Born Robert Wyland, Detroit 1956. He has since dropped his first name and everyone now refers to him as "Wyland". He is the world's leading environment artist. His paintings all around the world have shown many people the beautiful bodies of whales, doplhins and other marine animals. He has also painted to show the sensitive ecosystems of our oceans, believing that the only way to save the whales and other marine life, we must save our oceans.
I think that his biggest success, with which almost everyone knows of, would be his "Whaling Walls." He plans on doing 100 by the year 2011. He has done over 70 as of today.
My favorite paintings:
Maui Moon-painted on building in Laihaina, Maui, Hawaii in 1980.
Northern Mist-painted in 1991. Very nice triptych (3part) of orca whales.
Snow Pup-painted in 1990. Very cute harp seal pup
Above and Below painted in 1991.
Dolphin Moon painted in 1991. An above and below painting.
Maui Moon painted in 1980. Another above and below painting.
My favorite walls:
#1-Laguna Beach, CA-1981-lifesize California grey whale and her calf. Dedicated by Mrs. John Wayne. Wyland went back 5 years later to retouch because of cars hitting the wall. He surprised everyone by totally repainting it and made the whales face the opposite direction....towards the sea.
#6-Honolulu, Hawaii-1985-Breaching Humpbacks. Most is blocked by the Hawaii Prince Hotel, who took Wyland to court to force him to stop the mural. He won, but they still built the hotel.
#22-Japan-1990-Orca Heaven. Painted on the ceiling of an indoor pool. First mural on a ceiling.
#30-Laihaina, Maui, Hawaii-1991-Maui Humpback Breaching. Done on the side of a wall in a whaling village, the Laihaina Historical Society had a cow about it. It is now gone from the building, but the painting itself was on removable boards, that were moved, so the painting is still intact.
#31-Redondo Beach, CA-1991-Grey Whale Migration. It was done on the Southern California Edison Power Plant. The city thought it would take 12 months to complete; Wyland finished it in 12 days. There are 9 lifesize whales, 622 x 100 feet wall, 3000 gallons of paint, and is lit at nightime by halogen lights (the only one lighted)
#33-Long Beach Convention Center, CA-1992-Plant Ocean. In my mind, this is the most impressive mural. Ten stories high. Painted on 360 degree surface of the building, with a 1225 feet diameter. It took 7000 gallons of paint. Entered into Guiness World Book of Records as the certified largest mural.
You can see the above mentioned wall murals plus other paintings on this page ---->
PLEASE VISIT WYLAND'S WEBSITE!!!!
Wyland Paints- slide show site with pictures of Wyland painting a mural.
LAST UPDATED DECEMBER 25, 1999
