Dean McCrillis

Born and raised in western Maine, McCrillis pulls inspiration from the intensity of the state’s dense wilderness. His paintings reinterpret the tradition of sporting art, sourcing imagery from direct observation, memory, vintage family photos, and sporting ephemera. Skillfully rendered in wild palettes, his constructed scenes project an air of mystery and hover just beyond reality.

-Kate Rasche, Director George Marshall Store Gallery

Dean McCrillis (born 1990) is an artist, naturalist and outdoorsman. His paintings act as a bridge between natural and personal history. Through the practice of taking detailed observations in nature, he developed a fascination with ecology and naturalism, which carry through his work today. After receiving his BFA from the University of Southern Maine, Dean began experimenting with materials and technique, evoking a new artistic process focused around balance, consideration and adaptation of the picture. His current paintings and drawings explore humanity’s relationship between wilderness and modernity.

“I grew up in an area where connection to the outdoors was fundamental to your lifestyle and very much a part of engaging within your community.  I was taught how to hunt and fish by family and friends. Painting is thread connecting me home. The pieces are a confluence of Ideas, memories, and shared stories.”