The artist known as Wyland had a grand opening of his new Haleiwa gallery location last evening. As we arrived we were greeted by Wyland himself backed by colleagues in art Steve Powers, Petrie, his staff of salespeople, ukulele players and hula dancers. Behind the lanai gracing the entrance to the gallery one could see leaping dolphins in bronze.
Wyland, a healthy, handsome guy of fifty is probably the richest artist on the island; maybe any island. His paintings of undersea scenes have a broad appeal and visitors and residents alike are quick to haul out their Visa cards and pay $3-4000 for a print of one of his originals. Wyland has 40 galleries located around the country and an online supermall of prints. His own prints are done in a process that provides a quite accurate replica on canvass of the original in an edition of 400 or so. (For those lacking a calculator—$3000 times 400 equals $1,200,000). 
Last night Wyland unveiled a new work which he told us had been completed just 3 hours earlier. And in a mood of tropical generosity offered us a framed print of same for just $1500, or half price, as a memento of our grand evening. He promised to put a little bit of real paint on the first hundred and sign each and every one. Value seekers were reaching for their checkbooks and I was stopped later by smiling salespeople wanting to know if I was aware that I could have a print for the bargain price. With galleries galore, wall murals, bronze and pewter sculpture reproduced in many copies, Animal Planet TV show, a foundation, etc. (see the remarkable wyland.com web site for a complete rundown) Wyland is clearly a marketing genius. More power to him. 
His paintings are catchy and colorful as you can see here and in what might be his masterpiece this scene of Disney characters snorkeling through one of Wyland’s undersea visions. 
During the opening, Wyland began to paint an underwater scene involving two sea turtles. He had forgotten his large brushes so was swishing paint on with a rag.
He told us not to worry and I didn’t because looking around one could tell that Wyland knows his craft and is fast. He is personable and friendly, open and honest as befits “one of the planet’s finest environmental artists,” “the world’s Premier Ocean artist,” and “one of the most prolific and celebrated artists of our time. Perhaps of all time.” Purists might recoil at the carnival hoopla surrounding the evening but the fact is artists want to sell their work and get recognition. Wyland may, in fact, be a better businessman and marketer than artist. But he wouldn’t be successful if he didn’t have broad appeal. Many artists would kill to be in Wyland’s position whipping out paintings and selling the prints like fish and chips, keeping the originals for the museum that he is already planning.
Likable guy; likable work. And, at quite a young age, giving back through the Wyland Foundation. If you are a California resident you can get a Wyland license plate for your car to help the foundation. Anyone can get a Wyland Platinum Plus Credit card. For every purchase MBNA makes a donation to the Wyland Foundation. You can use the same card to buy a piece of Wyland’s art. Wyland has more good ideas than he has fish in his paintings.
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