Craig Michael Maki

Landscapes and Wildlife Craig Michael Maki

Craig Michael Maki has been sketching and painting all of his life. With an intense enthusiasm for nature and the great outdoors, Craig spends a good portion of his spare time hiking mountain trails, peddling his bicycle, and fishing the blue ribbon streams of Montana. Craig's art style is a blend of realism and impressionism. In fact, every time he sits down to create a work he's not sure whether it will lean toward the impressionistic, abstract, or the realistic side. Sometimes Craig's art is a study of contrasts, shapes and outlines. Other times color takes precedence. And then at times he creates the rudimentary essence of a subject and shaves it down to the basics. Craig likes to escape from his worries and concerns with his creative process, and that's why he doesn't like to follow any set structure. His subject matter varies widely and includes wildlife, historical buildings and ghost towns, and country landscapes. He likes to add a touch of realism to the animals and fish he draws. He loves to let color take the helm in his landscapes. And he uses delineating line work as a trademark of his historic pieces. As Craig states, "When sketching or painting something that actually exists, I like to study the subject matter -- including color, shape, contrast and overall layout. On the other hand sometimes I just sit down and create something from my memory or imagination. In that case I kind of let the art take me where it wants to go. I guess that is why my art is so varied." Everything that Craig creates brings intense joy to his day. Therefore it is his sincere hope that others may experience at least a bit of that enjoyment as they view his artwork.