A trip to the grocery store is a chore for many people but for fine art photographer Michael Craven it is an art quest. Michael creates unusual and somewhat off-beat still life photographs in his South Carolina lowcountry studio using 'garden variety' staples. Fresh produce, pasta, cheese, even kitchen utensils become objet d'art through his lens.

A veteran photographer of more than 30 years, many as a photojournalist and commercial photographer, Michael now exhibits and sells his unique and whimsical art: The BrainFood Collection (tm) at many highly regarded art fairs across the U.S.

Michael's swiss design style of photography is instantly recognizable and fun to look at. Highly graphic, contemporary, and most often utilizing one to three primary colors, the work is beautiful for it's simplicity and economy in design. It is his ideas, however, that capture the imagination and tickle the funny bone. "I love to make people laugh", he said. A lot of my work involves visual puns and word play in the titles, sometimes you have to read the title to really 'get it'.

Truly a niche artist, Michael creates most of his work with two rooms of the home in mind, kitchens and dining rooms. "I love the kitchen, it's the most life-affirming as well as life-sustaining room in a home", he said. "I couldn't 'hang' in a better gallery".

.....................................................................................................................

                                         BrainFood News

                                                                            March 16, 2009

Greetings BrainFoodies,

I've been having a great time producing a small book of my monochrome (black and white) photographs made during my years in the Florida Keys.  I've purchased the aparatus for making perfect-bind hard covers for the photographs and am printing on a beautiful 50lb. matte paper with archival quality inks.  The results have been impressive If I do say so myself.  Over the years many visitors to the BrainFood booth have encouraged me to have a book of my humorous food art made.  In light of my recent success with the book of monochrome photographs I'm seriously considering producing a book of the color food art.  I'll call it - The BrainFood Collection - First Course.  If any of you reading this  have an interest in a book, let me know.  No obligation, at this point I'm just gaugeing interest before (committing to another project).

I miss my regular Foodies at shows but while I'm studio bound due to illness visitors to this site may request their own private art fair during my absence from "the circuit".  Just send me an email requesting to view the collection and I'll reply with thumbnails for you to peruse. If an artwork calls your name I'd be happy to ship it to you.

Thanks again for all your get well wishes, it has been by far the best medicine for soul and body. 

Cheers, 

Michael

The BrainFood Collection

PS - 

Many of you have only known me for my whimsical and humorous food art but in fact I started in art photography over thirty years ago as a mostly black and white photo-artist.  Lately, I've been reprinting some of this work from my time in the Florida Keys in the 70's and 80's and will be offering both paper prints and canvas giclee's from this earlier portfolio.  I have just recently produced a hardbound (8.5x11) book of twenty of my favorite black and white photographs made during this period.  Although I did work in color in that period, a lot of flora, fauna, and scenics of those beautiful islands it was the black and white work that most satisfied me as an artist.  The book of monochromes is available for $39.95 (shipping included), contact me for ordering info.  For the curious, you can check out this work at:   FloridaKeysArtGallery.Com