In 2013, Schmid was honored by Queen Elizabeth II during the unveiling of his masterwork (oil 30” x 50”) painting, Abbotsford House—The Home of Sir Walter Scott, at the Royal Opening of Abbotsford’s new Visitor’s Center in Melrose, Scotland.

In 1998, Richard Schmid published ALLA PRIMA: EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT PAINTING which went into twelve printings, and led to the expanded edition, now in its sixth printing, ALLA PRIMA II: EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT PAINTING—and MORE . These books, and other publications, centered on “the grand manner” approach—which Schmid defined as, “Painting at the most skillful level and joyful way I can,” included the philosophical ideas which underlay them. His books have become classics in the literature of Fine Art worldwide.

Richard traveled, and lectured extensively on Art and Fine Art history, highlighting the role of women painters in the twentieth and twenty-first century. He pointed out the dominance of men in Art until the twenty-first century, and the emergence of the female voice in Art, which Richard felt is so welcome and powerful today. He said, “Their voices are long overdue to give a true balance to the message underlying all meaningful Art.”

As the President of the Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art (1987-1989) in Chicago, Richard helped to re-establish the second oldest art organization in America by leading them to double their membership, launch new programs, fundraise, and more. He also established two more painting groups—The Loveland Academy of Art Painting Group in Colorado in the 1980s, and then after moving to Brattleboro, VT in 1998, he and his wife Nancy Guzik founded The Putney Painters at the Village Arts of Putney, VT with owners Penelope and Captain John Adams.

Richard Schmid’s Philanthropic Achievements:

In 2016 with the assistance of Kristen Thies, Owner of West Wind Fine Art and curator of Richard Schmid: A Retrospective Exhibition, sales of Richard’s Art-works and prints led to the donation of $20,000 to the Rocky Mountain Conservancy, in Boulder, CO. Over 1000 artists and collectors from around the world attended the ten-day Exhibition.

Beginning in 1999 until 2014, Richard and his community of fellow painters created The Richard Schmid Fine Art Auction which raised over 1.8 million dollars for “The Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department,” in Bellvue CO. Richard has described this auction as “The Power of Art To Do Good.”

In 2009, Schmid’s still life demonstration and painting raised over $40,000 which contributed to the restoration of the Salmagundi Club of NYC and in 2001, Richard’s live Portrait demonstration of then Senator James Jeffords of Vermont, and partial sales from his original oils and prints benefitted a Manchester Center, Vermont Day Care program for children.

Selected Awards of Distinction:

The John Singer Sargent Medal for Lifetime Achievement presented by Richard Ormond, Sargent’s grandnephew at the American Portrait Artists Foundation Conference in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY.

Gold Medals from The Salmagundi Club, The American Watercolor Society, and The Portrait Society of America.

The Centennial Gold Medal from the California Arts Club for Schmid’s vast contributions in cultivating greater appreciation for traditional fine arts.

The $100,000 National Arts for the Parks competition honor for his oil, Rocky Mountain Stream, Rocky Mountain National Park. The prize was presented to him in 1988 by then Vice President, George H. W. Bush.

Selected Exhibitions:

The Smithsonian National Museum, Washington, DC; The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL; Beijing Center for the Arts, China; Richard Schmid Exhibition, The Bennington Center for The Arts, Vermont 2000; The Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH, 2003; The American Exhibition of Richard Schmid’s paintings at The Wichita Center for the Arts, Wichita, KS, 2012; A Celebration of Paintings Exhibition, hosted by West Wind Fine Art at The St. Botolph Club, Boston, MA, 2014; Richard Schmid: A Retrospective Exhibition at Gallery 2161, in Denver, CO in 2016, and A Tribute to Richard Schmid, hosted by West Wind Fine Art and curated by Kristen Thies in Bennington, VT in 2018.

Richard Schmid lived and worked in Walpole, NH with his wife, acclaimed artist, Nancy Guzik and their two cats, LuLu and Max II.

Contact: Kristen Thies

Curating Fine Art Collections With Integrity since 1998

Kristen@WestWindFineArt.com | 603-499-6838 | www.WestWindFineArt.com