Artist's Statement
My method of painting from life brings a sense of atmosphere, capturing the essence of the scene to depict a more dynamic painting. Painting on location, experiencing the sounds, the temperature, the light and ambiance of the scene is very important to adding its DNA to the painting. I first envision the composition, light, and atmosphere of a painting then I continue from life and memory.
I give my father and a college art teacher credit for much of my early art education. My teacher encouraged me to concentrate on my natural abilities rather than change me. In my later years, I became self-taught and am greatly influenced by N.C. Wyeth, Andrew Wyeth, John Singer Sargent, Joaquin Sorolla and Emile Gruppe. Also, I have studied under and am influenced by Jason Saunders and mentor, Roger Dale Brown.
I consider my work to be representational impressionism, leaning toward expressionism at times.
Artist's Bio
Craig Reynolds was born in Gadsden, Alabama and was taught by his father at an early age to draw and paint.
As a young man, Craig learned a deep appreciation for the outdoors, old farms, and barnacle laden harbors with their history told by the well-worn scars and patina earned by years of hard work and time. His father taught him to use his talents to record these memories with paint and canvas. Craig began painting professionally in 1984 while also maintaining his professional career. He began his full-time professional art business in 2005.
Craig travels extensively, participating in plein air competitions, paintouts, and painting excursions across the United States and abroad.
Along with teaching a local mentoring program in his hometown of Gulf Shores, Alabama, Craig also travels around the south teaching plein air and studio workshops.
Among his many awards, Craig received First Place in the 2019 Saint George Island Plein Air Competition, First Place in the 2019 Artists on Location Plein Air Competition in Knoxville, Tennessee. He also received Third Place in the Fort Myers Beach Paint the Beach Plein Air Competition, an award for Exceptional Body of Work in the 2018 Paint Annapolis Plein Air Competition in MD, Honorable Mention at the 2018 Artists on Location Plein Air Competition in Knoxville, Tennessee, Third Place Award in the 2018 Shadows on the Teche Plein Air Competition in New Iberia, Louisiana.
In addition, Craig has been published by Plein-Air Magazine and his oil paintings hang in many private collections in the United States and abroad.
Representation
McBride Gallery, Annapolis, Maryland
Live Oak Gallery, Apalachicola, Florida
Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach, Alabama
Craig Reynolds Studio in Gulf Shores, Alabama
Organizations
National Oil & Acrylic Painters' Society
American Impressionist Society
Oil Painters of America
American Society of Marine Artists
2020
St. George Island Paintout, St. George Island, FL - THIRD PLACE
National Oil and Acrylic Painter's Society, America's Best Small Works Exhibit hosted by the McBride Gallery, Annapolis, MD - AWARD OF MERIT
2019
Plein Air Fairhope, Eastern Shore Art Center, Fairhope, Alabama - FIRST PLACE
New Smyrna Beach Plein Air Paintout Competition, New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Pines & Palms Art Group - Fall for Art Show - THIRD PLACE
High Cotton Plein Air Paintout Juried Artist, Pines & Palms, Thomasville, Georgia
Bath County Plein Air Festival Juried Artist, Warm Springs, Virginia - BEST NOCTURNE
Pines & Palms Art Group, From Field to Studio Workshop, Instructor, Thomasville, Georgia
The Scottish Highlands, Inverness to Whitebridge Mentoring trip with Roger Dale Brown
Paint Annapolis Plein Air Competition, Juried Artist, Annapolis, Maryland
Saint George Island Paintout, Juried Artist, Saint George Island, Florida – FIRST PLACE
Lighthouse Art Center Plein Air Competition, Juried Artist, Tequesta, Florida
Wekiva Paintout, Juried Artist, Wekiva Island, Florida
Artists on Location Plein Air Competition, Juried Artist, Knoxville, Tennessee -FIRST PLACE
Gulf Coast Arts Alliance, Essence of Oil Painting Workshop Instructor
2018
Wekiva Paintout, Juried Artist, Wekiva Island, Florida
New Smyrna Beach Plein Air Competition, Juried Artist, New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Fort Myers Beach Paint the Beach Plein Air Competition Juried Artist, Fort Myers Beach, Florida- THIRD PLACE
The Best of the Chesapeake Show, McBride Gallery, Annapolis, Maryland
Painting trip to South Thomaston, Maine
Plein Air Easton Plein Air Competition, Juried Artist, Easton, Maryland
Paint Annapolis Plein Air Competition Juried Artist, Annapolis, Maryland – EXCEPTIONAL BODY OF WORK AWARD
Southeastern Plein Air Invitational, Gadsden, Alabama
Paint the Town Workshop Instructor, Gautier, Mississippi
Artist on Location Plein Air Competition, Juried Artist, Knoxville, Tennessee – HONORABLE MENTION
Saint George Island Paintout, Juried Artist, Saint George Island, Florida
Shadows on the Teche Plein Air Competition Juried Artist, New Iberia, Louisiana – THIRD PLACE
2017
American Impressionist Society Annual Small Works Showcase, Juried Artist
Shadows on the Teche Plein Air Competition Juried Artist, New Iberia, Louisiana
Ballyhoo Festival, Gulf Shores, Alabama – BEST OF SHOW
Olmstead Plein Air Quick Draw, Atlanta, Georgia
Forgotten Coast Quick Draw Competition, Apalachicola, Florida
Selma Pilgrimage Paintout Juried Artist, Selma, Alabama
Paint the Town Plein Air Competition, Gautier, Mississippi – BEST OF SHOW
Paint Annapolis Plein Air Competition, Annapolis, Maryland
Paint the Beach Plein Air Competition, Fort Myers, Florida – FIRST PLACE & SECOND PLACE IN QUICK DRAW