Robert wyland 1956-Present

Robert Wyland or just, “Wyland” From Detroit, Michigan His parents worked in the auto industry His mom raised him and his three brothers by herself Inspired by Jacque Cousteau and Rachel Carson Thought he’d become a marine scientist Graduated with a fine art degree from the College of Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan He moved to California in the late 1970’s. He splits his time between Hawaii, California, and Florida

Painting & Sculpting What he Loves When Wyland was 14 years old he traveled with his family to Laguna Beach, CA. It was the first time he saw the ocean. Gray whales were migrating at the time and the vision only inspired his love for marine life further. Fast forward to the age of 41, in 1997. Wyland has 25 art galleries with his work, and his merchandise is in zoo’s and gift shops all over the world creating a multi-million dollar industry. Most of his galleries are run by family.

WW 52 “Florida’s Living Reef,” 1993 Thinking BIG Wyland utilizes his career as an artist, through paintings, sculptures, and photography, to bring focus of raising awareness on the preservation of marine life. It is estimated that his public murals are viewed by more than a billion people every year around the world. “Gray Whale and Calf” Acrylic, 1981 This was Wylands’s first life size mural painted on the side of the Hotel Laguna in Laguna Beach, CA. WW 52 “Florida’s Living Reef,” 1993

Whale Wall #33 Long Beach Convention Center, 100 Whaling Walls On average, Wyland’s mural’s take about 100 gallons of acrylic paint. It took him 27 years to complete 100 whaling walls around the globe. He completed his final mural in 2008. Whale Wall #33 Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, California (Largest Mural in the World / Guinness Book of World Records) 1280’ W x 105’ H Dedicated July 9th, 1992 "Art can change the world," he said, "especially on a grand scale."

Traveling across mediums and scale Wyland applies his talent to all mediums. From giant true-to-life sized murals, to capturing the natural grace of marine life in a sculpture. With his marketing genius comes awareness. His art and name go hand-in-hand with environmental conservation.

More than just art An artist, scuba diver, educator, and explorer, Wyland has hosted several television programs: “Wyland’s Ocean World,” a series on the Discovery Channel’s Animal Planet Network, “Wyland: A Brush with Giants,” and “Wyland’s Art Studio,” a series for national public television. In 1993, he founded the Wyland Foundation to help children and families across the United States rediscover the importance of environmentalism through public art programs, classroom science education, and live events. Since its inception, the organization has worked directly with more than one million children. In 2007, Wyland, in conjunction with science educators and volunteers, conducted a national tour for clean water called, "From Pike's Peak to the Chesapeake Bay — Every Drop Counts," using art and science projects to encourage action in protecting watersheds nationwide. "Cleaning up the Earth is a messy job, but somebody's got to do it," said Wyland, 52.

Sea Turtle Step one Write your name on your paper. Step two Let’s draw a sea turtle together! Use pencil. Core Elements of Art Covered: Resistance Painting Chemical Reaction: Science and Water Texture

Step FOUR Begin to water color paint. While the paint is still wet, sprinkle the salt on the paint. When it dries it makes a cool effect with the colors. Step THREE Go over your pencil lines with crayons. You can choose the colors you want your turtle and bubbles to be. DO NOT color in the turtle, only outline.

last steps Do the background around the turtle last. I get different blues by either adding more blue when the paper has dried a bit to make it darker, or add some water on your brush to make it a lighter blue. Don’t forget to add salt to the wet sections. Watercolor tips It is fun to mix your paint on the paper. Sometimes it takes a small drop of color placed on another to create a swirl of new colors. If you push all the colors together though you end up with brown.

References Artist Wyland gives Long Beach the world By John Canalis, Staff Writer, http://www.presstelegram.com Wyland.com Wylandfoundation.org