The Underdog by Craig Alan

Hand Embellished Giclee on Boxed Canvas

Edition Size of only 95

Image Size:

W 91.0cm x H 91.0 cm

Framed Size

W 99.0 cm x H 99.0 cm

Born in California in 1971, Craig was always interested in art, but didn’t explore this passion until his family moved to New Orleans, Louisiana when he was young. In a city rich with culture and creativity, Alan began experimenting with street portraiture. It was not until his second year at the University of Mobile in Alabama that Alan began studying art formally. Here he was able to explore and develop countless media and techniques.

Combining technical skill, creativity and wit, Craig portrays iconic faces, buildings and abstracts through dozens, sometimes hundreds of intricately painted, exquisite figures. Each distinctive piece is created in black and white with a touch of red on some of the more glamorous faces. In their own way, they reflect Craig’s highly recognisable take on life, where it is the small details that work together to create the big picture.

Craig carefully plans and creates each tiny figure, all which have their own identity and personality which he has thought through to the finest details. In some of his extremely rare originals, he even goes as far as detailing each item of clothing on the individuals. His cast of characters include family members, friends and models, giving his work a uniquely personal touch. Each piece contains a range of 400 to 1,800 people in it depending on the type of work it is, and he spends anywhere from 50 to 150 working hours on one painting.

He has exhibited his work across the United States to great acclaim and is now making a significant impact on the UK market. He has a work of art hanging in the White House in Senator Reed’s office and his art was shown in Scope Miami 2014 “We are all part of something greater than ourselves, and if we work together we could achieve greater balance . . . not in a religious sense but rather a universal sense.”

Can't make it into the gallery to collect your order then don't worry our fully insured delivery service will ensure you order arrives with you safely.

Wherever we can we aim to deliver personally especially with original art and high value pieces and either one of our own delivery vans or one of our dedicated couriers will be available to hand deliver your purchase.

If we can't make it to you in our own vehicle then rest assured we take great pride in packaging each shipment to reach you in perfect condition, and we ensure each shipment is insured so if there is an instance of loss or damage you are fully covered.

Timescales for delivery can differ for art work in stock we will arrange for your order to be dispatched within seven days from receipt of your order, and we will always contact you prior to dispatch to arrange for a convenient time for delivery.

For custom framed artwork, or pieces we need to order from either an artist or publisher delivery may take longer but our aim will be to deliver within 10-14 days from receipt of your order, occasionally if we experience delays in materials this may extend but we will ensure you are kept fully up to date with a revised delivery date.

Delivery of furniture is arranged with a personal delivery service and the cost of this will be calculated when ordering, and we recommend contacting us prior to ordering to calculate a delivery cost.

If you aren't 100% satisfied with your purchase then you can arrange for the piece to be returned and a full refund provided please refer to our Returns Policy we just ask for you to arrange for the return of the goods and once received and inspected we will refund your order, the only exception to this is for bespoke or custom items such as a commission but this will be discussed at the point your order is raised.

If you have any questions please contact the gallery on 01263 712 181 via WhatsApp 07902 124 664 or by email sales@startlegallery.com

0% Finance

We offer 0% finance on all art above £250 over a 10 month period using the largest supplier of retail finance Novuna. Please contact the gallery and we will happily either arrange the finance application over the telephone or send you a link to complete the application in your own time.

Price Match Policy

Have you seen this piece at a lower price with another gallery or website?

If so please let us know we are happy to price match any genuine like for like price, just share with us confirmation of the price and we will match the price for you.

Depending on the artist’s medium of choice caring for an original painting or limited edition print will vary but, as a general rule, we would advise the following:

Sunlight, heat & humidity levels

Don’t place your art in direct sunlight or over direct heat as UV rays can cause fading and heat dries out the materials, speeding up the natural ageing process.

Do not use “picture lights” designed to attach to frames. In addition to over lighting, these cause local heating that can also be
quite damaging.

Low or high relative humidity, as well as rapid changes in relative humidity are not good for paintings.

Try to ensure the room you choose to hang your art has stable levels of humidity and avoid damp rooms
altogether.

You can use a dehumidifier to
stabilize or lower the humidity levels in a room.

Cleaning the frame, glass or resin finish

Always ensure you have clean, grease-free hands when you touch the frame.

Clean it very carefully with a slightly damp, dust-free micro-fibre cloth. Avoid using harsh cleaning chemicals or lots of soapy water. Just a regular wipe should be all you need to do to keep on top of marks and fingerprints to keep it looking like new.

If your art is behind a sheet of glass or perspex in the frame this can be gently cleaned in the same way as the frame.

Dusting an original painting

Provided that there are no signs of loose or flaking paint, an original painting may be safely dusted using a clean, soft, natural-hair artists brush (3.5cm to 5cm tip). The painting should be positioned on
a clean padded surface and held upright at a forward angle, so the dust falls away from the face of the painting.

Brushing should be carried out slowly and gently in one direction across or down the painting
followed by a second brushing in the
opposite direction.
Never use dry or moist dust cloths, stiff bristle brushes, or feather dusters to dust an original painting. Threads from dust cloths may catch on areas of raised paint, moisture may cause subsequent loss of
paint, and both bristle-haired brushes and feather dusters can scratch the surface of a painting.

If you have any questions or would like further advice you can always call the Startle Gallery Team and we will be happy to help. We can also put you in touch with professional cleaners/art restorers should you require this service.