Craig Kosak

SmithKlein Gallery Welcomes Craig Kosak to the gallery! Craig is an accomplished and primarily self-taught artist who has been in the art field for over 35 years. His contemporary wildlife paintings have received well deserved and positive recognition.  SmithKlein Gallery is honored to be showing his work.

The Bison of Indian Creek by Craig Kosak

The bison of Winter Creek by Craig Kosak

Artist’s Statement by Craig Kosak

Inspired by the wildlife and landscapes I encounter while travelling I return to my studio with insights about the natural world and about the human condition. Rather than faithfully documenting the flora and fauna, I strive to capture the feeling and emotions these trips provide. Each trip consists of both a journey through the outer world, and an inner journey of self discovery. These paintings are about both worlds and how they relate.

Richly textured and developed using many layers of alternately opaque and translucent paint, strong graphic composition and bold colors combine to set the stage for realistically rendered animals, objects and landscapes. The subjects are integrated with abstract elements and expressive brushwork representative of the inner emotive world. I continue working until balance between both worlds is achieved and the painting comes alive.

Stylistically, my work is grounded in realism, inspired primarily by the iconic images of painter N.C. Wyeth. I am, of course, painting about today’s world and the modern paint handling of contemporary artists John Nieto and Nathan Oliveira have had significant influence in this regard.