Brian McCracken

Brian was born in December 1952. He is an entirely self taught artist. Since a very early age Brian has always drawn anything and everything. When he left school he became an apprentice signwriter, which involved pictorial art, commercial design and cartooning (all of which have elements of realism and abstraction). Through this he was able to develop his own talents and his imagination. This enabled Brian to be able to do anything in the signwriting trade.
For Brian, painting has been an obvious progression into the professional art world. Brian started painting seriously in 1980, holding his first solo exhibition in 1982. He has exhibited in many highly successful solo and group exhibitions. In 1987 Brian won third prize in the Royal Overseas League's under 35 competition. In 2005 he submitted three works to the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in London for their Summer Exhibition. He paints full time and sells his works privately, and in many galleries throughout New Zealand . Brian's work is in constant demand and his work is held in many private collections both here in New Zealand and overseas.
Brian paints in what is termed as realism with meticulous attention paid to detail. To him this is perfectly natural, as this is what he sees, feels and senses.
Brian is inspired by the wide open spaces from around the Canterbury and Otago countryside. This is reflected in the paintings that Brian produces.
His palette tends to be dominated by bright clear blues and a cloudless day, contrasted with shades of yellow and gold, so typical of the dry Canterbury/Otago areas in the summer. Comments have been made to Brian about the way his paintings make you feel as if you are actually there. This is what he intends the viewer to feel.

Gallery De Novo has recently started representing Brian McCracken's works, for more information or more detailed photographs please email us art@gallerydenovo.co.nz