William is a representational artist working in oil and pastel. He views figures, landscape, or still life as opportunities to explore the effects of light on form. Painting from life, he seeks to capture the emotion of a particular moment and place. Sargent, Zorn, Repin, Fechin, and Sorolla have been influences.
William initially studied art at the University of Illinois at Urbana. However, upon graduation he began a career in the music business (records on the Roulette and MGM labels). In the mid ‘80s, he entered finance (co-owner of an investment consulting firm, DiMeo Schneider and Associates). In 1990 he returned to his first love, painting. His skills were honed at the American Academy of Art in Chicago where he studied figure drawing with William Parks and oil painting with Ted Smuskiewicz. He continued his education through workshops with Carolyn Anderson, Dan Gerhartz, Scott Burdick, Harley Brown, Scott Christensen, Huihan Liu, David Leffel, and Richard Schmid
William has been featured in Art of the West, Southwest Art, American Artist, International Artist, The Pastel Journal, and Art-Talk Magazines. In addition his paintings have appeared in numerous books including: The Art of Oil Painting, Pastel II, How did you paint that? 100 ways to paint Landscapes, Oil Landscapes, Pure Color: The Best of Pastel and 100 ways to paint People & Figures. His work has received awards in exhibitions including those of: Academic Artists, The Degas Pastel Society, Oil Painters of America, The Pastel Society of America, Pastel Society of the West Coast, Portrait Society of America, and Salon International.
He is a member of Oil Painters of America (OPA), Plein Air Painters of Chicago, The National Oil and Acrylic Painters’ Society (NOAPS), The Pastel Society of America, The Palette and Chisel Academy, and the Portrait Society of America. He has served on the board of OPA for nine years. . Bill was awarded signature status in OPA in 1998, American Plains Artists in 2004, NOAPS in 2005 and the Pastel Society of America in 2007. His home is in Crystal Lake, IL with his wife Caren and their youngest daughter.
Magazine Publications:
• Capturing Emotion, American Artist Magazine, February 2001
• True Expression, Focus/ Santa Fe, September 2003
• Art Values, Southwest Art Magazine, November 2003
• It’s About Meaning, Art of the West Magazine, November 2004
• International Showcase of Master Pastel Painters, International Artist Magazine, Oct.- Nov 2004
• Master Portrait Artists’ Showcase, International Artist Magazine, February 2005
• William A. Schneider, The Pastel Journal, February 2005
• Start Your Collection, Southwest Art Magazine, April 2005
• Self-Portraits: Journey Through The Looking Glass, Art-Talk Magazine April 2005
• 2007Guidebook of Art, (Cover image) Art of the West Magazine 2007
• The Eyes Have It, The Pastel Journal, January 2008
Instructional Books:
• Oil Landscapes, Schneider, Hampton, Obermeyer, & Short, Walter Foster Publishing 2002
• The Art of Oil Painting, Walter Foster Publishing 2003
• Pastel II, William Schneider, Walter Foster Publishing 2004
• How did you paint that? 100 ways to paint still life and florals International Artist Publishing, 2004
• How did you paint that? 100 ways to paint Landscapes, International Artist Publishing, 2004
• How did you paint that? 100 ways to paint Flowers and Gardens, International Artist Publishing, 2004
• How did you paint that? 100 ways to paint People & Figures, International Artist Publishing, 2005
• Pure Color: The Best of Pastel, North Light Books, 2005
Teaching Experience
• Pastel Workshops, Palette & Chisel Academy, Chicago, IL,
• Figures, Barnsite Studios, Kewaunee, WI
• Portraits, Fredericksburg Artist’s School. Fredericksburg, TX
• Figures, Richeson Art School, Kimberly WI
• Plein Air Figures, Liliedahl Art, Tuscany, Italy
Video:
• Princess – Composition in Warm Light, Liliedahl Video Productions, Spring 2006
Awards:
• 18th Annual Bosque National Art Competition – (Gold Medal Award for Best Other Media)
• Oklahoma Art Guild 36th Annual 2004 Spring Art Exhibition, Norman, OK – (Best of Show)
• Pastel Journal 5th Annual “Pastel 100” Competition – (Honorable Mention)
• 8th Annual Heartland Exhibition Merriam, Kansas – (Merit Award)
• Pastel Society of the West Coast 18th Annual International Open Exhibit, Santa Clara, CA – (President’s Award)
• Pastel Society of America 2004 Invitational Exhibition, Dunedin, FL - (2nd Place)
• Portrait Society of America 6th Annual Portrait Competition, Boston, MA – (Certificate Award)
• Salon International 2004, International Museum of Contemporary Masters, San Antonio, TX – (Honorable Mention)
• Art Splash on the Square National Art Show 2004, Graham, TX – (Portrait Award)
• Sierra Pastel Society 2004 Pastels on High International Exhibition, Placerville, CA – (1st Place)
• Oil Painters of America 2004 Eastern Regional Exhibition, Kewaunee, WI – (Award of Excellence)
• NPS 18th International Exhibition, Edmond, WA – (Directors’ Award)
• 2004 PSNM National Show, Albuquerque, NM – (Great American Art Works Award)
• Academic Artists 55th National Exhibition, Springfield, MA 2005 – (Terri Ludwig Award)
• Art Splash on the Square National Art Show, 2005, Graham, TX – (Honorable Mention)
• Northwest Pastel Society, 19th International Open Exhibit 2005. Edmonds, WA – (Award of Achievement)
• International Artist Magazine Challenge No. 30 People & Figures 2005 -- (Honorable Mention)
• Pastel Society of New Mexico 14th Annual National Show 2005 – (NMWS Award)
• Arkansas Pastel Society 2005 Exhibition – (First Place)
• Degas Pastel Society 14th Membership Exhibition – (Honorable Mention)
• Artists of Northwest Arkansas 11th Annual Art Exhibition – (Best in Oil)
• Midland Arts Association 2006 National Spring Juried Exhibition – (Best of Show)
• Art Splash on the Square American Splash National Competition 2006 – (Award of Merit)
• The Artist’s Magazine 2006 Art Competition – (Two finalist pieces in the Animal Category)
• Connecticut Pastel Society 2006 National Competition – (Great American Pastel Award)
• Pastel Society of North Florida Ninth Biennial National Exhibition, Pastels 2006 – (Dakota Award)
• Northwest Pastel Society’s 20th International Open Exhibit 2006 – (Terri Ludwig Award)
• Pastel Society of Oregon’s 15th Biennial Juried national Exhibition 2006-(Gold Award)
• The Artist’s Magazine 2007 Art Competition – (Two finalist pieces in the Portrait Category)
• Academic Artists Association 57th National Exhibition of Contemporary Realism (Honor Award [1st Place Pastel)
• National Oil and Acrylic Painters’ Society “Best of America – 2007” -- (Best of Show)
• Portrait Society of America “Members Only Show – 2007” – (1st Place)