About the Artist

Kraig started drawing at an early age.  His mother gave him his first brush.  He soon earned a reputation as an “artist” from his peers. His 4th grade class gathered around his desk as he worked on an aerial view of a snow ball fight.  Kraig was invited to join a 4H oil painting class.  He remembers getting up early Saturday morning, receiving lessons, and painting with his peers at the Salt Lake County fairgrounds. In 9^th grade, he was sought out by the art teacher and invited to enroll in an oil painting class. He enjoyed the creative process. His class mates used to smile at him as he stood in front of the easel with a paint brush in one hand and the other in his pocket. He learned by doing.  He continued to take art classes throughout high school.  He had great art teachers.  He won a ribbon at the high school art show and later sold the painting to his art teacher. A favorite memory was going to the elementary school and painting for the kids.  He set up his easel in the gymnasium and the kids lined up in a long line and took turns watching him paint. “I painted about an hour and was ready for a break, but couldn’t stop.  There were so many still waiting in line. I just had to keep going,” Kraig recalls.  The mountain landscape painting turned out quite well. Kraig gave the painting to his father who had it framed and hung it up on the wall in the house.  It was there for 40 years. Today, Kraig is having fun making and sharing his art.  He won an award recently from the Brigham City Museum for his plein-air work. Kraig has learned by doing and by follow the example of others. He is grateful to have learned from many talented artists. He works full-time as an engineer, and finds time to get outside and paint the landscape.