Trudy Craine is an artist, with an exceptional degree of versatility in oil, watercolor, pen and pencil. She was born, Trudy Lorraine Craine, in Torrance, California on September 29, 1947. She received her Associate of Arts Degree at El Camino College in Torrance, and attended Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. Her degree is in fine art and commercial art with a mechanical drafting background in the engineering aerospace and automotive industry. She worked for Mattel Toys in Research and Design and in the Recording Studio, owned her own art gallery and advertising agency, Tru-Design, for thirty-eight years, in Hermosa Beach and Torrance, CA.

While the advertising agency was always busy, Trudy still found time for painting, and was in several galleries. In 1996, Trudy decided to add more color to her art career and spend full time in fine art and teaching. She moved from the gray aerospace arena to the colorful Gulf of Mexico in Florida and was accepted to three galleries. She became the Curator and the Art Instructor for the Fort Walton Beach Art Museum. In 2000, she was asked to apply as an Art Instructor at Northwest Florida State College, which led into the title of Adjunct Art Professor. For almost ten years, she taught drawing, oil and watercolor painting there and also at an art gallery/store called Artful Things in Niceville. All of her students enjoyed the classes as much as she did. Unfortunately, everything stopped! A rare inherited eye disease called, Fuchs Endothelial Dystrophy caused Trudy to give notice in 2010 because she quickly became visually impaired.

Trudy returned home to Torrance, California in 2011, for two successful corneal transplants surgeries that took three years to heal. She now sees like a hawk, continues to paint, and have art shows. Then a real love story happened. She had no idea that after forty-nine years that her high school sweetheart would come back into her life. She married, Thomas G. Smith, in 2015, and they continue to live in peaceful Pine Mountain Club, located in the beautiful Los Padres National Forest.

Accomplishments include being honored with awards from juried shows and having four paintings accepted by two museums in Florida. In 1997, Trudy received 1st Place Award on the annual Archaeology Day, from the Indian Temple Mound Museum, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, for her exhibit of twenty-eight artifact paintings. Then the unveiling and reception in 2017, of the life-size portrait of, Dennis Standing Bear Compos, was viewed there for the first time. She was the Kickoff Speaker for the City’s theme of, “Hands of the Artists”. Trudy continues to be a member of the Friends of the Museums since 1997.

In 2018, Artworks Gallery, in Pine Mountain Club, CA, had a very successful one-woman show and reception of Trudy Craine’s artwork. They invited her to participate in the, 2019 Annual Wildflower Art Show.

Trudy’s detailed original paintings, and archival giclee prints are a treat for the eyes. Subjects include: tranquil beaches, landscapes, dogs, cats, exotic birds, Native American artifacts and portraits. Collectors enjoy the authenticity of her creative and realistic impressions depicting precious moments in time.

Other artists that Trudy admires and has had the honor of instruction from are: Dr. Mildred Walker (who requested her as Assistant teacher in her Anatomy Life Drawing class at El Camino College), Neil Boyle, Donald (Putt) Puttman), Ned Jacobs, taught at Art Center College of Design. Trudy also admires many past masters, such as 17th century Dutch painter Frans Hals, Rembrandt, Mary Cassatt, Monet, and Titian. Trudy Craine is also related to a family of engineers, architects, writers, poets, musicians, and artist, James McNeill Whistler.

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Dennis "Standing Bear" Compos

Item #360

Item #360

Dennis Standing Bear Compos, was born on August 18, 1929 and he passed away on December 16, 2008. He was a proud Oglala Lakota Sioux and was brought up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, in South Dakota. He was the Grandson to Chief Henry Standing Bear, who was the Hereditary Chief of the Brule Band, and was the major force in starting the Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota, with sculpture, Korczak Ziolkowski. Dennis was also a spokesperson at the unveiling of the Crazy Horse 50th Anniversary on June 3, 1998.



The Indian Temple Mound Museum is a part of the Heritage Park and Cultural Center in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. After exhibiting my artifact and portrait paintings for eleven years, in 2008, during Archaeology Day, my friend, Dennis Standing Bear Compos, asked me to do his very specific portrait. I was so honored, that I graciously refused payment for the life-size oil painting. Dennis also approved of prints to be made, "to make more people aware of the Native American heritage and culture”.

