The work of H. Craig HANNA perpetuates the tradition of the Old Masters, through the importance given to academic drawing from a live model and from nature. He thus claims a wide range of influences, which range from the Great Masters of classical figuration, from Rembrandt to Titian via Velazquez, to painters of the modern and contemporary era, from Manet to Courbet via Schiele and Lucian Freud. The choices of framing, color, composition, model, however, make him a painter eminently anchored in his time. Rothko’s work is also a claimed influence, which is found in his sense of color and composition which sometimes borders on abstraction.

H. Craig HANNA’s portraits are characterized by a strong human dimension, which highlights the flaws and vulnerability of the subject, while maintaining a form of benevolence towards them. The painter takes particular care in the choice of his models, most often characterized by atypical physiques. Each portrait thus reflects the singularity of the subject represented. The art of H. Craig HANNA is expressed through different techniques, ranging from oil painting on wood or canvas to works on paper (pastel, pencil, charcoal, etc.). The discovery of painting on plexiglass was a turning point in his work. Exploring the possibilities of this technique, such as the transparency effects induced by the superposition of Perspex on wood, opened up new artistic horizons for him. This technique gives his painting a modernity, regardless of the subject treated, particularly suited to depicting the fragility of a face or the ephemeral nature of a landscape.