Early Works 1991-1995

Artist

Craig Witte

Category

Painting

For artist Craig Witte, there comes a pivotal moment in every painter’s journey. After countless hours spent grappling with the fundamentals, everything just clicks. This “a-ha” moment is transformative. Suddenly, the focus shifts from mastering technique to embracing painting as a medium for emotional depth and creative freedom. It’s no longer about how to paint; it’s about why.

Witte likens this breakthrough to learning a new language. In the beginning, you fumble with basic vocabulary, piecing together fragments of meaning. Over time, you build fluency. One day, you find yourself expressing complex thoughts with ease. Painting follows a similar arc: tentative brushstrokes give way to confident gestures, and the canvas becomes a space where vision and voice converge.

The journey to this point is filled with challenges, frustrations, and experimentation. But for Craig Witte, these struggles are essential. They lay the foundation for artistic growth. Each mistake and each risk taken adds to a deeper understanding of the medium. When clarity arrives, painting becomes an extension of the soul—a visual language through which the artist communicates his inner world.

This moment doesn’t signal the end of learning. Instead, it marks the beginning of a more profound exploration of artistic expression. With this shift in perspective, every brushstroke carries intention, and every color choice reflects Witte’s unique voice. It’s a beautiful realization: painting is not merely about creating something visually appealing. It’s about telling a story, evoking emotion, and sharing a piece of oneself with the world.

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Craig Witte on the right, talking to a visiting artist at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 1993.

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Second grade drawing by Craig Witte.

craig witte

Craig Witte's first published work. It reads: April 1984, Cover design: Craig Witte Intermediate II. Art teacher: Ron Habeck. Interesting note, Ron Habeck would end up being Craig Witte's art teacher all the way into his senior year of High School.

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Published in 1977, these two books sparked Craig Witte's passion for art. His dad and Craig would spend countless hours drawing from them, never realizing that this would be the beginning of his journey towards a career in art.

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