Craig Martinez

Artist Statement

I was a self employed graphic artist and art director for 28 years. In 2009 I made a life changing decision to teach at a local community college so I could make the time necessary to mature as an artist.

I paint about the human condition, 1800's America history, the human spirt and American Indian spirituality. I am inspired by William Blake, Carl Jung, broken hearts, beer, scriptures, depression, mistakes, Father Thomas Keating, Father Thomas Aquinas, death & loss. Essentially, all my work is about redemption.

Crows symbolize the curious, creative and spiritual nature we ignore. I have burial scaffolds in nearly every piece of art I create. They are sometimes literally represented or abstracted into simple vertical and horizontal lines.

Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.
Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. – Hellen Keller

peace. craig

All images © CopyrightCraig Martinez 2015