"Backyard Abstractions" is an original watercolor on Holbein watercolor paper by Craig Lueck. These petite watercolors that make up Lueck's portfolio serve as windows into the artist's world. Scenery from his travels to Colorado and Italy are beautifully recreated in watercolor, taken directly from the artist's memories. The abstraction of this piece is unique to Lueck's portfolio, though not exclusive, his pieces tend to be more representative. The backyard of Luecks home likely holds more emotional resonance than any of the other places he's depicted and as a result, we see the backyard through a heightened emotional lens. The colors are deeply saturated, and the composition is such that we are seeing the essence of the backyard. The subjects are not important because they do not define the landscape as the boats of Venice, or the mountains of Colorado do in Lueck's other works. Here we see all that really matters, Lueck's memories and emotions that build the backyard in his mind's eye.

5 1/4" x 7 1/2" art
6 3/8" x 9" paper
13 3/4" x 16 3/8" frame

From Wisconsin, now living in Kansas, Lueck is a Hallmark Illustrator & 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."

"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 impulses 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."

-Craig Lueck