James Crafford
Missouri Native James Crafford is best known for his Florida landscape and wildlife paintings. James Crafford came out of no where and took the Florida art scene by storm. In less than a years time he appeared in magazines, news stories, galleries and became an internationally published artist. His rise to the top and sudden celebrity status must have been a shock to this kind hearted, gentle, soft spoken and loved country boy. At the top of his game Mr. Crafford mysteriously disappeared, never to be heard from again.
A friend from South Florida stated "James was so much fun to be around, He was this giant of a wild man who any mother would leave their newborn with. It was a funny mix of character. He was so creative and insightful. Everything was about, nature, art, love and coffee with James. He was a great story teller. James said something like, Florida is a place you visit. A place you dream about and a place where you want to be. Unfortunately Florida is not home and not a place that your soul will allow you to settle in. He said he loved Florida and had no intentions of ever leaving but he would finish the sentence by saying, " I was born in Missouri, my soul still lives there and thats where I will have my final stand. My body is here in Florida but in my dreams I am in the woods and the Mountains and the rivers will carry me back there whether I like it of not."
I went to his apartment one day and it was empty. No forwarding address or number. He was there one day and gone the next with out a word. He left paintings in galleries, drawings with printers, contracts with publishers and friends with questions. I never heard from him again.