Dennis was honored by many who knew him. He served in the Air Force, attained a B.A. in Economics, and entered graduate work in the American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota. He was elected as County Auditor in Spartanburg, So. Carolina. He was also involved with the Native American groups in the Florida Panhandle. He served on the Friends of the Museums Board for the Indian Temple Mound Museum, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

Dennis requested to be painted with his Grandfather Chief Henry Standing Bear’s shirt on with all the beadwork, and it remains a mystery as to where it is. Just a small black and white photo was given to me with permission to use for reference from the Crazy Horse Foundation. He also wanted to be wearing his Grandfather’s headdress. The regalia was specific and there was not one photo with everything in it to go by. Thanks to my advocate friend, Sarah-Jane SunJay McLaren Owen, who researched the beadwork and design extensively.

The pipe in the painting was made by, John Jansen, with very specific instructions. The beadwork for the pipe, was done by Lydia Johnson and she said that because the beading design that Dennis designed was so complicated, she being an electrical engineer figured it out.

Eight months after the painting request, photo shoots in the backyard, sittings and preliminary sketches, were completed on the large canvas, Dennis Standing Bear Compos, passed away on December 16, 2008. I promised him when I finished the painting that I would unveil it at the Indian Temple Mound Museum. It was finally unveiled on May 27, 2017.

Yes, it took a few years to paint the portrait, with life changes, and I had two corneal transplants. Thank God, my sight was returned and I finished the portrait, and my commitment to, Dennis Standing Bear Compos.

As I painted the painting, I tried to capture the mood, through Dennis’ eyes and mine too. He had a message I feel, and it was PEACE.

The original oil painting of, Dennis “Standing Bear” Compos, is in a private collection. In May of 2017, at the Indian Temple Mound Museum, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, at the artist’s reception, Trudy Craine, unveiled the life-sized portrait, using Standing Bear’s favorite blanket, Dennis also approved of prints to be made, "to make more people aware of the Native American heritage and culture”. Choose your giclée print on archival canvas or archival paper, for the same price.

Prices include: printing, shipping, insurance, tracking, and securing the art appropriately. Placing your order is easy and your print should be delivered within ten working days from payment confirmation.

 

Artifacts

Item #264

Item #264

Artist, Trudy Craine, received these artifacts from her Grandfather, when she was in high school, in the sixties. Way back then, she said, “I felt like I was the protector”. In 1980, she had the pottery examined by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. Its collections include nearly 35 million specimens and artifacts and cover 4.5 billion years of history. Realizing the huge importance, Trudy was committed to painting artifacts as another means of preserving the art from artisans of long ago. “If the artifacts break and turn to dust, history is lost and no one will know these beautiful pieces ever existed.”

The tall pitcher on the left is dated on the bottom as 1909 Santo Domingo. The largest piece is Acoma and dates about 1800. The little round bowl with handle and the small pitcher on the right are Acoma. The little basket turns out to be very old from China. The small round bowl that looks like it has eyes in it, is from the Cochiti Tribe, dating back to about 1400. Trudy Craine enjoys sharing her art, educating and creating a mood while telling a story. She was awarded First Place Award in 1997, by the Indian Temple Mound Museum, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, when she entered twenty-eight paintings of artifacts for the Annual Archaeology Day. Trudy is honored to have two paintings represented in the Museum’s permanent collection, including Dennis Standing Bear Compos, grandson to Chief Henry Standing Bear, who was also cousin to Crazy Horse.

The original watercolor painting is in a private collection. Therefore, Trudy now offers the highest-quality giclée prints on your choice of archival canvas or archival paper, for the same price. Price includes: shipping, insurance, tracking, and securing your art appropriately. Placing your order is easy and your print should be delivered within ten working days from payment confirmation.

 

Parrot Chat

Item #309

Item #309

The love for birds, inspired artist, Trudy Craine, to paint various parrots in a tropical jungle, including her own Green Cheeked Amazon Parrot in the upper right hand corner, laughing like Trudy. Her research indicated a commonality that the Macaws, Cockatoos, Green Cheeked Amazons, and the African Grays, all enjoy eating Eucalyptus leaves. It was a delight for her to find something that could bring all those colorful birds together into a 25” x 40” over-sized watercolor painting. Even though the different species might not all eat together, this is what an artist calls an, “artist’s license”. The intentional composition and perspective puts the viewer right into the jungle, while keeping a quiet feeling of tranquility.

