FORT BENNING GA - With 22 years in the Army, two tours in Iraq and the daily demands as the operations sergeant major for the 197th Infantry Brigade, SGM Derek McCrea paints to relax.
"Painting is a passion for me," McCrea said. "I paint because I enjoy painting. It's a hobby that causes me to focus and relax while creating a work. I have been at it for 25 years and will paint until my last breath."
McCrea started painting as a teen but briefly gave up the hobby when he joined the Army in 1987.
"Then one day I visited the Wuerzburg Castle and Residence in Germany while stationed with the 3rd Infantry Division in Germany. I was inspired by the history and architecture and started painting oils again," McCrea said. "That was followed by other European trips to Austria, Florence, Amsterdam and Budapest."
McCrea branched out from oils to watercolors at the suggestion of his wife, Sheila, who bought them as a birthday present.
They were both surprised when his first watercolor painting sold, she said.
"He's the type of person who will start doing something he's never done before and he'll shock me. He's always wondering - 'What can I paint next''" Sheila said. "It's a great hobby because it's something that motivates him, makes him want to go new places and see new things, (and) I like seeing what he comes up with."
Sheila said her husband rarely slows down, except when he picks up his brush.
"He never really stops and sits and is just quiet, but when he paints, he relaxes," she said. "Whenever he's worried or upset about something, he paints. It gets his mind off problems. He just forgets about everything."
Derek "picked up the brush full time" in 2001, he said. "Lately, I have started to reach what some would call inspiration and confidence in my works. It makes me proud to create art that serves as memories for families - from their pets to their vacation, country and beach homes."
Along with the honor of hanging artwork in homes and galleries across the country, Derek has won several awards for his work. The most recent include serving as represented artist for the Pet Fashion Show in New York city and winning first place in the Art Space cover contest.
Derek donates his art to raise money for charities. His newest venture is Dog Days of Summer, a themed display hosted by the Joseph House Art Gallery in Columbus from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.
As a participating artist, Derek will donate a portion of his sales to PAWS. He also painted dog and cat treat jars, donated by PetSmart, to raise money for the charity.
Gallery visitors can browse through drawings, paintings and sculptures featuring a variety of pets and farm animals. PetSmart will offer training and grooming demonstrations and free nail clippings for dogs and cats. There will also be door prizes, including a bull dog print and discounts for framing.
"It's basically a celebration of animals of art," said Len Jagoda, a local artist and Vietnam veteran who is coordinating the event. "Anybody who loves animals should be there. Support PAWS in a patriotic way."
Jagoda said he has known Derek for a few months. They are both members of the Columbus Artists' Guild.
The gallery is located at 828 Broadway. Dog Days of Summer is free and open to the public.
For more information about Derek's work, visit www.derekmccrea.50megs.com or
www.watercolorpaintingart.blogspot.com.
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