About William A. Schneider
William works 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,
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 among
others.

William has been featured in Art of the West, Southwest Art, American
Artist, Fine Art Connoisseur, International Artist, The Pastel Journal,
and Workshop Magazines. In addition his paintings have appeared
in numerous books including: The Art of Oil Painting, Pastel II, 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), The National Oil and
Acrylic Painters’ Society (NOAPS), The Pastel Society of America, The
American Impressionist Society (AIS), and the Portrait Society of
America. Bill was awarded signature status in OPA, and NOAPS . In
addition the Pastel Society of America has recognized him as a "Master
Pastelist" and AIS made him a Master Signature Member (AISM). His
home is in Crystal Lake, IL with his wife Caren.