Craig Jefferson

 

In all his works Craig Jefferson presents his true perception of reality.  It spans from still life paintings of flowers to semi-abstract clusters of bottles; from faces of the people he sees every day to dream-like compositions of figures in other-worldly realms.  It is not a narrow view transfixed on one subject, but a questioning view observing all that is around him. He seeks to embrace the unpolished, presenting honest work that expresses a heart-felt response to the things he see’s and thinks about. 

A Scottish born artist, Craig began his creative career at Leith School of Art in 2002 where he left with a distinction and the painting prize from his Foundation Course.  He was admitted directly to second-year of a four-year course at Edinburgh College of Art in Drawing and Painting.  He left 3 years later with a Degree with Honours.

 

A Scottish born artist, Craig began his creative career at Leith School of Art in 2002 where he left with a distinction and the painting prize from his Foundation Course.  He was admitted directly to second-year of a four-year course at Edinburgh College of Art in Drawing and Painting.  He left 3 years later with a Degree with Honours.  Since his move to Belfast last year, Craig has been able to paint fulltime for the first time since graduating in 2006 with some great results.  This year he had a painting in the Columbia Threadneedle Art Prize show and this led to him being made a member of the New English Arts Club.  this month he is 'Artist of the Month'  please read the interview here: Craig Jefferson Artist of the Month.   Scottish Art Scene article read here.

Over the past few years, alongside other employment, Craig have continued to develop his work.   In 2011 he studied again at Leith School of Art on a two-day a week drawing course which was of huge benefit and helped him to rediscover the formal qualities in his work.  He was chosen this year (2014) to become their Artist in Residence.  Three days a week developing his practice in the school and a fourth day teaching alongside Kenneth Le Riche on the Figure Drawing Course.

Craig is an exciting new painter.  He wants to make large, ambitious pieces that retain marks full of energy while successfully depicting formal elements and colour.  I hope you will enjoy viewing his work.  We will have the paintings for the first time in January 2015.

The Process of Drawing  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcTEcQTqKOw

The Process of Painting   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfmmlMCFfD

Craig’s artistic practice is driven by a strong belief that he is made in the image of a creative God who gives him the ability to create things of significance and meaning.  The main focus in his drawing and painting is to investigate the profound qualities that exist in our surroundings.  Giorgio Morandi is a great influence on Craig’s work.  Working from simple subject matter he seeks to communicate the value and richness of the world we live in. For the past few years he has worked predominantly from still life objects such as bottles, jars and animal ornaments.  He enjoys the fact that though these are seemingly lifeless artifacts, when they are depicted in painting and drawing they are shown to have personality and speak something of the depth of meaning in all that surrounds us.  

Giorgio Morandi  said:  “Even in a simple subject, a great painter can achieve majesty of vision and an intensity of feeling to which we immediately respond.”    

Craig believes this is so and works tirelessly to achieve this as an ultimate goal. Inspired also by artists such as Frank Auerbach and Leon Kossoff, Craig’s paintings are characterised by a language of expressive mark making. This character realises itself in his large drawings although he feels it is lost to some extent in his paintings where the colour begins to take over.  Craig is an exciting new painter.  He wants to make large, ambitious pieces that retain marks full of energy while successfully depicting formal elements and colour.  I hope you will enjoy viewing his work.  We will have the paintings for the first time in January 2015.

 

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