There have been two constants throughout my life: art and nature. I began drawing and painting at a very early age and I currently work in the mediums of oil paintings and wood. My work results from direct and intimate observations of nature.
I am generally not interested in creating a literal, realistic representation of nature but rather a response to nature, an expression within its geometry, textures and colors. I view art as a tool to examine the world in detail. It forces one to see, to think, and to respond.
Eric J. Schneider was born in Summit, New Jersey in 1959 and moved to Montana in 1980. He lives and works at a remote wind and solar powered home he built on the edge of the Absaroka-Beartooth wilderness. He finds artistic inspiration at his doorstep. Whether he is trying to convey the vitality of a tiny alpine wildflower or the expansive horizons of a big sky landscape, his passion for the natural world is reflected in his work.
Eric works in two mediums, oil paintings and wood. His oil paintings focus on the mountains, foothills, skies and trees of the western landscapes he lives within. His marquetry artwork focuses on close-ups of the natural world. His wood designs focus on bringing out the natural beauty of the wood. He is a self-taught artist and he has been exploring the relationships of art and nature since a very early age.
Eric graduated with a Bachelor of Music from Montana State University-Bozeman. His diverse work history includes performing as a classical and jazz guitarist and being an activity director in a home for the elderly, a job that allowed him to use his musical and artistic skills to enrich the lives of the elderly. He now focuses on his artistic endeavors including oil painting, marquetry artwork, wood designs, and music.
Galleries and Shows
Gateway Gallery, Anaconda, MT, 2007-2008
Moose Horn Gallery, Paradise Valley, MT, 2006-2008
Montana Institute of the Art Show, Bozeman, MT, 2005-2008
Jay Contway & Friends, Charlie Russell Days, Great Falls, MT, 2007
Phoenix Gallery, Butte, MT, 2007
Aspen Arts Festival, Aspen, CO, 2007
Sweet Pea Festival, Bozeman, MT, 2007
Jackson Hole Art Festival, Teton Village, WY, 2007
Altitude Gallery, Bozeman, MT, 2005-2007
Livingston Center For Art and Culture, Livingston, MT, 2006
Holter Museum of Art's Art Auction, Helena, MT, 2006
Phantom Gallery, Butte, MT, 2006
Legends Fine Art, Livingston, MT, 2005-2006
RiverStone Gallery, Ennis, MT, 2005-2006
Livingston Depot Center Festival of the Arts, Livingston, MT, 2005-2006
Hockaday Museum Arts in the Park, Kalispell, MT, 2005-2006
Form Not Function, Emerson @ Beall Park Art Center, Bozeman, MT, 2005
Mountain Heritage Artist’s Rendezvous, Chico Hot Springs, MT, 2005
Yellowstone Art Museum Summerfair, Billings, MT, 2005
Heartwood Gallery, Bozeman, MT, 2004
Awards
Best of Show Fine Art, Livingston Depot Center, 2005
Merchant’s Award, Montana Institute of the Arts, 2005
Memberships
Marquetry Society of America
Montana Institute of the Arts
