Montana State University graduate art student, and veteran, Nick Krause, works with various art materials in his studio. MSU photo by Marcus “Doc” Cravens

BOZEMAN — Following grueling training sessions in the Army, Nick Krause would return to his desk in the barracks and draw or paint under the glow of a headlamp. It gave him something to look forward to in times of boredom or strain. 

Art has played a central role in Krause’s life since childhood, when his godfather started taking him to museums. So, after completing active duty, Krause enrolled in the Master of Fine Arts program in the School of Art in Montana State University’s  College of Arts and Architecture  to continue his passions of making and studying art. 

Transitioning back to school after being stationed near Tacoma, Washington, for four years was a bit of a challenge, he said, “but everything is easier after you’ve done that. I’d still rather write a 20-page paper than run 5 miles.” 

Krause is in his final year of the all-encompassing, three-year MFA program, which includes giving artist talks, presenting artwork in shows, studying art history, participating in discussions and teaching classes. 

“We have to do every bit of practice to prepare for whatever professional route we want to take,” he said. “It's basically training wheels for all this stuff that you need to do, and the teaching element is, well, they kind of just throw you right in there, but they make it not so overwhelming.” 

Krause has enjoyed leading freshman drawing classes and would like to continue teaching after next spring’s graduation ceremony. He’s been around art professors most of his life. 

His godfather and family friend, Henry Freedman, taught art history at Keene State College in New Hampshire, near Krause’s childhood home. Freedman cultivated Krause’s artistic passions and talents and inspired a love of museums. 

Whenever Krause visits a new city, he likes to explore local museums. Some of his favorites are in Italy or on the East Coast, where he spent most of his life. He completed his undergraduate degree at the Massachusetts School of Art and Design in Boston, with a focus on painting.

Then he had a desire to serve, to maybe make the world a better place, so he enlisted in the Army. He would pass the time with fellow members of the mortar infantry by making T-shirts or creating songs. When Krause was discharged from active duty, Freedman was living in Missoula and suggested Krause might enjoy continuing his art studies in Montana. A scholarship, a reprieve from city life and a program that provided time to make art with a teaching element made MSU the ideal spot for Krause. 

“I just love this place — the big sky, all the colors going up to Glacier National Park, just seeing the really beautiful landscapes and stuff like that,” he said. “I really felt free out here.” 

Since Krause enrolled in MSU’s art school, associate dean Jim Zimpel has noticed his consistent dedication, willingness to help others and inquisitiveness. 

“He isn't someone who needed a lot of prompting to do the exploration,” Zimpel said. “He’s always willing to try different things and when he gets excited about something, he’ll find the resources.” 

A main element of Krause’s artwork involves hunting down material. His most common medium is combining painting with collage. He frequently scours antique stores, looking for old art books or prints. Quality paper and printmaking excite him. 

He’ll usually start with the concept of beauty as defined in Greek or Roman art and expressed in basic geometric forms. He’ll then take images he’s collected or painted and start laying them out, using his natural and developed sense of composition.  

“Then these things just develop spatial relationships, and then they sort of become their own narrative,” he said. “The characters form. All the elements kind of come together. I just let them form themselves.” 

Sometimes Krause’s creations will even surprise him, like a collage of characters that end up resembling his old platoon. Others present a bit of satire or reflect Krause’s own experiences. 

“Nick’s work is interesting as it gives viewers a chance to try to decode his process and also because it leans heavily on imagery that feels familiar in an art historical sense,” Zimpel said. 

Krause’s process is reflected in his workspace, a bright, rectangular room in a nondescript building that houses MSU’s Melvin Graduate Studios. Papers and books are stacked and piled on a long table in the corner. A bench and chairs surround and sometimes hold current projects. A small guitar can offer a mental break when a project isn’t quite coming together. 

And the west wall holds framed, finished pieces, all with “FIN” inscribed in the bottom right corner, a tribute to Freedman, Krause’s godfather and mentor. 

“He didn’t have a son, but he said if he did, he would have named him Finnean,” Krause said. “So, I just shortened it. It's kind of a tribute to him and the end of a French movie, so it's kind of like, The End.” The project is finished.