View the artwork by Jerry Crandall
Jerry Crandall, Montana Artist
Jerry Crandall’s special love of history, fascination for artifacts and an honest dedication to research, bring reality into each of his paintings. His creations sparkle with clear realism, are painstakingly rendered, possess underlying technical accuracy and strive for historical authenticity. He enthusiastically researches all subjects prior to sketching out his ideas and before putting paint on the board.
Jerry was born in La Junta, Colorado, near Bent’s Fort on the Santa Fe Trail. As a teenager in La Junta, he was a Boy Scout and member/dancer of the famous Koshare Indian Dancers which helped form the foundation for his love of the history of the American West. Because of his expertise on the American West, he served as Historical Consultant for early segments of the television series “Centennial” and for the Charlton Heston movie, “The Mountain Men”. He appeared in the movie “Tombstone” as one of the Cowboys, and has been a guest on numerous radio and television talk shows across the country including the NBC Sunday show in LA twice, the Mike Douglas Television show and numerous local TV and Radio stations. He has given hundreds of lectures to students on achievement, and to historians, authors, modelers and the general public about his career, artwork, research and more. In addition he has served as actor and consultant for various shows that have appeared on the A&E Network, Discovery and The History Channel. Feature articles about Jerry and his work have appeared in numerous publications including Southwest Art, Art Voices South, Man at Arms, Prints, Air Classics and more.
“Listed in Who’s Who in American Art, International Who’s Who of Contemporary Achievement, Who’s Who in the West, Who’s Who in America among others, he is also listed in Contemporary Western Artists, and The Challenge Publications Aviation Art Series. His pieces can be found in numerous private as well as many public collections and museums such as the Favell Museum of Western Art, Oregon; Confederate Air Force, National Air and Space Museum, D.C.; USAF Museum, Dayton; Naval Museum, Pensacola; Monino Air Museum, Moscow and the HQ of the Italian Air Force. Numerous organizations claim his membership such as the American Mountain Men and several historical research circles including Wild West History Association. He holds associate memberships in several aviation history groups as well. In addition he has written and published six books dealing with WWII aviation and assisted in the historical research for restoration of several WWII aircraft.
Over the years, Jerry has amassed a large collection of artifacts, period photos, clothing, holsters, saddles and more, all of which are used as research material for his Western paintings. He is an avid collector, an intense historian and a talented artist —an electrifying union producing thrilling, rich expressions of history.
One specialty in which he excels is capturing a true likeness of character in portraiture, whether it be a historical old west persona or a family portrait. Collectors eagerly seek out Jerry Crandall’s artwork with extremely successful commissions or with other originals sold as they are developed. A highly successful artist, Jerry’s work has been in print since 1977 with more than 60 of his paintings reproduced in limited edition collector prints in both the Western Art and Aviation Art venues, a number of which are now sold out commanding collector secondary market prices.”
The thing that makes his work so excitingly real is that he understands what he paints…the longer you gaze at and search Jerry’s works, the more they become short stories rather than paintings. – Quote from magazine, Rendezvous and Longrifles.