Aaron Crayne, a painter born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, has a strong interest in art and the creative process. Not only a skilled artist, but he has trained with traditional skills and techniques, has a solid grasp of color, composition, form and structure. His landscape paintings have been noted to use bold and striking color, composition and marks to present in a grand manner that which could be considered mundane.

Raised with strong values and work ethic, at an early age he was encouraged to explore and interact with his surroundings, which has given him broad and diverse interests. He has worked as a carpenter, construction laborer, assistant pastry chef and others that have given him practical experience that he applies to his artistic vision. This varied work experience, interaction and exploration of his environment have contributed to the direct from observation approach he uses when painting. Aaron prefers working directly with his subject outside, in the elements of those surroundings.

“I had always been drawing, when I was a kid, to keep me from acting up during church my parents would give me pencil and paper and I would draw the latest war movies I had seen, or drawing the stories from the bible but with modern day tanks and planes.”  This peaked an interest in drawing and painting that has been growing over time. That interest was taken to college where Aaron received a BA in studio art, focusing on drawing, painting, printmaking and art history. After graduation, he spent a brief period of time traveling abroad. This trip was an eye opener, in terms of traditional drawing and painting skills that were being learned over seas as opposed to what he learned here. This encouraged Aaron to work more, and prompted him to return to college where he received an MFA in painting. These two experiences were very influential on his career as an artist. “It helped define my relation with the art making process, and has given me a point of departure”.

In the time since graduation, Aaron has briefly taught college level painting, given plen aire landscape painting demonstrations and instruction, drawing, computer art, portfolio workshops, served as guest speaker and as a visiting artist. He has also been working with the Smithsonian Institution, initially at the National Museum of the American Indian and currently with the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum. He continues to exhibit in solo and group exhibitions on both the East and West coasts. Currently he is developing new body of figurative work, while expanding the his work with the landscape.