Charles Craig
ALL WORKS
BIOGRAPHY
Inspired by Western and Indian life, Charles Craig did paintings characterized by detailed accuracy, gained from several years spent living with various tribes and carefully recording the details of their culture. A fifty-year resident of Colorado Springs, he was the state’s first academically trained resident artist, and his paintings reflected many aspects of his region including the Ute Indians. Friends called him “Pink Face Charlie” because his disposition and his paintings were invariably cheerful and sunny.
Charles Craig was born in 1846 on a farm in Morgan County, Ohio. He began painting as a boy, creating his palette from natural materials and canvases made from oil and flour treated cotton cloths. At the age of 19, he traveled West by going up the Missouri River as far as Fort Benton, Montana. For four years, 1865-1869, he explored, sketched and lived with Indian tribes. It was during this time that he realized he needed to further his technical skills in order to record his experiences accurately. He returned to Ohio and set up a studio in Zanesville, where he painted portraits at $75.00 each to earn enough money to finance his art education.
Then he studied for a year in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts where Peter Moran, brother of Thomas Moran and a painter of Indians, was influential as one of his teachers. Returning to Zanesville, Charles Craig did a painting titled Custer’s Last Charge, which had detailed descriptions of battlefield weapons, etc. In 1881, at the urging of his friend, Jack Howland, Craig headed West permanently, stopping first in Taos, New Mexico where he became “the first western artist to paint in Taos”. (Samuels 112)
He settled in Colorado Springs for the next fifty years, the earliest resident artist in that resort community and one of the longest to have an active career there. Craig set up a studio in the building of Howbert’s Opera House. He supplemented his income by giving art lessons and made regular visits to the Ute reservation in Southwestern Colorado. One of those trips, in 1893, was with his friend, painter Frank Sauerwein. Craig’s Indian paintings were noted for their detailed accuracy, although many of his later works showed Barbizon influence of Tonalism. He exhibited regularly in the Antlers Hotel of Colorado Springs, but a fire there in 1895 destroyed many of his works.
Craig died in Colorado Springs in 1931.
Sources include:
Michael David Zellman, “300 Years of American Art”
Peggy and Harold Samuels, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Artists of the American West
"Moore Art: A Family Affair"
Colorado Springs, CO – Broadmoor Galleries is excited to announce ” Moore Art: A Family Affair,” a special exhibition featuring the works of American impressionist painter Robert Moore and his two children, Anna, and Robbie Moore. The exhibition will open on May, 18, 2023, and run through June 8th, 2023, at Broadmoor Galleries located at The Broadmoor, 1 Lake Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80906.
WHAT: Moore Art: A Family Affair
WHO: Featuring:
Robert Moore, Anna Moore, and Robbie Moore
WHEN: Thursday, May 18th, from 4-8PM
WHERE: Broadmoor Galleries at the Broadmoor Hotel
1 Lake Circle
Colorado Springs CO 80906
(719)577-5744
https://broadmoorgalleries.com/events/
Broadmoor Galleries in Colorado Springs is proud to present “Moore Art: A Family Affair,” an exhibition that showcases the unique artistic styles of American impressionist artist Robert Moore, and his two children, Anna, and Robbie Moore. Robert, who is colorblind and paints with both hands simultaneously, has established himself as a prominent figure in the art world, and his children have followed in his footsteps.
Robert Moore, a celebrated American painter who is colorblind and paints with both hands simultaneously, is known for his signature landscapes, cityscapes, and portraits. The exhibition will showcase a range of Moore’s works alongside those of his talented children.
“Moore Art: A Family Affair” is a unique opportunity to experience the work of three incredibly talented artists from the same family,” said Broadmoor Galleries director, Jamie Oberloh. “Robert Moore’s impressionistic style is a true representation of the beauty and diversity of America, and his children Anna and Robbie are following in his footsteps with their own unique styles and techniques.”
Robert Moore’s artistic achievements are all the more remarkable given that he is colorblind. Despite this, he has become known for his ability to create vivid and striking color palettes in his paintings. He has also developed a unique technique of painting with both hands simultaneously, which allows him to create intricate details and textures in his works.
Moore’s use of both hands to paint has been compared to the way a pianist uses both hands to play a complex piece of music. This technique requires a great deal of focus and coordination, and it has become one of Moore’s signature methods.
Moore’s colorblindness has also influenced his work in other ways. He has said that he is drawn to painting landscapes because he is able to see the world in shades of green, which he can differentiate more easily than other colors. This has led him to develop a deep appreciation for the beauty of nature and the environment.
Despite his colorblindness and unique painting technique, Robert Moore has become one of America’s most beloved impressionist painters. His works continue to inspire and captivate viewers, and his contributions to American art are truly remarkable.
Anna Moore, a professional artist in her own right, draws inspiration from her father’s work and her surroundings, using her skillful brushstrokes to capture the essence of nature in her landscapes. She works in a variety of media, including oil painting, watercolor, and printmaking. Her work is inspired by the natural beauty of the American West and the people and places that inhabit it.
Robbie Moore, who recently graduated with a Finance degree from the University of Arkansas, has always had a passion for art and the natural world. He has developed his skills in drawing, gouache, watercolor, and oil painting, and his work has been featured in a company calendar commissioned by his employer. With his father’s legacy of developing artists and a lineage of artists in his family, Robbie’s future aspiration is to make the most out of his upbringing and create a name for himself in the art world.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase the work of three incredibly talented artists,” said Broadmoor Galleries’ director, Jamie Oberloh. “The combination of Robert’s impressionistic paintings with Anna and Robbie’s unique styles and mediums creates a truly exceptional exhibition that will delight and inspire our visitors. Their paintings are a true representation of the beauty and diversity of America, and we are honored to share the work with our community.”
The exhibition will be open to the public from May 18th, 2023, through June 8th, 2023, and will feature a special reception on May 18th, 2023, from 4-8 pm, where visitors can meet the artists and enjoy light refreshments. All works in the exhibition will be available for sale.
Recommended Supplies
- Oil paints
- Alizarin Crimson
- Cadmium Orange
- Cadmium Yellow Medium
- Viridian Green
- Ultramarine Blue
- Quinacridone Violet
- Burnt sienna
- Yellow ochre
- Paynes Grey
- White
- Filbert brushes – #4, #8, and #12
- Palette knives – 3” teardrop shape (if you want to paint with knives)
- Razor scraper
- Easel or Pochade box
- 5 larger (12×16 up) canvases, canvas boards (or masonite boards)
- 10 Small (8×10 – 11×14) Boards for Quick Studies
- Odorless Thinner-Turpentine
- Paper Towels
- Plastic Trash Bags
- Drop Cloth
- Apron and/or clothes suitable for painting
Optional Supplies
- Carrier for wet paintings
- Photos for subject reference
1 Lake Circle Colorado Springs, Colorado 80906
broadmoorgalleries.com