Bio: Derek McCrea is a U.S. Army Infantry Combat Soldier with two tours in Iraq with the 3rd Infantry Division, and painting is his stress relief. He was born in Albany, Georgia on February 19, 1969, and resides with his wife, Sheila, of 20 years and his two sons. He has always loved to paint, as it allows him to express his emotions visually. Derek paints in a whimsical impressionistic style in plein air settings He first started painting with oils in the summer of 1984. From 1985 to 1986 he painted under the instruction of Jimmy Peterson, a well known artist from Georgia. In 1986 he won 1st place in the Georgia Arts Exhibition. Derek joined the United States Army in 1987 and continued self-study and painting on landscape subjects in France, Holland, Germany, Italy and Hungary, painting in the plein air style. He won artist of the week in August for Art Gallery Online while competing against 11 other artists. He has completed over 20 commissions in the past couple years. Six of his works were selected for inclusion in
The Eclipse, a publication where poets write about the artwork of a selected artist once per quarter. Hi works can be found in PJ's Fine Art Gallery and the Graphic Design Firm in Fayetteville, NC; other works were most recently placed in B'zzzzz Expressions in Douglas, Georgia; The Market Square Gallery in Varnville, SC; Just What I Like in Lawrenceville, GA; and most recently in October 2002 at the Chateau Elan Vineyard in North Georgia. Derek has donated several works to non-profit and charitable organizations, the most recent in February 2007 to Christian Mission Hospital in the ward for HIV children. Derek is a member of the following societies: Southern Rivers Guild, GA; North Carolina Watercolor Society; Fayetteville Arts Council; Plein Air Florida-Space Coast Plein Air Painters; and Plein Air Georgia. View his works online at
http://www.derekmccrea.50megs.com.
