Tom Craig Biography

View Art by Tom Craig

Thomas Craig (1909-1969) Born: Upland, CA; Studied: Pomona College (California), University of California (Berkeley), University of Southern California; Member: California Water Color Society, Philadelphia Water Color Society. Thomas Craig was born and raised near Los Angeles. After studying botany at the University of California (Berkeley), he received art instruction from F. Tolles Chamberlin, Clarence Hinkle and Millard Sheets in Southern California.

His innovative watercolors helped earn him a Guggenheim Fellowship in the early 1940s, which supported a painting trip across America. After serving as a war artist in World War II, Craig stopped painting and went back to his botanical interests.

Although he actively painted and exhibited for only about twenty years, he played an important role in the development of the California Style of watercolor painting. His works were exhibited in many important shows including the California Group traveling exhibitions.

Biographical information:

Interview with Mrs. Thomas Craig, 1983.

Biography courtesy of California Watercolors 1850-1970,

©2002 Hillcrest Press, Inc.

California Watercolor