Professional Muralist and Designer Sharpens Her Creativity at PCC

A student at PCC for three years, 60-year-old Trudy Craig began taking classes to pursue her career in architecture. “School is the only way to broaden your opportunities,” said Craig.Hoping to transfer to Woodbury University in Burbank, Craig is eager to evolve her art.

Painting “trompe l’oeil” (realistic imagery meant to look natural instead of two-dimensional) murals for businesses and private clients since 1978, Craig introduced her furniture line tailored for children in 1986 and, by 1988, proved she was unstoppable when she introduced her line of fabrics and wallpapers named Trudy Craig.

Overwhelmed by warm responses from friends and relatives enjoying her traditional holiday greeting cards, Craig decided to share her creations with the world.

Her caricatures (named after herself, Trudy Janet) have a great resemblance to her youth and are a watercolor delight.

Craig went national with her Paper Dolls in 2002 and made them available to the public to both buy and print.

“She is enthusiastic about learning, which is all you can ask for and from there, the sky’s the limit,” said one of Craig’s teachers, architecture professor Peter De Maria.

Spending most of her adult life in San Francisco, Craig’s murals can be seen in and around nearby cities. One of her most interesting works is displayed at a bed-and-breakfast on Union Street just outside San Francisco.

It was there that she had to paint windows on a six-story brick building. The project took her about a month to complete. “I wore ballet slippers the entire time,” said Craig.

After moving back to Los Angeles, Craig had the opportunity to work in places such as Beverly Hills. Her list of famous clients speaks for itself.

George Lucas, Demi Moore, Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russel, Chris Columbus, and Robin Williams are included.

Among her celebrity work, Craig even created a tea party table for Paris and Nicky Hilton when they were little girls.

Along with her famous clients, Danielle Steel has become a close friend to Craig.

Steel began collecting Craig’s furniture, and then asked her to paint murals in three of her homes. Craig designed and furnished all of Steel’s children’s rooms.

“The secret with having and keeping famous clients is to treat them like shit! Tease them and give them a hard time, but be nice to their helpers,” said Craig as she chuckled.

Craig knew she wanted to be an artist from the time she recalls being instructed to draw still-life dolls in the fourth grade. “The next day my teacher had put all the paper dolls up. I looked at mine and it looked like an adult drew it compared to the other kids. I realized I had something that the others didn’t,” said Craig.

Craig’s inspirational journey has been long and exciting one. From the looks of it, she’s not slowing down anytime soon.