At the age of 13, Blair Currin was captivated by the many oil paintings adorning the walls of his grandparents' home. Certain ofa career as a painter, Blair attended the Art School of the Southwest in Cloudcroft, New Mexico, where his grandfather, Harold Roney, taught landscape painting. As with any young aspiring artist, unsure of how to launch such a career and urged to get a "real" job, Blair graduated from Southwest Texas State University in 1979 with a degree in Graphic Design. A 26-year painting interruption followed. Hounded by the need to paint, Blair returned to the easel full time to pursue his boyhood passion.
Born in 1956 in Kilgore, Texas, and raised around the world, Blair returned to his native state when his father retired from theU.S. Air Force. Living and traveling in Texas and the Southwest, inspiring land-and skyscapeshave never been far away. Although Blair appreciates many genres and media, he prefers oil and the great outdoors as his subject of interest. "There is no shortageof lessons to be learned from observing all that nature offers. The quest is learning how to capture those offerings on canvas thatwill be regarded as a worthwhile work of art." His aim is to find satisfaction in the journey, not just the destination. The product will happen if the process is enjoyed. That is, the enjoyment will surface from a healthy dose of hard work.
Blair draws inspiration from studying paintings, working alongside fellow painters and reading art books of all kinds. Over the years, Blair has studied with many different instructors -including Matt Smith, Kevin Macpherson, Scott Christensen, Ray Roberts, Martin Grelle, Scott Myers, Dennis Blagg, Bruce Peil -each layering new knowledge to shape his own personal direction. He has participated in many juried competitions and exhibitions, and his award-winning works are in several private collections. He has also served as a juror and teacher, sharing his enthusiasm as well as his knowledge.
Blair and his wife, Janelle, live near Aledo, where they enjoy the many fascinating creatures that visit their home, along with the native wildflowers and trees that also gather there.