Craig Mullins

Craig Mullins discovered a natural talent for drawing at an early age and he worked as a professional architect for most of his career. Now retired, Craig draws on those same exacting architectural skills and experience to pursue his second passion: A love for painting.

“Surprisingly, I’ve only been painting for about three years,” Craig says. “However, as a practicing architect, many of the necessary skills to be an artist are inherent in my profession.”

His artistic eye for detail and precision shines through in the landscapes, barnscapes, floral, portraits and wildlife images he paints with acrylic or pastels on canvas. Craig’s architectural mix with a folk-art style focuses on the beauty surrounding us every day, especially here in Indiana.

His goal? “Capturing the memory of a place, time and space,” Craig says. “Then, creatively enhancing it, to inspire the viewer more than the original image or experience.

“My paintings are not a literal or impressionistic translation of what I see,” he adds, “but more a composition that explores and enhances an image through my personal artistic style and color.”

Following graduation from Ball State with a Bachelor of Architecture degree, Craig taught design and graphics courses in the College of Architecture and Planning at BSU, then went into private practice as a Partner and Officer at Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf Architects, retiring after 45 years.

“Many of the elements in my paintings become architecture, literally and figuratively. Landscape paintings become spaces that direct your eyes through the composition of the space … Colors in the paintings are bold and complementary … Buildings, barns and animals are focal points that command your attention.

“My paintings capture a time with the land, the sky and the built environment in a manner that only a painting can achieve,” he explains.