Daily Inspiration: Meet Craig Thornton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Craig Thornton.

Hi Craig, can you introduce yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I’ve been interested in drawing since childhood, and I’ve always used drawing to explore my imagination. I studied art in college and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. After college, I moved to New York City, hoping to explore opportunities in the arts in the early 2000s. I worked as an administrative assistant and was overwhelmed with the financial struggle to establish any artistic identity. I left after 4 years and came to Arizona. I moved to Arizona in 2005 and started working as an Administrative Assistant. After a couple of years, I was able to transition into IT. This allowed me to earn more money and establish better financial stability. This, in turn, allowed me to focus on making art again. I started selling my work in 2017. I had an art show at the Millet House in Mesa in 2018 and another at Cocoon Art Space in January 2019. Since then, I’ve marketed my work primarily online and sell my work via my website craigofthorns.com.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest struggle has been finding the proper audience for my work. To have the greatest reach, I’m constantly fine-tuning my marketing approach. For the past few years, I’ve been primarily using social media, specifically focusing on Instagram. This year, I’m experimenting more with uploading video content to Instagram as reels, and I plan to release some long-form video content to YouTube.

Thanks. What else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a visual artist, and I specialize in drawing. My drawings are in black and white and are usually executed with a series of lines overlapping to create depth, texture, and movement. My work consists of otherworldly beings and environments conjured from my imagination. I focus on the identity of the beings presented. They are heroic, possessing qualities of a warrior, a mage, or some other type of mythical figure. I’m most proud of the unique body of work that I have created. Many of these works can be viewed on my website. What sets my work apart from others is the energy of my mark-making and the uniqueness of the figures I have created. Even though every drawing I produce is different, a coherent style and language runs throughout my work. My figures will all have similar clothing styles that I have created, as well as hair and even details such as body markings.

What matters most to you? Why?
Authenticity. I would say that authenticity matters most—making work that comes from within and feels right. I wish to make work that is empowering not only to myself but also to others. I want to create figures with a sense of strength and, hopefully, inspire others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.craigofthorns.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craigofthorns/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craigofthornsart/