About Jeffry
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Play "Apocalypse"

 

For those who find painting quite challenging, painting should be thought of as a process of elimination.  Learning what not to do often teaches us more than anything.  Therefore, making mistakes are unavoidable, and should simply be accepted as part of this cognitive process.

One might say, a good painter is most successful when they are actually teetering on the edge of failure.   Only when one is pushing the limits by diving into some "uncomfortable territory", are we actually painting at our full potential.  I believe a painter will never achieve greatness playing it safe." 

Jeffry Krafft

 

Jeffry Jon Krafft

Artistic Statement

Although it may not be clearly evident looking at my artwork, like many artists, I can carry the burden of possessing some rather unorthodox convictions concerning political and philosophical issues.  I do produce more music addressing such things, but I don’t strive to "change the world" socially or politically through my paintings.  I feel if "social reconstruction" is an artist’s main motivation to paint, being a social activist, writer, or politician would better serve that purpose than by applying paint to a canvas.  I do, however, often try to share an actual, or imaganiry experience much like a storyteller might. Some may think of this as being more of an "illustrator" than an "artist".  Call it what you may, but those same people dont seem to understand that Michelangelo basically told the story of, and "illustrated", things like the Bible. 

As for the subject matter of my work, I try to keep it constantly changing and evolving. Although I still, and always will, favor the great majesty of nature, the creatures that live within it, and the beauty found in the human figure.  So my favorite paintings will usually contain one, or possibly all, of these elements within them. 

For the "style" of my work, I admit I’ve always appreciated and admired the great "genre painters" of our past, so most of my work strives to emulate this once great tradition - illustrating people living thier lives.  I may try and engender a personal past experience in the viewer, or hope to encourage them to seriously imagine a time or place they may never have had the privilege to experience at all.  I feel if an artist is actually successful in this, that’s quite an accomplishment!

I also realized long ago, that people tend to appreciate things they often take for granted when those very same things are portrayed in a painting or sculpture.  It’s a simple, yet interesting phenomenon.  So, I often use the visual arts as a means to remind people of the beauty and endless visual stimulations the world they live in has to offer.  Occasionally, I do like to work in "abstract" ways, and some of my favorite painters actually are expressionists or abstractionists.  But I’ve always been most attracted to art that represents our world as we do (or could) normally see it.  I always possessed a great appreciation for our world’s sights and sounds as they currently exist; so unless it’s a "concept" piece, I usually do not feel the desire to alter those natural visualizations too abstractly.

A note about selling art reproductions.  Even though many master painters were also printmakers in order to support their livilyhood, today, some seem to criticize the practice of reproducing work.  I actually support the sanctity of art "authenticity" more than most people.  But, when you think about it, if an artist’s desire is truly to share their thoughts, feelings, and ideas with the world, why would you obviously discriminate by only offering your work to a wealthy few.  Most talented artists can’t even afford to buy their own work.  So such a criticizm is irrational to me.

Lastly, I believe professional artists inherit a certain amount of accountability to their patrons by continuing to grow and evolve creatively, irrelevant of their own personal situation.  If they don’t, their work often becomes stagnant, predictable, less purposeful, and less valuable to its owners.  I myself hope to not only continue to pursue the mastery of painting, but more importantly, continue to pursue the countless avenues artists can take in order to communicate.

 

 

Jeffry Jon Krafft

Present Experience & Credentials

Teaching Experience:

  • Northwestern University, Evanston, Il.
  • River East art Center, Chicago,Il.
  • Old Town Art Center, Chicago, Il.
  • Northern Indiana Arts Assoc., Munster, In.
  • South Shore Arts, Munster , In.
  • Merrillville Adult Ed., Merrillville , In.
  • Hobart arts league, Hobart, In.
  • Chesterton Art Gallery, Chesterton, In.
  • Hobby Lobby, Merrillville, In.
  • Hobby Lobby, Bloomington , In.
  • Michael’s Crafts, Bloomington, In.
  • Waldron Art Center, Bloomington, In.
  • Private lessons - Indiana & Illinois

Past & present memberships:

  • The Steeple Gallery, Saint John, In.
  • Apache Cove Gallery, Merrillville, In.
  • California Art Gallery, Merrillville, In.
  • Brown County Art Gallery, Nashville, In.
  • Oak Tree Gallery, Schererville, In.
  • Affordable Art, Nashville, In.
  • The Framing Guild, Bloomington, In.
  • Lake Artist Gallery, Hobart, In.
  • R&R Studios, Merrillville, In.
  • Artists Den Gallery, Valporaiso, In.
  • Illiana Artists Incorporated, Munster, In.
  • Home Essentials, Travers City, Mi.
  • Chesterton Art League, Chesterton, In
  • Iris Garden Gallery, Nashville, In.

Published Artworks thru:

  • Cups of Chicago – Chicago, IL.
  • Art World Chicago – Chicago, IL.

Education:

  • Associates Degree, Purdue University - Architectural technology
  • Bachelors Degree, Purdue University - Construction technology
  • Masters Degree, Indiana University - Art education

Press Releases:

  • The Star, Lake County, In. - May 2008
  • Post Tribune, Lake County, In. – June 1999, February 2005
  • The Times, Lake County, In. – December 2002, February 2005
  • Television interview WYIN Channel 56 - Chicagoland – September, 2003

Recent Honors:

  • 57th GFWC Chesterton Woman's Club Show  08'                                  1st Place & Best of Show

Related Projects:

  • "The Complete Painter" television show. (previously "Painting Secrets" on Comcast Cable).  Currently being produced for the "Visual Arts Network", TNT Arts & Entertainment Channel on Comcast Cable, and "Skyangel" satellite network.  Also, look for possible shows on your local PBS station.
  • Creation, illustration, and production of animated film "The Breath of Life" – in corporation with Zacuto Films, Chicago, IL. (expected release 2007')
  • Co-production and featured in educational video series – "painting Secrets with Jeffry Krafft" (expected release 2007')

in the studio
In the studio

northwestern class
Northwestern Class

another future artist
Another future artist!


Editing the TV show.