For the Love of Art & Conservation
The name Wyland is synonymous with fine art around the globe. Wyland, one of the most celebrated and renowned artists of our time, is known for his realistic renderings of ocean life. His perhaps most famous project is the Whaling Walls, a series of more than 100 breathtaking, life-sized murals of whales and other sea creatures. One of the Whaling Walls — painted on the convention center in Long Beach and spanning 116,000 feet — earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest mural. Wyland’s home and studio are located in Laguna Beach. His ties to Laguna Beach stretch far into his past, years before his iconic paintings and long before the art world knew his name.
When he was 4 years old, Wyland was caught drawing in the back of his class by a teacher who happened to be an artist. She took note of his talent and told Wyland that he could be a great artist one day. He believed her and has been creating art ever since. His early obsession with dinosaurs soon grew to a fascination with sea life. Growing up in Michigan, he may not have been near the ocean, but he was surrounded by water.
At 14, a serendipitous family trip to visit his aunt in southern California brought Wyland to a defining moment in his life. He saw the Pacific Ocean for the first time at Laguna Beach. He immediately dove into the ocean under a wave and witnessed a scene that would stay with him for his entire life. Two gray whales broke the surface of the water and spouted right in front of him.
“It was like looking at dinosaurs,” he said. “It was amazing. The whale really became iconic in my art from that point on.”
Ten years later, roughly 100 yards from where he saw those two whales, Wyland painted a life-sized portrait of them on the side of the Hotel Laguna parking lot wall. It was the first of his 101 iconic ocean murals, the Whaling Walls.
“I tell people, when you see a whale, it changes your DNA,” he said. “It’s that impressive. It’s that powerful. So those whales stayed in my heart and in my mind’s eye until now. And, I can always reflect back to them when I need the inspiration. To paint them life-sized is a big challenge, but I’d been painting a lot of murals anyway, giant murals. I decided that this was my gift back — that I would do 100 of these ocean murals as gifts to the world, to the communities, to raise awareness about the plight of whales and ocean conservation. That’s really been my mission since I did that first one in 1981.“
In 1978, Wyland opened the first Wyland Galleries in Laguna Beach. He cultivated artists that resonated with him, whether they were well-established like James Coleman or just starting out like Walfrido Garcia.
“I definitely wanted to showcase the artists that I really respected and wanted to support,” he said. “We’ve all had a really good journey. Some of these artists have been with me for over 30 years.”
Though Wyland Galleries boasts hundreds of thousands of collectors from more than 100 countries, Wyland says his website is his best gallery right now.
“People are buying a lot of art online now, so we have WylandGalleries.com, and it’s been spectacular for the collectors and the artists.”
He isn’t letting the coronavirus pandemic slow him down. If anything, the social distancing is fueling his art even more.
“With the coronavirus and everything, it’s been really challenging,” he said. “But, as artists, we kind of isolate at home anyway, and that’s part of the creative process. So, I’ve been very prolific and very productive during these times. You’ve just got to keep moving your art forward.”
It’s apparent the driving force for Wyland is his philanthropic work.
“For 42 years, I’ve been a very successful artist,” he said. “It’s kind of a hobby that’s gotten out of control. But, I take it pretty seriously. With my success, I actually was able to start the Wyland Foundation, my nonprofit. We’re focused on art and conservation and community — making the world better.”
Having just celebrated 27 years of the Wyland Foundation, Wyland refers to the nonprofit as “small, but mighty.” He focuses on fresh water, because “to protect the ocean, you have to protect the fresh water habitat. So, we’re encouraging people to be water-wise and conserve, protect and respect our water. That’s our biggest focus right now.”
Wyland’s mission is to put some good back into the world and to inspire people of all ages to be ambassadors for the planet.
“I just tell people, if everyone can do a little bit, it really adds up,” he said. “Our goal right now is to inspire 7.5 million people to be water-wise, to take care of our water, because without water, all these other causes don’t matter.” His faith in people is steadfast, and he remains positive about the future.
“I believe in the American people. I believe that they’ll always innovate and always find a way. Everyone’s focused on making sure we have clean water and healthy oceans and trying to eliminate plastic out of our environment. There’s a lot of good things happening, so I’m going to focus on that. And I’m going to continue to make great art.”
Photos by Bob Ortiz
What do you love about Laguna Beach?
“It’s the best little city on the planet. It really is. It’s a real community, and it’s an art colony. I was really drawn to Laguna Beach, and we’ll never leave, by the way. I also live in Hawaii, and I also live in the Florida Keys. I’ve spent most of my life here, most of my life in Laguna Beach.”
What’s your favorite medium?
“Whatever I’m working. I love drawing, I write music, I produce documentary films. I don’t have a ‘real’ job, so it’s kind of all over the place.”
What is your favorite Laguna local spot?
“My favorite restaurant is Nick’s [Laguna Beach]. Everything about Laguna is amazing, and I would really encourage people to come here and support these businesses and galleries, because man, they are taking a beating. I always encourage people to shop locally if you can — quit ordering stuff from China. I’m all about supporting our local communities and ‘Made in America.’ My art is certainly made in America, right here in Laguna Beach.”
What is something every Laguna resident should do or go to?
“Go to Wyland Galleries and buy a painting. Definitely enjoy the beach. We have the most beautiful beaches in the world. They’ve been compared to the French Riviera. I’ve been to the French Riviera, and there’s no comparison. Laguna Beach is just the best.”
by: Lauren Salinero
