How to Choose a Landscape Painting or Block Print: A Collector’s Guide for Nevada Art Lovers

Key Takeaways

• Choosing Nevada landscape art is easier when you begin with the places and memories that matter most to you—whether that’s Lake Tahoe, the high desert, or the Sierra Nevada.

• Paintings and block prints each offer unique qualities; Craig’s block prints provide a handmade, small-edition alternative grounded in decades of plein air painting.

• Composition matters: graphic shapes, expansive horizons, vertical mountain forms, and reflective waters each appeal to different collectors.

• Placement can transform how a piece feels in your home; small-edition prints are flexible and easy to display in bedrooms, hallways, or gallery walls.

• Limited editions and handcrafted work add rarity and personal significance, making Craig’s prints meaningful Nevada-inspired gifts for family, graduates, and art lovers.

Choosing a landscape painting or print is deeply personal—but it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Whether you're drawn to the quiet expanse of the Nevada desert, the glow of Lake Tahoe at dusk, or the rugged geometry of the Sierra Nevada, there are a few key principles that can help you choose a piece you’ll love for decades.

As a longtime plein air painter and block print artist, Craig Mitchell understands how collectors connect with place-based art. Here’s a guide designed specifically for those looking to collect Nevada landscape art or Nevada-inspired block prints.

Start With the Landscape That Means Something to You

Ask yourself:

• Where have I spent meaningful time in Nevada?

• Which landscapes feel like home?

• What colors or seasons resonate with me?

For many collectors, the connection is emotional: a childhood summer at Lake Tahoe, a favorite hiking ridge, a stretch of Highway 50, or the feeling of a Nevada storm rolling in across the valley.

Decide Between a Painting or a Block Print

When choosing Nevada landscape art, it helps to understand the qualities that distinguish paintings from block prints. Paintings are one-of-one originals, offering rich texture, layered brushwork, and a higher level of investment for collectors who want a singular piece of art. Block prints, on the other hand, are hand-carved and hand-pulled, created in small, collectible editions that feel personal while remaining more accessible in price. They make wonderful gifts or starter pieces for new collectors, especially because each impression carries subtle variations that reflect the handmade process. Craig’s block prints are based on his decades of plein air painting across Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and the Sierra, so even though the medium shifts, they still offer the same true-to-life colors, atmospheric accuracy, and deep connection to the land.

Consider Composition & Style

As you browse artwork, pay attention to what naturally draws your eye. If you enjoy bold, clean lines and simplified shapes, block prints may appeal to you—they often highlight the graphic quality of Nevada’s landscape. If expansive horizons and open space speak to you, look for high desert landscapes that capture Nevada’s long, glowing skies. Those who love dramatic vertical forms may gravitate toward Sierra Nevada mountain scenes, while collectors drawn to quieter, reflective moods might prefer Lake Tahoe compositions with calm water and shoreline silhouettes. Knowing your visual preferences will help you select a piece that feels instantly right.

Think About Placement in Your Home

Where you plan to display the artwork matters just as much as the piece itself. Larger works make a strong impact in living rooms, entryways, and shared spaces where they can set the tone for the room. Smaller editions and block prints offer flexibility—they can anchor a bedroom wall, complement a hallway, or be grouped together on a gallery wall to create a cohesive collection. Because Craig’s block prints come in small, thoughtfully curated editions, they’re easy to mix and match, allowing you to build a collection that reflects the landscapes you love most. Choosing the right placement not only highlights the artwork but also enhances the atmosphere of the space around it.

Look for Limited Editions or Handmade Work

Collectors often gravitate toward artwork that feels rare, personal, and rooted in a clear sense of craftsmanship. That’s one of the reasons Craig’s block prints resonate so deeply with people who love Nevada, Lake Tahoe and the American West. Each print is created in a small edition and individually carved, inked, and hand-pulled in his Reno studio. Unlike mass-produced prints, every impression reflects the subtle variations of the handmade process. And because future reprints are never guaranteed, owning one of Craig’s prints means owning a truly limited piece of Nevada and Lake Tahoe landscape art.

This sense of rarity makes his block prints especially meaningful for gifting — whether you're looking for Nevada art gifts for family, thoughtful Reno local gifts, or something special for a graduation or milestone inspired by the landscapes of Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and the Sierra. A hand-pulled print carries story, place, and craft all at once, making it far more memorable than anything mass-produced.

If you're ready to start or continue your collection, explore Craig’s full selection of Nevada, Tahoe, and Sierra block prints now. And if you'd like a chance to win one of his limited-edition prints this season, enter our holiday giveaway!

FAQs

How do I know whether to choose a painting or a block print?

Choose a painting if you want a one-of-one original with rich texture and brushwork. Choose a block print if you prefer handmade editions that are more accessible, easier to gift, and rooted in the same plein air studies.

What makes Nevada landscape art unique?

Nevada’s landscapes are defined by expansive skies, sagebrush plains, dramatic mountain silhouettes, and subtle shifts of light and color—qualities Nevada and Lake Tahoe landscape artist Craig Mitchell captures through decades of plein air work.

Are Craig Mitchell’s block prints originals?

Yes. Each print is an original artwork that Craig designs, carves, inks, and hand-pulls in his Reno studio. Edition sizes are small, and future reprints are never guaranteed.

What makes Craig’s prints a good gift?

They’re handmade, small-edition, and inspired by real Nevada and Lake Tahoe locations—making them personal, meaningful, and ideal for birthdays, graduations, holidays, or anyone who loves the American West.

Where can I buy Nevada and Lake Tahoe block prints?

You can shop Craig Mitchell's full collection online, including Nevada desert scenes, Lake Tahoe views, Sierra Nevada prints, and high desert horizons. They're also available for sale at the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno.