Crescent Harbor Art Gallery

Criss Raintree was born in midtown Sacramento and grew up with art as a constant and ongoing part of  her life, starting in early childhood with daily drawing activities, continuing throughout her school years when she could be found sketching instead of dutifully working out her algebra equations. 

Her grandmother helped Criss start her first garden and to appreciate nature as they took walks in the rain.  Eventually natural subjects emerged as the focus of Raintree’s artwork.  In addition to high school art classes, Criss also received art education at Sacramento State University (CSUS) and American River Community College as well as several adult education classes and independent workshops taught by established professional artists.

In the late 1990’s Criss moved to the Sierra Nevada foothills and lived for 24 years in the historic Gold Country where in 2010, she helped launch a small, successful cooperative art gallery on the Georgetown Divide.  She became known in the community for her watercolor paintings of hummingbirds and her imaginative fairy series. 

Raintree moved to Crescent City towards the end of 2021, fulfilling a longtime dream of living near the ocean among the giant redwood trees.  She enjoys sketching and painting, primarily in transparent watercolor.  Favorites are  botanical studies, birds, insects and other animals as well as occasional portraiture, both animals and humans. 

Criss is presently a member of Crescent Harbor Art Gallery in Crescent City and is also represented in Brookings, Oregon at the Fog & Fine Art Gallery within Wright’s Custom Framing Shop.