William Crain BIO 

This is my Resume ...a 20 year compilation of shows and exhibitions.

(Annotated with Pictures and thoughts)

2006, 2005, 2004, 2003 C.E.N.T.E.R Salon; on-going resident artist.

2005   Malibu Art Association Annual Juried exhibition. May - July. Santa Monica, CA.

2005   Artists Union Gallery Juried Sea & Goddess exhibition Jan/Mar; Ventura, CA.

2005   Artists Union Gallery Juried Erotica exhibition; Ventura, CA. Feb - March

2004   Barnsdall Park Los Angeles City Municipal Gallery; All City Invitational; Los Angeles, CA. July - Aug.

2004   VIVA II Salon exhibition; Nov - Dec. Sherman Oaks, CA.

2004   Lankershim Art Gallery, Juried Spring Show; North Hollywood, CA.

2004   1st Annual Lankershim Art Gallery Juried; North Hollywood, CA.

2004   VIVA II Inaugural Juried Show; Sherman Oaks, CA.

2004   Hammer Chisel and Stone Gallery, 1st Annual Juried exhibition; Morro Bay, CA.

2004   3-person Show, Chauvet Art Gallery, Hollywood, CA.

2003, 2002, 2001, 2000 Sculptors Juried Exhibition, Salon Group; Reseda, CA.

2003, 2002 Bella Via Italian Street Painting Festival, Stone gallery and carving demonstrations; Valencia, CA.

2003   Eclipse Art Works Gallery, resident artist; St. Augustine, FL.

E art announcement for Eclipse Art Works Gallery.

2003   Three Person Sculpture Exhibition, Atelier Gallery; Chatsworth, CA.

2002   Valley Artist Guild Annual Juried Exhibition; Reseda, CA.

2002   VIVA Juried Fall exhibition; Burbank Cultural Center. Burbank, CA

2002, 2001 Centre Salon, Group Shows; Woodland Hills, CA.

2001   VIVA Salon 3D Invitational; Reseda, CA.

2001   Valley Artist Guild Annual Juried Exhibition, Honorable Mention; Reseda, CA.

1999, 1998, 1997, 1995, 1994 - Golden State Sculptors Association Juried Exhibitions, Peter Strauss Ranch; Calabassas, CA.

1999   Sculptors & Collage Group, exhibition VIVA Gallery; Reseda, CA.

1999   Chatsworth Fine Arts Festival, juried; Chatsworth, CA.

1999   Phoenix Group Show (invitational) "Great Still Life Adventure"; Phoenix, AZ.

1997   Ventura County Juried Sculpture Exhibition; Ventura, CA.

1997   Gallery 9, Sculpture Exhibition; West Lake Village, CA.

1997, 1996 - 2 person Home Studio Art Sale; Canoga Park, CA.

1997, 1996 - South Bay Juried Sculpture Exhibition, Joslyn Fine Arts Gallery, authors, water colorists, sculpture groups; Torrance, CA.

1997, 1995- Art City II Gallery Invitational Sculpture Exhibit; Ventura, CA.

1994, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990 - The Drawing Room Gallery, numerous Group Exhibitions; Santa Monica, CA.

1994, 1993 - The Tin Angel Gallery; resident artist, Studio City, CA. (EarthQuake)

1994   "Figurative Nudes" – new paintings- private showing; Venice, CA.

1994   "Portraits"-Pencil Drawings, The Union Gallery; Moscow, USSR

1993   Renaissance Gallery, small paintings, group show; Laguna Beach, CA.

1993   Tiffany & Co., showroom windows, Stone Carvings, solo exhibition; Costa Mesa, CA.

1993   Coffee House Collection, solo show, Petterson’s; Culver City, CA.

1993   Affaire in the Gardens, juried show; Beverly Hills, CA.

1993   Rosso‘e Nero Restaurant, solo exhibition; West Hollywood, CA.

1992, 1991, 1990, 1989 - Offices of David Yochelson, attorney, solo exhibition; W. Los Angeles, CA.

1992, 1991 - MPI (Media Productions International) private showings, pencils, woodcuts, oil-pastels, paintings, stone carvings; West Los Angeles, CA.

1992   Paige Hollister’s Collector’s Gallery solo exhibition; Beverly Hills, CA.

1991, 1990 - Riverside Art Museum resident artist; Riverside, CA.

1991, 1990 - Office’s of Stanley Bauman, attorney, solo exhibits; Beverly Hills, CA.

1991   Tommy Tangs, solo exhibition, Melrose Ave, Hollywood, CA.     

      Paige my Agent from the early '90s and i after an the Opening of my one person show at Tommy Tangs on Melrose in Hollywood.

1991   Tommy Tangs, solo exhibition, Melrose Ave, Hollywood, CA.     

1991   LA Nicola, solo exhibition, LA Nicola, solo exhibition, Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, CA.

1991   Special, National Group Exhibition for Phoenix Symphony, benefit; Phoenix, AZ.

1991   Pacific Gallery, group show; Laguna Beach, CA.

1989   Double Rainbow, solo exhibit; Hollywood, CA.

1989, 1988 - Royal Cuisine restaurant, solo exhibit; Santa Monica, CA.

