Craig Lueck

From Wisconsin, now living Kansas, Lueck is a Hallmark Illustrator and watercolor painter. He has illustrated both cards and books and he teaches short courses in watercolor and gives art demonstrations besides also showing his own watercolor paintings in galleries in Wisconsin and Kansas. He believes there are three creative impulses: "The head, the hand and the heart". He describes how we are each uniquely creative, whether we enjoy math or the arts, but we approach it in different ways. Some of us "think" about the creative act first, some just have to "do" it and others act more on "feelings." Artist statement: "I was born and raised in Wisconsin and, even though I haven't lived there for nearly 30 years, I still feel deeply connected to the land, water and people there. While growing up, I never thought about 'becoming' an artist. I always just figured I was one. I attended four colleges before graduating from the American Academy of Art in Chicago. For now, I hold the title of Master Artist at Hallmark Cards, and my life is devoted entirely to painting and teaching. My personal philosophy is 'Life beats down and crushes your soul, but art reminds you that you have one.' Through my workshops, I help reconnect people to their creative impulse and help them recover their hearts. In this click-and-get-it now world, it's really important to take time for reflection, and creating art is a great conduit for it. The creative process can be humbling, but it can also be just the invitation needed in order to enliven a life. My own painting style is influenced by a host of people, everyone from my kindergarten teacher to Andrew Wyeth, John Singer Sargent and Winslow Homer. I'm also deeply grateful to my wife and four kids for their encouragement and inspiration."