Tom Maakestad

Tom Maakestad was raised in rural Northfield, Minnesota in a family of artists and a neighborhood of farmers. Both have been equally important influences in his life. He received his art education at Luther College in
Decorah, Iowa. Since then his main concentration has been on producing landscapes from his native Midwest where he travels and works extensively. Maakestad and his family now reside in Marine on St. Croix, MN.

"My initial art training in school taught a rapid summation of the subject often through gestural drawings. I have used an editorial approach limiting detail to that which supports the subject but does not detract from the final work. Too much detail can work against the spirit. In my compositions hopefully the main subject leads the viewer into the landscape and the event which I experienced outdoors. I've been told many of my works hint at an unseen human presence. However his year's group includes some figurative work. These pieces, by and large, evolved from my participation in the 2008 Door County Plein Air festival in which I was awarded the 2nd Place Utrecht award. Door County remains one of the most appealing areas for me to paint."