Love around the corner – Craig ALAN

Born in 1971 in San Bernardino, California, Craig grew up in the Atlanta area. Like many inspired young artists, he first recognized his creative drive through crayon drawings on his parents’ walls.

After excelling in an introductory drawing class at school, Craig continued to develop technically and conceptually through his own studies, while still planning to pursue a formal art education.
He learned how to frame artwork while working part-time at a small framing shop during his studies, and a few months later, his coworker pointed him in the direction of Deljou in Atlanta. He was hired and remained in framing for four years after pioneering the establishment of the department before realigning himself with his passion for art and joining the league of other artists in the art studio.

His prolific career is the culmination of manual artistic skill and a keen aesthetic sense that has evolved from a “slow and studied” approach to one that is “quick and free of precise thought.” Craig’s collections range from abstract expressionism to haunting graphic realism, each reflecting the unique vision of its creator. He is best known for his Populus series, inspired by a balcony overlooking Orange Beach, Alabama, where guests enjoying a wedding party appeared to form the shape of an eye where they stood. Craig explains, “Inspiration begins with ‘What if…’ as I envision other images, surfaces, effects, outcomes, etc. It comes from the past in conjunction with the present. Like a flash of lightning.” Since that epiphany, his Populus series now features dozens of celebrities and icons of all ages, including: Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Freddie Mercury, James Bond, Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, Van Gogh, Gandhi, James Dean, Lady Justice, John Lennon, Queen Elizabeth, Darth Vader, Michael Jackson, Audrey Hepburn, and many more! Craig is publicly recognized as an innovator in the visual arts industry and has achieved many spectacular feats over the years.

Craig is humble when he sees his work inspiring the creativity of enthusiasts in various forms, including commercials and advertisements. He asserts that “art must be responsible for its purpose: to inspire and improve.” To aspiring artists, he offers this encouraging advice: “Be yourself and do what YOU want to do, not what someone else advises or suggests,” and, as his grandfather used to say, “Never give up!”