Why Nevada Landscape Art Captures the Spirit of the American West

Key Takeaways

• Nevada offers rich diversity for artists: desert, alpine, lake, and mountain terrain.

• Nevada artist Craig Mitchell’s block prints are based on decades of plein air field studies across Nevada and the Sierra.

• His work blends traditional Western landscape art with modern, hand-carved block printing.

• Lake Tahoe’s color and clarity play a key role in his compositions.

• His prints offer a quiet, distilled interpretation of the American West.

For those who know and love the American West, few places offer the same sense of space, quiet, and dramatic light as Nevada. From the sagebrush plains stretching toward distant mountains to the alpine clarity of Lake Tahoe and the jagged ridgelines of the Sierra Nevada, the region holds an undeniable pull for artists, travelers, and collectors alike. Among the artists who have spent a lifetime translating this landscape into visual form, Nevada artist Craig Mitchell stands out for his unique blend of plein air tradition and hand-pulled block printing.

Craig has spent close to forty years painting and exploring the Nevada landscape, often working on location to create hundreds of plein air field studies. These small, true-to-color paintings — made outdoors in the shifting desert and mountain light — now serve as the foundation for his block prints. While his process has evolved, his connection to the land has remained consistent: the subject matter always comes first.

Nevada as Muse: Why the Landscape Matters

Nevada is often misunderstood as empty or barren. But for artists who spend time here, the opposite is true. It’s a state defined by contrast:

• Vast, open valleys and intimate pockets of alpine forest

• Desert heat and lingering Sierra snow

• Wildflower springs and dramatic summer storms

• Quiet basins interrupted by sharp, blue peaks

This range of environments provides endless inspiration. For Craig, it’s the clarity of light, the simplicity of distant shapes, and the emotional quiet of wide-open space that fuel his work.

From Plein Air Paintings to Block Prints

Craig’s block prints begin with decades of plein air paintings made across Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and the Sierra. These field studies are where he captures:

• Accurate color relationships

• Atmospheric conditions

• Seasonal variations

• Compositional ideas

Back in his Reno studio, he draws from these paintings to design each block, carving, inking, and hand-pulling every print himself. The result is artwork that feels both timeless and contemporary — grounded in direct observation but expressed through bold, graphic lines.

A Distinctly Nevadan Voice in Western Landscape Art

Western landscape art often emphasizes grandeur — sweeping canyons, towering mountains, dramatic sunsets. Craig’s perspective is quieter, more intimate. His prints capture moments many people overlook:

• Late afternoon shadows on sagebrush

• Tahoe’s blue-green shifts at midday

• The rhythm of foothills leading into the Sierra

• Sparse desert forms reduced to elegant silhouettes

Ready to add a piece of Nevada or Lake Tahoe to your home? Browse Craig’s small-edition, hand-pulled block prints — carved, inked, and printed in his Reno studio.

Want a chance to win one instead? Enter our limited-time holiday giveaway!

FAQs

What makes Nevada landscape art different from other Western art?
Nevada’s landscape is more subtle and spacious, with unique light, quiet tonal shifts, and a blend of desert and alpine environments not found elsewhere.

Are Craig Mitchell’s block prints based on real locations?
Yes — every print originates from Craig’s plein air paintings made on location in Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and the Sierra.

Why collect Nevada landscape art?
Collectors appreciate the region’s authenticity, rugged beauty, and sense of place — especially when created by artists who have spent decades working in the landscape itself.