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Charles Criner – RIP

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D. D. Degg Published: October 10, 2025 1 minute 0 comments

Artist, illustrator, and cartoonist Charles Criner has passed away.

From the obituary:

Charles Criner, renowned African American artist, master printmaker, and beloved Houston cultural figure, passed away peacefully on September 17, 2025, surrounded by family. He was 79.

From Black Art in America:

During his years as a student, Criner supported himself by working as a sign painter, a graphic artist, a billboard illustrator and an art teacher. His true career, however, began in 1970 when he was hired as a staff artist at the Houston Post. In 1995 the Houston Chronicle acquired the ‘Post’, and he continued to work there until 1999.

Currently, Criner is the Resident Artist at the Museum of Printing History in Houston.

From Nicholas Frank at Glasstire (Texas Visual Art):

Houston artist Charles Criner died Wednesday, September 17, at age 79. A prolific image-maker over a 60-year career as an instructor, illustrator, sign painter, U.S. Army cartoonist, advertising artist for the Houston Post and NASA graphic artist, Mr. Criner achieved Master Printer status during his time as a longtime Artist-in-Residence at The Printing Museum, prior to its 2024 closure.

In 1964 at age 18, Mr. Criner entered the Fine Arts program at Texas Southern University, to study with the program’s founder Dr. John T. Biggers, an influential educator and artist noted for his depictions of Black life. Studying with Mr. Biggers, Mr. Criner was introduced to lithography. He would go on to produce artworks in multiple mediums, including acrylic paintings and a children’s book.

From Peggy Woods 2024 Charles Criner profile at Hub Pages:

“The army was great for me. When my company found out that I was an artist, I was lent to the schools in Killeen, Texas, to teach art classes and aid the teachers in creating other art projects. My job in our company was as a graphic artist. I created posters and painted signs for the bases in our company. I also painted portraits for the captains and other high-ranking soldiers.

“It wasn’t until I got a call from Washington that my company realized that I was drawing a comic strip on base. When I started drawing the script for the Armed Forces Press Service, my stay in the army changed. As long as I provided Washington with the cartoons, I was free to do whatever I wanted to do on base.”

Now the Johnny Jones cartoons were being printed in all of the army newspapers. Charles also began to produce HUD advertisements for The Houston Post. Somehow the federal government helped fund those local HUD ads.

Now the Johnny Jones cartoons were being printed in all of the army newspapers. Charles also began to produce HUD advertisements for The Houston Post. Somehow the federal government helped fund those local HUD ads.

Post Army:

Despite his expertise in creating cartoons, he was never able to sell them to national cartoon syndicates successfully. A lifetime friend of Charles by the name of William Hygh, whom he met during his college days, tried to assist Charles with the wording for cartoons. All they ever received were rejection slips.

The very same day, The Houston Post, which was under new management, offered him a job to do a daily comic strip plus others. His impending financial nightmare was finally over.

Charles worked for The Houston Post creating cartoons used as a part of ads for various businesses, and he also was employed to generate more HUD advertisements.

The Wonder Broker HUD ads ran each Sunday. Seasonally, the Oilers and Rockets cartoons ran weekly in the sports section. The Job Crowd was a daily cartoon.

Charles next worked at The Houston Chronicle. He created The Dogs, which was a comic strip featuring the dog races in Dickinson, Texas. It ran once a week in the sports section of the newspaper until he quit that job in the year 2000 to become the resident artist at The Printing Museum, where he worked for many years. He is now retired.

Most of the above images are taken from the Hub Pages profile, many more are available there.

Condolences to Mr. Criner’s family and friends.

_{feature photo by Peggy Woods from The Printing Museum.}