When I was six years old, I handed my mother a drawing I had just finished of a Coke bottle. We were at the bowling alley where she and my father were in the middle of league play. She seemed so astounded by the little pencil drawing, showing it to all her friends and going on and on about it.
As a parent and grandparent, I understand why she reacted the way she did. I've done it myself with my children and grandchildren. But her reaction to that Coke bottle drawing was the beginning of a lifelong passion for me... art. And she was right there with me, encouraging me the entire time, until her death in 2000. And I swear, she encourages me still today.
Since that evening at the bowling alley, I have practiced art in some form, every day. I studied art as much as was allowed in high school and majored in it in college. I made a career as a designer and art director in the advertising industry and opened a gallery filled with art of all kinds, created by local and regional artists (but not my own).
I've made attempts to work in other industries, but even then, I always found a way to incorporate my creativity into whatever I did.
And so finally, at the age of 51, I decided it was time to commit myself entirely to my artwork. It was a long time coming and I must admit, not an easy transition, but I'm in it for the long haul this time.
Presently, my subject matter of choice is the simplicity and complexity of nature. The trees, earth, sky, rain, etc… this place we call earth has me transfixed. Admittedly, it has all my life. But right now I'm entranced by the details. Things of nature are so purely, of perfect design… right down to the most minuscule detail.
I work primarily in watercolor, but enjoy incorporating graphite, pastel and acrylic into my paintings. My goal is always to capture and perhaps sometimes enhance the essence of whatever it is I'm painting. As a former illustrator, limiting myself to capturing only the essence is sometimes a challenge, but it's one I love. I also enjoy photography and recently have incorporated some computer manipulation into my reproductions.
I have 2 bodies of work here. The first is made up of paintings specifically created for my design company, Rosewood Organics. The second consists of the work I do for the pure joy of it. Both are my interpretations of earth's moods, movements and textures.
My hope is that you enjoy my work as much as I enjoy making it. That it moves you, takes you to another place... a new, unknown place or perhaps a familiar place. Whether it's new or known, temporal or spiritual, my hope is it's a place of peace and joy.
Rosemary Craig
Rosemary Craig joined Fine Art America on March 18th, 2014.
