My journey to become an artist began in 1994, at the 7 pools of Hana on Maui, Hawaii. I fell asleep beneath a waterfall & relaxed for the first time in 30 years. ……. When I awoke, The feeling of inner peace was imbedded into my soul, When I returned home it took me 3 years to begin unplugging from the things that I was taught to believe in at a younger age. Living in Colorado most of my adult life I connected with the mountains on the weekends and also climbed many of Colorado’s fourteeners. I would begin to search for a place in the world where I could live with that kind of peace.  Islands of the Caribbean had more hurricanes than types of birds, Belize was expensive and offered little culture, so off  to Costa Rica, where I bought 55 acres of rain forest on a river, with an amazing ocean view. 

My custom designed jungle home and studio were completed the year prior to my arrival. My kids were off in college so I had no excuse not to go for it. I arrived, 2 cars packed with dog, birds, cash and lots of power tools. 10K donation to the Aduana…ahhh, home at last. But wait, one must immediately pay for a locker at the airport , set down my bags, check my common sense  intro the locker say good buy, close the locker door and throw away the key . Anyway….. 1 Year later my home started to reflect my new life.. 80 degrees, 80 % humidity 80% chance of rain, 80% of the time I can’t find my sandals, 80% chance my Jeep isn’t fixed yet, and 80% chance my title to my property is still in the guys name I bought it from.  And my new life as a painter begin. I paint 6 days a week.

My childhood prepared me well for living here since I had spent many years playing in the Orange Groves of California and watching Gilligans Island. Days seemed to pass by while I wandered the  isolated areas of the woods in my neighborhood. Today 35 years later, Monkeys, Toucans,. Sloths and Parrots drop down around me while I paint, truly inspiring!  Vulcan Baru off in the distance while I contemplate my second pot of Costa Rican Coffee.  Once the birds quiet down a bit, I generally fill the jungle with my blues and jazz while I paint. I work hard at being a painter and enjoy living in the tropics.

In addition to painting, I design open air “really cool” jungle homes, help friends with their websites , create tourist maps ( www.osamap..com) , and design a brochure or two. But mostly I like hangin at my home and painting. When I travel, it’s either to dive, and be in four corners area backpaking,. Its rains 4 meters annually down here, most of it in October, so I spend the fall in The USA. Looking to go to The Gallapagos Islands later this year so please e-mail if you need a resident artist that is willing to sail with you, dive with you, and cook once a week, and draw paint the entire journey.

I am represented & sell my work in Cape Cod, Mass.  and in Arizona and have clients all over the world ! My real passion is for my surreal work . Over the past 5 years  my work has come from a place of marketing and of a place of fear. To whom and when will my work sell? After my recent sabbatical in the deserts of The Southwest, I am painting from my heart for the very first time in my life. Living in Costa Rica teaches me to let go of control ! Timelessly waiting for internet, timelessly waiting for lawyers. for titles, for fresh milk, or the next shipment of Snyders Pretzels….Patience and letting go !

Come late December, I start to get serious, and I host art workshops and retreats with my partner Rebecca AKA “ Blondie “ professional chef and entertainer . Our most current over taking is our tree house project.  Visit www.treehouseincostarica.com  where you can  be a child and playing all day with us in our tree.  Have fun and make your reservations to help us build the most amazing treehouse ever built . Donations of time, materials and $ are appreciated. Enjoy my website, print out my pictures, if you need them in higher resolution, e-mail and I’ll send you the high res image. Anyway you can e-mail me or contact me at 508-714-0622   or in Costa Rica at 011-506-378-3013 or e-mail me to learn more about me click here on the website below, some of them I have created, and some of them include articles about me. Feel free to use any text or pictures from my website and I look forward to hearing from you ! E-Mail me with the link or how you plan on using my material, that’s all I ask.

Pura Vida.
Michael H. Cranford
info@michaelincostarica.com

Michael's Links
Drive Around The World www.bootsnall.org
Rancho Dulce www.ranchodulce.com
Osa Map www.osamap.com
Dominical Map www.dominicalmap.com
Michael in Costa Rica www.michaelincostarica.com
Kennedy Studios www.kennedystudiosptown.com
Kinion Fine Arts www.kinionfineart.com
Home Exchange www.homeexchange.com
Juanitas Mexican Bar & Grille www.soldeosa.com