BioBorn 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 |
Gallery Bergelli - Larkspur, CA | 2008
Foxhall Gallery - Washington, DC | 2008 Arches Gallery - Healdsburg, CA | 2006 Claudia Chapline Contemporary Art - Stinson Beach, CA | 2006 Parkside Gallery - Carmel, CA | 2003 Garden Gallery - Half Moon Bay, CA | 2002 Preuit Collection - Gig Harbor, WA | 2001 Henley’s Gallery - Sea Ranch, CA | 2000 La Celle - San Anselmo, CA | 1999 Robert Green Gallery - Mill Valley, CA | 1996 Lawrence Gallery - Sheridan, OR | 1994 Modernism - San Francisco, CA | 1992 Olga Dollar Gallery - San Francisco, CA | 1989 Editions Limited - San Francisco, CA | 1980 SFMOMA Artist’s Gallery - San Francisco, CA | 1979 John Pense Gallery - San Francisco, CA | 1975 Henley’s Gallery - Sea Ranch, CA | 1974 Challis Gallery - Laguna Beach, CA | 1973 Moody Gallery - Pasadena, CA | 1970 Challis Gallery - Laguna Beach, CA | 1970 Corcoran Rental Gallery - Washington, D.C | 1963 Michelson Gallery - Washington, D.C | 1963 Philadelphia Art Alliance - Philadelphia, PA | 1961 Philadelphia Museum of Art - Philadelphia, PA | 1960 |
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 |
Public Collections |
U.S. Embassy, Berlin, Germany
U.S. Embassy, Dar el Salaam, Sudan |
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