About the Artist

A native Codyite, I grew up backpacking in the Beartooth Mountains. Their beauty stirred my heart in a way I will not forget. I loved to draw and paint, and the mountains naturally became my theme. Later, in High School, I was blessed with a rare opportunity to apprentice under Reid Christie. Three years of serious art study soon followed in college.

During that time I met the One who made the Beartooths. I realized that those deep stirrings in my heart were actually whispers from the Artist’s heart. He made me whole in a way that the beautiful – but fleeting creation never could. He cleansed me from my guilt and now I worship Him through art, through trying to imitate His creativity. The beauty I see in this world is inspiring and real, but merely a shadow cast by Beauty Himself – Jesus Christ. I want people to pause, to be drawn away to think about Him in the midst of all today’s busyness.

Until recently, I have used mainly photographs as a reference when painting in a traditional, layered fashion. But I have become discontent with that approach. I find that I am in love with the subtleties of beauty that cannot be captured in a photo. So I have turned to painting outside (plein air), on site, to be one on one with the beauty I wish to partake in and share. I still do studio paintings based on my outdoor studies, but have fallen head over heels for painting on location. There is simply nothing like it.

Hauns' Thoughts

Schnackenberg Art Heritage
Johannes A. Schnackenberg

Although I never met him, I was named after my Great Grandfather Johannes Schnackenberg. He was a Master Painter from Germany who was allowed to bring his family into the United States because he was a Fine Artist. Below are some of his sketches (most of them done as Johannes traveled through Germany as a Journeyman Painter when he was 19, from 1900 to 1902).