to paint a particular subject is a little bit of a mystery to me. There must be something there that strikes a nerve, but I can’t generalize about what it is.

Once I decide on a subject, I start photographing it from many angles and at various times a day – lighting and shadow configurations, etc. I use the camera – but it works for me, I don’t work for camera. I don’t make paintings of photographs. I take from the photo whatever I feel works toward the mood I am trying to convey. And I leave out the painting to have a life of its own and I am not concerned that someone might point out that the fireplug is out of place or that the building isn’t really that color. The painting becomes a sort of fantasy of my own invention.

Selected Exhibitions

Visual Poetry, solo exhibition, Desta Gallery - San Anselmo, CA | 2016
MarinScapes 2015, group exhibition, Buckelew Programs - Larkspur, CA | 2015
BLOOM, group exhibition, Norton Factory Studios Gallery - Oakland, CA | 2015
Final Show, group exhibition, Gallery Bergelli - Larkspur, CA | 2014
Summer 2014, group exhibition, Gallery Bergelli - Larkspur, CA | 2014
Larkspur Through the Eyes of an Artist, solo exhibition, Gallery Bergelli - Larkspur, CA | 2013
Iconic Marin, solo exhibition, Gallery Bergelli - Larkspur, CA | 2011
Bryn Craig: A Retrospective, solo exhibition, Dominican University of California - San Rafael, CA | 2010
Picture Novato, group exhibition, Marin Museum of Contemporary Art - Novato, CA | 2010
Bryn Craig: New Paintings, solo exhibition, Gallery Bergelli - Larkspur, CA | 2009

Current Galleries

Berkley Gallery - Warrantor, Virginia
Desta Gallery - San Anselmo, California
The Garden Gallery - Half Moon Bay, California

Other Exhibitions

Awards & Honors

Marin Museum of Contemporary Art: “Picture Novato” Best of Show
Philadelphia Museum Regional Show: Honorable Mention
Southern California Exposition, Del Mar: Honorable Mention
Festival of Masters, DisneyWorld, Orlando, Florida: Juror
1996 California Watercolor Association - Open Show: Juror
Fannie Mae Foundation: Purchase Award