1985   Ranch House Restaurant (5 star), solo exhibit; Ojai, CA.

1984   Double Rainbow Ice Cream Shoppe, solo exhibit; Westwood, CA.

1983   Bellevue Square Art Gallery; Bellevue, WA.

1982   Brocklinds Formal Wear, solo exhibit; Seattle, WA.

1981, 1980, 1979, 1978, 1977, 1976, 1975 - Open Range Restaurant (5 star) solo exhibit; Jackson, WY.

1978-81 Opened and operated my own art gallery. Raven.

Expressions Art Gallery. Jackson, WY.   

1981   N & N Gallery, 2-person exhibit; Seattle, WA.

1980   EBH Arts Foundation, 2-person exhibit; Jackson, WY.

1980, 1979, 1978 - Raven Expressions Art Gallery; Jackson, WY. Owner/exhibitor

1979   Audubon Wildlife, Juried Exhibition,(1^st place); Cheyenne, WY.

AWARDS

2002   Valley Artist Guild Annual Juried Exhibition, 2 first & one 3^rd place award, Reseda, CA.

2001   Valley Artist Guild Annual Juried Exhibition, Honorable mention, Reseda, CA.

1979   Audubon Wildlife Juried Exhibition,(1^st place) Cheyenne, WY.

DONATIONS

2000   Make a Wish Foundation, "Rescue Angel" stone carving.

1999   Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, "Village Father" Stone Carving

1998   Felicity House, Sober Living for Women at Risk. "215 Main" pastel 40" x 72"

VIDEO

1991   Barbara Brighton TV Talk Show, Interview, Live Demonstration, Painting from the live model on TV, Video avail, Hollywood, CA

1991   Alcohol Abuse Video, works featured as backdrop, Ira Chester, producer. Los Angeles, CA.

Education

With the exception of few classes at the University of Wyoming, which I attended from the fall of ‘69 through the spring of ’72, I am completely self-taught. I had one special professor, Victor Flach, at the University of Wyoming, in Laramie, who taught me about *self referencing*, I am ever grateful for this foundation.

Working in Pencil and Charcoal, I incorporated Oil Pastels in 1978 and they have been the basis of my figure-drawing research over the last 20 plus years.

I opened my own art gallery in Jackson, Wyoming 1978. Raven Expressions Art Gallery. I managed to stay open for 2 years… difficult when you don’t sell pictures of chickens and rocks in a one horse tourist town. An enormous lesson and learning curve. I Click my Heels and off to Seattle alone.

In the real world, the struggle with PTSD is overwhelming I sink deeper into drugs and alcohol. Still drawing everyday…finding a sense of direction where I can get at the subjects ‘sitting at tables’…

Finally, after 20 years, a return to my roots.

Los Angeles 1983. I manage to get into one venue after another. As usual my studio apartment and easel is my classroom. I teach myself Soft Pastels while working from my drawings. The Size of my work increases…and Venues get better even a Rep, who spends time grooming me for success, an important cultivation process. Ever grateful to Paige Hollister for her assistance.

Having taken Soft Pastels to the limit I taught myself Oil Painting. I continue to up grade my wood/lino cut abilities. I graduate from coffee shop exhibitions and art fairs.

1967-1968 Drawing kept me centered in the rice paddies of

Viet Nam, A/Co, 3^rd/47^th Inf Reg, 2^nd Bde, 9^th Inf Div

Mobile Riverine Force, Mekong River Delta.

1952 2^nd Grade, 6 yo, I have several paintings hanging in the halls. Teacher tells me while I’m painting in my "white shirt smock" I am "using to many colors". I immediately realize the hyperbole of her statement and know in that instant I am going to be an Artist.

A dozen years ago, 1991, I taught myself to carve stone. Using only a hammer and chisel. I felt intuitively how to express myself in stone. I released Oil Painting to focus mainly on stone. This is a craft that demands patience and continual blocks of time. Except for portraits in stone, there is no maquette or model. I continue to work from the live model in Oil Pastel.

1999-05 William’s Studio Gallery, Encino, CA

1998-99 William’s Studio Gallery, Van Nuys, CA

1994-98 William’s Studio Gallery, Canoga Park, CA

1991-94 William’s Studio Gallery, Beverly Hills, CA

A major boost to my carving was the opportunity to work in the studios of Jean Cherie. I taught her to carve stone; she taught me how to ‘hack’ foam…movie props, stage décor from scratch and blue prints. I developed a table saw using a SawsAll attached to a bungee cord for cutting out blocks of foam. Learning to make objects de arte big and small, ready for the foundry…

* 1996, ’97, ’98. I am the Shepard for the making and developing reproductions of the over life-size Emmy’s for the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences…as seen on TV.

*1998 Ghost sculptor on the over life-size triple dolphin configuration bronze fountain at the Long Beach Aquarium, CA. and other Sculptures around the USA.

1999-2000 Stone Mason for an Australian Company.

1978-81 Opened and operated my own art gallery. Raven.

Expressions Art Gallery. Jackson, WY.

1979-Developed first WY State juried exhibition through EBH

Foundation, exhibitor, Jackson, WY

Ellen B Hunt Foundation for the Humanities, 1974-80 1974-80 Jackson, WY I proctored a weekly life drawing session in Jackson for five years under the umbrella of EBH Foundation. I served on the board of directors as Vice President. Drawing is paramount.

Golden State Sculptors Association 1994 – 2000

Valley Artist Guild 2000 – to 2003

VIVA Salon Sculptors 2000 – to 2003

Los Angeles County Museum member 1997 – to present