The local pet store gave Trudy permission to take photos and sketch the birds. There are pairs of Macaws, Cockatoos, and African Grays. Trudy’s Green Cheeked Amazon parrot named, Mee Lee, is by herself in the upper right corner of the painting, flapping her wings and laughing like Trudy. The intentional composition and perspective puts the viewer right into the jungle. The detail in the parrot feathers are so softly rendered with the brush that you can almost feel them.

The original watercolor painting is for sale. It is custom framed in a beautiful light wide bamboo-looking frame, with non-glare glass. Trudy also offers the highest-quality giclée prints of this painting in various sizes, on your choice of archival canvas or archival paper, for the same price.

Original watercolor painting 25” x 40” o.d. 38” x 52” $18,500 Custom framed in a wide light bamboo looking frame and matted with non-glare glass. Shipping priced according to destination.

Price includes: printing, shipping, insurance, tracking, and securing your art appropriately. Orders are easy to place and should arrive within ten working days from payment confirmation.

 

Kitty and Butterfly

Item #113

Item #113

Artist, Trudy Craine, offers the highest-quality giclée prints of this enlarged version, of a small portion of the original three-foot by four-foot oil painting of her, “Kitty in the Window”. Prints are available in various sizes on your choice of archival canvas or archival paper, for the same price as shown below.

All prices include: giclée printing, shipping, insurance, tracking, and securing your art appropriately. Orders are easy to place, and should be delivered within ten working days from payment confirmation.

 

Cranes Beak to Beak

Item #321

Item #321

Another beautiful sunset in Cedar Keys, Florida, located in the Gulf of Mexico. While the palm trees silhouette the tiny islands in the distance, the various winged ones happily sing their own songs. The pair of Cranes romantically dance beak to beak, bringing a passionate reflection of love and harmony into the painting.

The original watercolor painting of, “Cranes Beak to Beak”, by artist, Trudy Craine, is in a private collection. She would like to share one of her favorite moments in time, by offering giclée prints, on your choice of archival canvas or archival paper, for the same price.

All prices include: printing, shipping, insurance, tracking, and securing your art appropriately. Placing your order is easy and your print should be delivered within ten working days from payment confirmation.

 

Morning Reflections

Item #330

Item #330

Artist, Trudy Craine, enjoyed painting this refreshing watercolor of, “Morning Reflections”. “The sun was just rising, creating yellow-pinks through the trees. A soft mist blurred the autumn background as it drifted towards the pond. Another morning reflection of another beautiful day to come.”

The original watercolor painting is in a private collection. Therefore, Trudy Craine is happy to offer the highest-quality giclée printing on archival canvas or archival paper, for the same price. Please specify your choice on your order.

All prices include printing, shipping, securing your art appropriately, insurance, and tracking. Orders are easy to place and may be delivered within ten working days from payment confirmation.

 

Fly Fishing Item

Item #351

Item #351

Artist, Trudy Craine, paints the fly fisherman casting into the Deshutes River, in Bend, Oregon. The shallow moving water against the sunlit pines attracts the fish while the brisk current forces the big logs towards the curve of the bank. If you enjoy fishing, like Trudy does, when you feast your eyes on this painting, you’ll feel like you were there anticipating that big strike! In the meantime, just imagine listening to the soft sound of the current and simply enjoy the adventure through the flow of her paint brush.

The original 16 x 20 oil painting is available in a beautiful walnut frame, o.d. (outside dimensions 18x22). The shipping and packing will be priced according to pick up or destination. Prices on giclée archival canvas or archival paper are the same. Please specify your choice on your order. Except for the original painting, printing prices include, packing appropriately, shipping, insurance, and tracking. Your order should be delivered within ten working days from payment confirmation.

 

Get in Touch

Let me know if you have any questions or comments. I would love to hear from you!

Trudy Craine Art
PO Box 5284
Pine Mountain Club, CA 93222-5284

 

TrudyCraineArt@gmail.com
(661) 221-2570