by Cam Bonelli
Derek Craft uses the craft of wood-burning to create art that features characters from video games such as the “Final Fantasy” franchise, “The Legend of Zelda” and “Pokémon.” Photo courtesy Derek Craft
In Derek Craft's artwork, he embraces the nostalgic feeling people have toward classic '90s-era video-game characters such as Link from "The Legend of Zelda" and Pikachu from "Pokemon," and characters like Cloud from the "Final Fantasy" franchise.
In his craft, he engraves characters or scenes from the games into wood and colors the piece with wood stain, acrylic or watercolor paint. He then applies a high-gloss glaze, which adds a three-dimensional effect to each piece, giving the art a screen-like appearance.
"I never really knew of wood-burning until last year," Craft says. "I watched an Instagram video of wood burning and tried it myself."
Craft says he has drawn all his life, and always loved video-game and anime art styles.
"I would draw Megaman and Sonic when I was growing up," he says. "Anime and video games have always been an inspiration to me."
Craft says when he first started wood-burning, he picked Pikachu to start.
"I thought to myself, 'Everybody knows Pikachu,'" Craft says. "I tried mixed media. I started experimenting, and I used the wood-burner, engraver and paint stain at first. Then I moved on to watercolor and finished off the piece with a glaze."
Craft says each piece takes about three days to complete, and prices of pieces vary on how much time and detail is incorporated. He also does work on commission and has created around 50 of those pieces since 2016. Craft says he has created pieces that people gave as gifts and can create anything requested.
"I'll do anything, but what personally appeals to me are video game (pieces)," Craft says. "I've always felt video games have a certain stigma, and people find playing games childish. I think that there is a game out there for everyone and that characters impact our lives in so many ways."
Craft says all his pieces hold sentimental value to him. "I haven't gotten around to selling some pieces because they mean so much to me," Craft says. "I'm currently working on a piece that is a scene from 'Final Fantasy VII.' I've always had an attachment to the character Cloud and that game in particular."
Craft says his love of art came from the inspiration he got from his high-school art teacher who encouraged him to be a better artist. Craft graduated from Pearl High School in 2008 and has lived in the Jackson metro area his entire life.
For more information, find Craft on Facebook or on Instagram at Cloudy Crafts.
"I never really knew of wood-burning until last year," Craft says. "I watched an Instagram video of wood burning and tried it myself."
Craft says he has drawn all his life, and always loved video-game and anime art styles.
"I would draw Megaman and Sonic when I was growing up," he says. "Anime and video games have always been an inspiration to me."
Craft says when he first started wood-burning, he picked Pikachu to start.
"I thought to myself, 'Everybody knows Pikachu,'" Craft says. "I tried mixed media. I started experimenting, and I used the wood-burner, engraver and paint stain at first. Then I moved on to watercolor and finished off the piece with a glaze."
Craft says each piece takes about three days to complete, and prices of pieces vary on how much time and detail is incorporated. He also does work on commission and has created around 50 of those pieces since 2016. Craft says he has created pieces that people gave as gifts and can create anything requested.
"I'll do anything, but what personally appeals to me are video game (pieces)," Craft says. "I've always felt video games have a certain stigma, and people find playing games childish. I think that there is a game out there for everyone and that characters impact our lives in so many ways."
Craft says all his pieces hold sentimental value to him. "I haven't gotten around to selling some pieces because they mean so much to me," Craft says. "I'm currently working on a piece that is a scene from 'Final Fantasy VII.' I've always had an attachment to the character Cloud and that game in particular."
Craft says his love of art came from the inspiration he got from his high-school art teacher who encouraged him to be a better artist. Craft graduated from Pearl High School in 2008 and has lived in the Jackson metro area his entire life.
For more information, find Craft on Facebook or on Instagram at Cloudy Crafts.
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