Here I have given some personal information about myself. Please enjoy the read and I thank you in advance for visiting my site.
Awards and Achievements
Richard Vander Meer was born in Barrie in 1958 and has been painting and drawing since he was 10 years old. He developed his abilities on a self-taught basis until enrolling the fine arts departmetn at the Ontario College of Art's for a four year program. Since graduating in 1990 he has since operated a small gallery in Orillia, Ontario.
Richard has been the recipient of numerous scholarships and awards throught his career including,
1988 - John Alfsen Award for proficiency in Fine Art
1989 - Dorothy Steven's Award for proficiency in painting and drawing
1991 - Best in Show, watercolor and pastel at Kempenfest Arts and Crafts Fair in Barrie, Ontario
1992 - Best traditional painting - Midland Arts Festival
As well, Richards work has been purchased by many private and corporate collectors, some of the most notable being:
Heritage Club of Orillia
North York Board of Education, private collection
John Eaton Junior, Owner of Eaton's Canada
Rosalie Wise Designs
Richard's work was chosen to be represented in the movie "Where the Heart Is," filmed in Toronto and commanded the highest price in a charity Silent Auction held at the Ontario College of Art in 1989.
Richard has been the recipient of numerous scholarships and awards throught his career including,
1988 - John Alfsen Award for proficiency in Fine Art
1989 - Dorothy Steven's Award for proficiency in painting and drawing
1991 - Best in Show, watercolor and pastel at Kempenfest Arts and Crafts Fair in Barrie, Ontario
1992 - Best traditional painting - Midland Arts Festival
As well, Richards work has been purchased by many private and corporate collectors, some of the most notable being:
Heritage Club of Orillia
North York Board of Education, private collection
John Eaton Junior, Owner of Eaton's Canada
Rosalie Wise Designs
Richard's work was chosen to be represented in the movie "Where the Heart Is," filmed in Toronto and commanded the highest price in a charity Silent Auction held at the Ontario College of Art in 1989.
About my love for the great outdoors and fishing.
For many years I grew up fishing the lakes and rivers of the Simcoe County area with my dad and brothers where a love and respect for fishing and all it entails was being bred into me from a very young age.
I started out, as most of us have, with a rod, reel and (God forbid) a worm fishing for perch. As I got older I graduated to pike, muskey and bass using spinning and bait casting equipment, revering such names as Shimano and Abu Garcia.
I sampled my first taste and a tug of a trout while going through a brief relationship with float fishing. By this time I had acquired a rather large collection of rods, reels, and hardware. However, my hunger for more "toys" persisted, so I challenged a local fishing retailer to sell me something I didn't have.
"Ever tried fly-fishing," he asked?
Too expensive, too difficult and too cultured I thought, but what the heck, you only live once.
Well, after flailing away on the banks of Silver Creek just north of Orillia, Ontario, I managed to land my Iron Blue Dun on the water and somehow stripped out enough line to allow the fly to pass over where I thought there might be a fish.
I knew I had found the ultimate when a little eight inch specky sipped that fly off the surface, after feeling its brief struggle for freedom. I admired its incredible colors and strength before releasing it. Yes fly-fishing is the ultimate in fishing experience for me.
That was a long time ago. Since then my love and appreciation for this wonderful sport has taken me to new heights of enjoyment and satisfaction, not to mention the many new rivers and creeks discovered in my pursuit of these beautiful fish. Since that first trout, I have discovered where and learned how to fly-fish for pike, bass, steelhead and salmon, along with the Brook, Brown and Rainbow Trout.
I started out, as most of us have, with a rod, reel and (God forbid) a worm fishing for perch. As I got older I graduated to pike, muskey and bass using spinning and bait casting equipment, revering such names as Shimano and Abu Garcia.
I sampled my first taste and a tug of a trout while going through a brief relationship with float fishing. By this time I had acquired a rather large collection of rods, reels, and hardware. However, my hunger for more "toys" persisted, so I challenged a local fishing retailer to sell me something I didn't have.
"Ever tried fly-fishing," he asked?
Too expensive, too difficult and too cultured I thought, but what the heck, you only live once.
Well, after flailing away on the banks of Silver Creek just north of Orillia, Ontario, I managed to land my Iron Blue Dun on the water and somehow stripped out enough line to allow the fly to pass over where I thought there might be a fish.
I knew I had found the ultimate when a little eight inch specky sipped that fly off the surface, after feeling its brief struggle for freedom. I admired its incredible colors and strength before releasing it. Yes fly-fishing is the ultimate in fishing experience for me.
That was a long time ago. Since then my love and appreciation for this wonderful sport has taken me to new heights of enjoyment and satisfaction, not to mention the many new rivers and creeks discovered in my pursuit of these beautiful fish. Since that first trout, I have discovered where and learned how to fly-fish for pike, bass, steelhead and salmon, along with the Brook, Brown and Rainbow Trout.
About the painted portrait.
Commissioned Portraits have been a specialty of mine for 25 years and was the basis for my career from the beginning. My portraits will give you strong likenesses, excellent color handling and composition. These are the hallmarks of my commissioned work. I especially love recapturing your favorite image of children to the canvas as the expressions and innocence of the child are especially rewarding and challenging to paint. You can have your portrait done in Pastel, Oil Painting, Watercolor Charcoal or Conte'. However you choose, your satisfaction is guaranteed.
Please Note that Richard Vander Meer's artwork is his original artwork. It is absolutely not permitted to copy any of Richard's work without permission. Copyright protection has been added to Richard's work, please do not copy any images without permission.
Thank You
Vander Meer Fine Arts and Gifts.
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Please Note that Richard Vander Meer's artwork is his original artwork. It is absolutely not permitted to copy any of Richard's work without permission. Copyright protection has been added to Richard's work, please do not copy any images without permission.
Thank You
Vander Meer Fine Arts and Gifts.
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