Landscape artist, Walt Gonske, was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey.  His first formal training in art was at the Frank Reilly School of Art in New York City.  After many years as a very successful illustrator (specializing mostly in men's fashion) in New York he moved to Taos, New Mexico.  Walt had fallen in love with New Mexico and decided it was time to pursue his dream of being a full-time landscape artist.  His early muses in Taos, fellow Taos landscape artists Ray Vanilla and Rod Goebel, encouraged him to get out of his studio where he was painting from photographs and become a plein air painter.  The change this made to his work was remarkable and he has never once looked back nor regretted his new "studio", in spite of all the different and difficult types of weather he has endured to create his paintings.

Gonske's landscapes are full of rich color and broad, sweeping brush strokes.  His goal is to "make a visual record of this beautiful country before it's gone" and it seems that goal is being achieved with reviews of his paintings stating they "delight our eyes, ignite our memories and inspire fresh visions."

Gonske has received many awards for his work and has been featured in articles in publications such as Southwest Art, Wildlife Art, Art of the West, Art Talk and Art & Antiques.