about the artist

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.  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 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 08). Derek has donated several artworks to non-profit and charitable organizations in the past, the most recent being in February 2007 to Christian Mission Hospital in the ward for HIV children run by Joyce Meyer Ministries in India.