JOE CRAIG GALLERIES
joe’s explosive images are an unexpected blend of fresh-faced innocence and sophisticated refinement; both quiet reserve and bold expression live in the soul of his interpretive portraits. Quaint, small town charm and international fashion flair work in a creative collaboration to fuse simplicity and extravagance.
Lloyd
Here we see Lloyd captured in a moment of liberation – There is a sense of freedom. Lloyd recounts how although he loves being a healer, he has often dreamed of being a musician. He feels that in this portrait he could be in New Orleans playing jazz. Here he is Lloyd the entertainer. There is one unquestionable certainty when viewing Lloyd’s art; although the emotions portrayed differ as we view one piece versus the other, one thing always remains consistent, his eyes. The eyes are the window to the soul.and how they each authentically present the varied aspects of his personality.
Lori
Lori has been in treatment for a year yet she still insists to fully embrace life as much as she did before her illness. The is a series of bold portraits captured by Joe that captures Lori’s relationship with her two children. Lori’s refutes her diagnosis of terminal cancer and has bravely battled the disease. Listen to her story in her own words about how she sees the onset of cancer as a positive in her life.
Melissa
AUTHENTIC VOICES
HEAR TESTIMONIES FROM SOME OF OUR CLIENTS’ RECOLLECTIONS AND THOUGHTS ON HOW JOE CRAIG’S UNIQUE PHILOSOPHY TRANSCENDS THEIR PORTRAITURE INTO CHERISHED PIECES OF ART, BLENDING HIS PASSION WITH THEIR LIFE STORY TO CREATE TREASURED ART PIECES THAT truly CAPTURE THEIR ESSENCE.
JEANIE
This photograph of Jeanie along with her great grandchildren was taken during a training class for Artists of the Joe Craig brand Black Label. Captured live as students stood back and observed. She never intended to be photographed herself, just of the children she told us. Though afterwards, having been embraced in the session, Jeanie had a new feeling. Upon returning to view her artwork, Jeanie’s reaction truly captured the sentimental value of her art experience. To know Jeanie is to know the saying, Live, Laugh, Love and leave a LEGACY
CLICK ON JEANIE’S FAMILY PORTRAIT TO HEAR HER WORDS
RAY AND BRENDA
Ray and Brenda went on their first date 50 years ago, and ever since that first date, they have been together. To them, family is everything. They have an extensive collection of Black Label art in their home. Ray tells how having that artwork of their family, that they can see every day, is more important than any other artwork that they could own. We don’t think of Ray, Brenda and their family as being individuals, they are always ONE.
CLICK ON RAY AND BRENDA’S PORTRAIT TO HEAR THEIR STORY IN THEIR OWN WORDS
RON
RON AND HIS FAMILY VISITED SALLY HOUSE ONE DAY FOR AN INFORMAL CHAT, AT THE TIME JOE WAS TEACHING A CLASS AND INVITED THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CLASS AS MODELS. RON’S WIFE WAS RELUCTANT BECAUSE OF THEIR CASUAL DRESS HOWEVER WERE SOON SWEPT UP IN THE EMOTION OF A JOE CRAIG PORTRAIT SHOOT, FORGETTING THEY WERE IN FRONT OF A CLASS AND EXPERIENCING MOMENTS OF LIFE THEY WILL CHERISH FOR A LIFETIME.
CLICK ON RON’S SON’S PORTRAIT TO HEAR RON’S STORY IN HIS OWN WORDS
ICONIC IMAGES
click on a Joe Craig iconic image to hear more about their
Tina and her Daddy
This photograph has been displayed on Holland America ships as part of Black Label advertising since 2008. It is probably the most recognisable image that we have taken in this singular style. The image shown was captured within one single moment in time. It was in no way posed and is an instantaneous capture. On the day this piece of work was photographed, Tina and I were together at the studio.
Tina stood in front of the lens as I casually tested out a new camera. She spoke enthusiastically of her father visiting that day, whom I myself had never met. Fortuitously, at that same moment, and unbeknown to Tina, her father Holden had silently entered the room. He quietly walks over. She turns and leaps into her Daddy’s arms. “My Daddy is not a fancy man, but he is the best Daddy in the whole world.”
The Touch
This image is part of a series which is displayed in the Mercy Hospital in St Louis, MO. It is part of a permanent art installation of 150 images, featuring survivors and their relationships with someone who is important to them. The purpose of the exhibit is that patients and their visiting families can be inspired. As people enter the Hospital, they are presented with the art showing other people in a vulnerable position. A display of hope, that they too are not alone.
In this particular photograph, the Grandfather is the victim of cancer. I observed him from across the room as he held his new Grandchild. Gently with one finger, he touched the baby’s forehead again and again. The cast of the shadow coming and going. I felt that this little shadow was a mark of love on the baby. When I asked the man if he could tell me the meaning of what he was doing, he simply said to me “I live to touch this baby”.
