Derek McCrea is a US Army Infantry Combat Soldier with
two tours in Iraq with the 3rd Infantry Division, and this is
his stress relief. He has always loved to paint; it allows him
to express emotions on paper and relax. Derek paints in a
whimsical impressionistic style in plein air settings.
He was born in Albany, Georgia on February 19, 1969. He
presently resides with his wife, Sheila, of 20 years and his two
sons, in Satellite Beach, FL, near Cocoa Beach. He first started
painting with oils in the summer of 1984. From 1985 to 1986 he
painted under the instruction of Jimmy Peterson, a well known
artist from Georgia. In 1986 he won 1st place in the Georgia
Arts Exhibition. Derek joined the United States Army in 1987 and
continued self study and painting on landscape subjects in
France, Holland, Germany, Italy and Hungary, painting in the
plein air style.
Derek's works can be found in over 75 locations worldwide.
These locations include galleries in North Carolina, Georgia,
Spain, France and Austria, frame and arts and craft shops in the
Southeastern United States and numerous online galleries. He won
the artist of the week in August for Art Gallery Online while
competing against 11 other artists. He has completed over 20
commissions in the past couple of years.
His art was selected for the cover of The Eclipse. The
Eclipse is a publication where poets write about the artwork of
a selected artist once per quarter. 6 of Derek's works were
selected for this publication. Derek's works can be found in
Fayetteville, NC in PJ's Fine Art Gallery and the Graphic Design
Firm. His works were most recently placed in B'zzzzz Expressions
in Douglas, Georgia, in The Market Square Gallery in Varnville,
SC, and in "Just What I Like" in Lawrenceville, GA. Derek's
works were featured in LIA Life is Art Magazine in Aug 02. His
last exhibition was in October 2002 at the Chateau Elan Vineyard
in North Georgia.
His works were most recently featured in Lighthouse Magazine
(June 04), Skyline Magazine (May 04), Shadow Poetry Quill (March
04), and New Works Review (March 04). His works are scheduled
for publication in the Spring 2007 New Works Review Magazine.
Derek has donated several artworks to non-profit and charitable
organizations in the past, the most previous being in February
2007 to Christian Mission Hospital in the ward for HIV children
run by Joyce Meyer Ministries in India.
Derek is a member of the following societies:
North Carolina Watercolor Society
Fayetteville Arts Council
Plein Air Florida - Space Coast Plein Air Painters
Derek's works were published in the following:
The Artists Bluebook, 2005, AskART.com Inc. - Dunbier,
Lonnie Pierson (Editor, 479 pages)
The Eclipse, Poetry about Art, USA, 2002
LIA, Life is Art Magazine, USA, Aug 02
Lighthouse Magazine, United Kingdom (June 04)
Skyline Magazine (May 04)
Shadow Poetry Quill (March 04)
New Works Review 2 issues (March 04 and July 2007)
Ken Again Literary Magazine 3 issues (May 2002, Winter
2003, and Fall 2005)
