About Craig Mitchell — Nevada and Lake Tahoe Artist

Art Rooted in the Landscapes of Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and the American West

For nearly four decades, Craig Mitchell has devoted his artistic practice to the landscapes of Nevada and the greater American West. From expansive high-desert valleys and sagebrush plains to the luminous blues of Lake Tahoe and the rugged forms of the Sierra Nevada, Craig’s work is shaped by long, sustained observation of place. His art reflects a lifetime spent returning to the same landscapes, watching light shift across seasons, elevations, and weather.

Based in Reno, Nevada, Craig is widely recognized as a Nevada artist whose work captures the quiet power and understated beauty of the region. His landscapes are not idealized postcards, but deeply considered interpretations built through time, experience, and repeated engagement with the land.

From Plein Air Painting to Hand-Carved Block Prints

Craig’s artistic foundation lies in plein air painting. For decades, he painted directly outdoors across Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and the Sierra, producing hundreds of field studies that record color relationships, value shifts, and atmospheric conditions observed in real time. These on-location paintings continue to serve as the visual backbone of his studio practice today.

Working from these studies, Craig translates his observations into hand-carved, hand-pulled block prints. Each composition is carefully designed in the studio, then carved into linoleum blocks and printed layer by layer on a traditional press. Every color is mixed by hand and printed separately, resulting in richly textured prints that retain the clarity and immediacy of his original field work.

This process allows Craig to distill complex landscapes into confident, simplified compositions while preserving the essential character of each place. The result is a body of Nevada art and Lake Tahoe art that feels both timeless and distinctly contemporary.

A Nevada Artist Working Directly From Place

While Craig has long admired historical block printmakers such as Gustave Baumann, his work follows its own visual language. Rather than referencing stylistic conventions, Craig embraces a guiding philosophy: draw directly on the block what matters, remove what doesn’t, and print what remains.

This approach reflects decades of careful looking. Craig often returns to the same locations year after year, allowing familiarity to refine his compositions. Subtle changes in light, distance, and season become central to the work, giving his Nevada landscape art a quiet depth that rewards sustained viewing.

Hand-Pulled Prints With Lasting Value

Every Craig Mitchell block print is carved and printed by hand in small editions. Because reprints are never guaranteed, each edition carries an inherent rarity that appeals to collectors seeking original, handmade art. No two prints are exactly alike, and the physical qualities of the ink and paper ensure that each piece bears the mark of the artist’s hand.

Collectors are drawn to Craig’s work for its craftsmanship, restraint, and strong sense of place. His prints are especially sought after by those looking for Nevada art prints, Lake Tahoe prints, and artwork that reflects a genuine connection to the Western landscape.

Background and Recognition

Craig Mitchell has spent more than forty years immersed in the creative life. A longtime resident of Nevada, he studied advertising and design at the University of Nevada, Reno, graduating in 1986. He went on to build a successful career in illustration and graphic design, earning numerous awards before turning his focus fully toward fine art.

Over the past three decades, Craig has become one of Northern Nevada’s most established artists. His work has been recognized by organizations such as the Oil Painters of America and the National Parks Academy of the Arts, and is included in several significant collections, including the Nevada Museum of Art. He has continued his artistic training at institutions such as the Fechin Institute in Taos, New Mexico.

During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Craig expanded his studio practice to include block printing, a medium that quickly became central to his work and a natural extension of his lifelong interest in drawing, design, and craftsmanship.

The Artist Today

Craig lives and works in Reno, Nevada, where he continues to create art inspired by the landscapes that surround him. His days are shaped by steady studio rhythms, field exploration, and a deep personal connection to the region he calls home. He shares this life with his wife, Lori, and their dog, Daisy.

Through his Nevada and Lake Tahoe art, Craig Mitchell offers collectors a lasting connection to the places that define the American West—interpreted through patience, craftsmanship, and a lifetime of looking closely.

Selected Exhibitions

Nevada Museum of Art
The Nevada Landscape (2004)
Nevada Biennial (1994)
Looking Forward, Looking Back: The Collection in Context (2009)

Stremmel Gallery, Reno, Nevada
Painting the West (2012, 2013, 2014)
Open Space (2012)

Pogan Gallery, Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe & High Sierra Exhibition (2002–2007)
One Man Show (2005)

National Park Academy of the Arts
Arts for the Parks Top 200 (1995, 2000)
Arts for the Parks Top 100 – Award for Excellence (1999)

Oil Painters of America Annual Exhibition
Selected Exhibitor (1998, 2000, 2004)