Margaret Graham Kranking

Born in Florence, South Carolina 12/21/30, Margaret Kranking has been a resident of Washington, D.C. most of her life. She majored in fine arts at the American University, graduating summa cum laude and named a Clendenin Fellow in Art History.

Capturing the quality of light is the motivating force behind the paintings of Margaret Kranking. For this result, she has chosen the medium of watercolor for it's vibrancy and spontaneity. An enthusiastic outdoor painter, she has traveled the coast from Campobello Island, New Brunswick, to the Carolinas, as well as the terrain of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Some of her favorite places to paint are Georgetown, Charleston, Oxford and Annapolis. Trips to these places result in a series of paintings reflecting the personality of that region.

Her work reflects her fascination with the effects of sunlight on daily life -- in rural or city scenes, or in intimate interior views. As the sun moves on it's course, it strikes areas with moments of dramatic light -- moments she seeks to portray with heightened effects of color and contrast.

Margaret's professional credits include listings in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in American Art, Who's Who in the East, Who's Who in the World, and Who's Who of American Women. She now has her work in collections throughout the world including Philip Morris, Marriot Corporation, Comsat, McDonald's Corporation, Bell Atlantic, Bel South, Texaco and MCI Telecommunications. She is an official United States Coast Guard Artist. She is published in a number of books and magazines, including: American Artist and North Light.

Margaret Kranking was recently honored with a major exhibit of her paintings at the United Nations in New York City.