Inside the Art of Nevada Block Printing: How Craig Mitchell Brings the Landscape to Life

Key Takeaways

• Block printing captures Nevada’s shapes and light through carved lines and bold compositions.

• Nevada artist Craig Mitchell uses decades of plein air paintings as the basis for his block prints.

• Each print is carved, inked, and hand-pulled in Craig’s Reno studio.

• Small editions increase rarity and collector value.

• His prints represent a modern, distinctly Nevadan take on Western landscape art.

Block printing is one of the oldest and most tactile forms of image-making — a process that blends craftsmanship, design, and physical carving into a single art form. For Reno artist Craig Mitchell, block printing has become a natural extension of his decades as a plein air painter. His prints, grounded in firsthand experiences across the Nevada desert, Lake Tahoe, and the Sierra Nevada, offer a modern yet deeply traditional take on Western landscape art.

What Is a Block Print?

A block print is created by carving an image into a block — traditionally wood or linoleum — rolling ink across the raised surface, and pressing it onto paper. Anything carved away doesn’t print; anything left raised does. It’s a process that demands clear composition, confident linework, thoughtful simplification, and patience and precision. This makes it an ideal medium for capturing Nevada’s bold forms and distinctive light.

Craig’s Source Material: Decades of Plein Air Paintings

Unlike many printmakers who sketch directly onto the block, Craig begins with his deep archive of plein air field studies. These paintings — created outdoors across Nevada and the American West — capture:

• Light as it changes hour by hour

• Natural color relationships

• Seasonal patterns

• Atmospheric clarity and mood

These studies allow Craig’s block prints to retain the authenticity of the places that inspire them. When Craig carves a block featuring Lake Tahoe, for example, it’s informed by dozens of on-location paintings of Tahoe’s shifting blues and alpine light.

Carved, Inked, and Printed in Reno, Nevada

Each print is handcrafted in Craig’s Reno studio:

• Design: He distills plein air compositions into clean, confident shapes.

• Carve: Using a set of traditional carving tools, Craig cuts away everything he doesn't want to print — following the philosophy of Gustave Baumann: "Cut away whatever you don't want and print what's left."

• Ink: Colors are mixed by hand, often inspired by specific field studies.
• Print: Each piece is hand-pulled, one at a time, resulting in subtle variations that make every piece unique.

Why Nevada Block Prints Are So Collectible

Collectors appreciate block prints because they're editioned, made by hand, tactile, rooted in tradition, and visually striking. Craig’s prints are especially valued because edition sizes are small and future reprints aren’t guaranteed — making each piece a rare, limited expression of the landscape.

If you’re drawn to the landscapes of Nevada, Lake Tahoe, or the Sierra, explore Craig’s collection of hand-carved, hand-pulled block prints — each one based on decades of plein air painting. And don't forget to enter our seasonal giveaway for a chance to win a limited-edition print!

FAQs

Are block prints originals?
Yes. Each print is an original work of art hand-pulled from a carved block.

Do editions affect value?
Yes — smaller editions are more collectible, especially when future reprints aren’t guaranteed.

What subjects does Nevada artist Craig Mitchell print most often?
Craig is inspired by the American West, and his work features Nevada desert scenes, Lake Tahoe shoreline views, Sierra Nevada compositions, and Great Basin landscapes.