Craig Erickson news gallery show painting art artist fine art

May 2012
Gallery 444
Elsinore Gallery, 444 Ferry Street, Salem, Oregon
- THREE VIEWS OF A SECRET -
A solo exhibition featuring three major paintings showcasing Northwest vineyards.
20+ Original paintings offered for your consideration.
May 5th through 26th
Opening reception will be May 5th, 3:00 to 5:00 pm

Featuring a brand new painting...

King Estate Sunset is the third painting in the Three Views of a Secret series.
Come to Salem to see them in person!

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December 3 - 24, 2011
Elsinore Gallery
444 Ferry Street, Salem, Oregon
Craig will be part of a juried exhibition of Northwest artists featuring wilderness and
wildlife miniatures. The opening reception will be on December 3, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm.

Click here for more details.

Just in time for Christmas! Hope to see you there!

Leonetti...
The second of only two paintings authorized by legendary Leonetti Cellar is complete. This
painting is a tribute to the pioneering vision and excellence that has made the Walla Walla Valley
an icon in winemaking. Big Reds in big country!

Click on the image for a closer view.

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Iffy July weather has made for fantastic scenes along the Pacific Crest Trail this year...

New paintings from closer to home are also in progress, along with more anticipated wine country scenes.
The lush (read that "rainy") spring has produced an especially beautiful Willamette Valley this year.



All Photos (c)2011 by Craig Erickson

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The Partnership
Along with the scenery in the Northwest Wine Country, there are many stories
of couples who risked everything to pursue their dream. Of course, this is an idealized
version of what that might have looked like, but I like the idea.

Go ahead...click on the picture for a closer look!

Mill Creek Upland
Leonetti Cellar, famous Walla Walla winery, has a very special vineyard just outside town,
a little higher, with a little more rainfall and a lot more extra special. This is the first
of only two original paintings authorized by the winery.

STORMY WEATHER ARTS FESTIVAL
Cannon Beach, Oregon, November 6, 7, 8 2009

Many, many thanks to those who came to the Cannon Beach Hotel for this year's Stormy Weather
Arts Festival. It was a memorable weekend, and our deep thanks to Lisa and the staff for
their hospitality. And our very deepest thanks to friends and patrons who joined the fun!

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Shy Cabernet, Leonetti Ceallar
12 x 12 Inches, acrylic on Canvas,
December, 2009
This painting was the work in progress at the Stormy Weather Arts Festival
show at The Cannon Beach Hote
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Mill Creek Upland Vineyard, Leonetti Cellar
September, 2009 Charcoal Study, 17 x 14 inches

It was a distinct privilege in late August to be allowed access to the vineyards of the very prestigious Leonetti Cellar winery, in Walla Walla, Washington. Three days shooting film in the Loess and Mill Creek Upland vineyards produced many memorable images that will be the basis for several upcoming paintings. This charcoal study from Mill Creek Upland showcases the beauty of the wheat fields and vineyards nestled beneath the Blue Mountains.

Pinot Blanc
June, 2009, Acrylic on Canvas, 12 x 12

Peter Teaches
May, 2009, Acrylic on Vellum, 17 x 14, Donation

The original concept for this painting was not an individual, but the body of Christ. The idea was to depict a group of believers in an evening house meeting in first century Jerusalem.

Since groups of any size met largely in the houses of the wealthy, that was where my research began. I searched for images of a house large enough to include a courtyard. Oddly, one of the few buildings of any size to survive the sacking of Jerusalem is one traditionally believed to be the house of Caiaphas, high priest of the Jews and chief architect of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

“Peter Teaches” depicts the church meeting in the same courtyard where Jesus was held and Peter denied Him hours before His crucifixion. Peter never actually preached there, but the irony of picturing him boldly proclaiming the Gospel in the same place he earlier cowered in shame is a visual metaphor of a more stunning transformation.

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On a Summer Morning...
Sunrise At Benton Lane was one of those pieces that became a endless
string of marathon painting sessions. Some areas took more than thirty layers
of glaze to fully develop. The result is very satisfying (to the artist at least!).
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Greenwich Bound...
"Benton-Lane Study" was accepted for the 2008 SmallWorksNA
exhibition and sale, conducted by Greenwich Workshop, one of the world's
largest publishers of fine art reproductions. To see all the selections, visit
www.SmallWorksNA.com

"Benton Lane Study" August, 2008, 9" x 12" Acrylic on Canvas

Another From August...

This piece was a planned entry into a national competition. Unfortunately,
time was not on my side, and I was only able to complete one piece before
the deadline.

Another piece from August, 2008:

After a long wait, "King Estate" is complete. 18"x 36" on muslin canvas. This is the second
in a series featuring the Oregon and Washington wine country. The third and fourth
paintings are on the easel, and should be complete before September.
This first image is a low quality camera shot from the studio.

My deepest thanks and appreciation to the fine people at Ernst for inviting me to Cannon Beach
for the Stormy Weather Weekend Art Festival on November 2, 3, 4, 2007. It was a thrill and a privilege
to be part of a show featuring MR. WILLIAM S. PHILLIPS.

Thank you also to all the art collectors and appreciators who were gracious and encouraging. I was
honored beyond words to be part of the weekend, and hope to meet you all again very soon.

Special thanks to Don, Becky, Reed, and everyone at Ernst for a fantastic weekend at the
End of Summer Art Celebration, September 8th and 9th, 2007. The combined show featured:

Rod Frederick - Frank Hettick - Thomas Polidori - Craig Erickson

A personal thank-you to Frank and Rod for lending their drawing power and encouragement
a wide-eyed newcomer. I very much appreciate them putting their stellar reputations
on the line to be at the same show with "Craig WHO?"

Many thanks to Cyndy and everyone at LaFollette Gallery
for a wonderful August through September show. The
hospitality and hard work by everyone at the gallery made "Essence of Oregon"
a great success. The paintings are gone now, but you can still find an excellent selection
of signed limited edition giclee prints at LaFollette.
LaFollette is located at 931 Oak Street, in Eugene, Oregon (541-484-1420)

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