Since 1974, we meet or beat the prices of authorized dealers. If you find a work of fine art for less from an authorized dealer within 30 days of your purchase from us, we'll match that price and give you $50 off your next fine art purchase from Gallery One. We guarantee it! All this plus the best service, quality and state-of-the-art shipping in the world of fine art! Most items ship free!
CRAIG KODERA (1956- ) is an airline pilot. Thus each of his paintings reflects an intimate knowledge of flight. I paint what I see, he said, and my office window is at 35,000 feet. Kodera was raised in an aviation family, which included an uncle who flew with the famous Doolittle Raiders during World War II. At an age when most teens were trying to ace the driver's test, Kodera had earned his private pilot's license. A love of painting also came early. Kodera started seriously studying it at fourteen. He graduated from UCLA with a degree in mass communications and spent a year as a commercial artist before joining the Air Force Reserve where he was assigned to the Air Rescue Service and then the Strategic Air Command. There his knowledge of air war history grew while he logged thousands of flight hours. Eventually Kodera left the service and joined American Airlines. Today, his artwork is part of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum permanent collection and hangs in many museums. He is also the charter vice president of the American Society of Aviation Artists, a member of the Air Force Art Program and he serves with the Los Angeles Society of Illustrators.