painter from St. Louis finds a new home for his signature art in Dallas | New

Karma owner Amanda Warren hosted an open house for Downs and her latest works on December 5th. She recalls falling in love with Downs’ distinctive style after it became her first featured artist when it opened in 2019. Two of her three purchases were commissioned works. – one from his dog and the other from the coffee himself.

“He loves Day of the Dead stuff so much. It’s so pretty and interesting, I love all the colors that go with it, how brilliant his art is, ”Warren said. “Often, especially at Christmas, it’s nice to see these really bright colors and the happy tastes of customers. “

Downs has been perfecting his style for 35 years, most of them in his hometown of St. Louis. Although he doesn’t have a name for his style, he said that when people see his art, they know it’s his.

“Whether you like it or not, it doesn’t matter. You look and say, “Oh, Craig did that. “Then I feel like I’ve accomplished something,” Downs said.

Downs, 61, said he still had a huge fan base in St. Louis, with murals appearing on buildings, billboards and even a food truck. He developed his style, with a nod to his favorite artist Vincent van Gogh, with dark lines and swirling colors, after a failed attempt at a musical career.

“When I was young, I worked for record stores. I used their screens. Design got me started. Played music too. When I realized I couldn’t do the cover of Rolling Stone as a musician, I thought I might one day become Time Magazine’s Artist of the Year, ”Downs said. “So I really took my painting more seriously. “

The popularity of his art grew internationally after living in Mexico for eight years.

It was there that he met his companion, sculptor Candice Fulton. When they were ready to return to the United States, neither of them wanted to return to their hometown, St. Louis for him and Seattle for her. So, while looking for permanent accommodation, they stayed at an Airbnb in Dallas and found they didn’t need to look any further.

While Downs’ art made its way among buyers, it failed to gain the attention of most major galleries due to a bias against its autodidact.

“I don’t have a diploma. Lots of big galleries won’t get you. The first thing they ask is where did you study, where did you go to school? I tell them that I am self-taught, they are automatically turned off. They can’t promote you as a Harvard graduate, ”Downs said.

He added that while galleries have a good buyer’s email list with deep pockets, they also end up getting a bigger share of the take, up to 50 percent.

“So if you want $ 400 for a painting, you owe it to $ 800 or $ 900. So it’s a little depressing for me, because I want people to be able to afford my art, ”he said.

So he found a home for his art in cafes and restaurants. He added that while bringing his art to a new place can be a challenge, it has spread locally. His latest projects team up with Fulton to create Wall Together Now. It has become an exercise in community engagement and team building. Two of the “wall of art” projects were presented at the last Krazy Dayz in Dallas. Over 200 young people filled in 4ft by 8ft sheets of plywood, mostly paint by number. The finished work went to Lyle and Whitworth Elementary Schools where it now hangs in gymnasiums.

“They were so popular that we want to make four at Krazy Dayz next year,” Downs said.

In the meantime, Downs paints every day, usually never without a lack of inspiration for the next picture.

“There is no creative block. I have five tables at the same time. (When) I’m bored with one, I move on to the next, ”he said.

Downs said that while he was showcasing his art in the area, he found a permanent home at Benedetto Vineyards, located at 14020 Orchard Knob Road, where owners Nick and Lisa Marshall fell in love. They even commissioned his art for a label on their new bottle of sparkling wine, which ended up winning a bronze medal.

“They don’t want anyone else,” Downs said. “They are happy, I am happy.”