Todd Schabel is a contemporary realist oil painter who grew up in Central Wisconsin. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, where he was fortunate to study with the late Li Hu, who emphasized the need to learn strong drawing skills and the importance of working from life. Todd’s training mainly consisted of the portrait, the figure, and still-lifes, but due to his love of the outdoors and interest in travel, it wasn't long before he fell in love with the landscape, particularly plein air painting.
This love of plein air painting has currently taken Todd, his wife Marcia, and their two Goldendoodles, on the road to plein air events, workshops and diverse parts of the nation to study from life. Todd has had the honor of receiving numerous plein air awards, most notably Best Building for July 2022 Plein Air Salon. He is represented by the Richeson Gallery in Kimberly, WI, Gallery 1802 in La Crosse, WI and Bell Street Gallery in La Pointe, WI.
"There is joy in more places than we can imagine and my hope is to encourage others to pause and see more of that beauty around us, but even more importantly, to nurture it." - Todd Schabel
Exhibitions
2023
Richeson75 International, Small Works 2023, Juried selection - Kimberly, WI
Midwest Juried Art Exhibition, HCAA Gallery - Noblesville, IN
MPAC Plein Air Exhibit at Villa Maria - Frontenac, MN
2022
NOAPS Best of America Small Works, Beverly Mcneil Gallery, Birmingham, AL
OPA National Exhibition, Steamboat Art Museum - Steamboat Springs, CO
Midwest Juried Art Exhibition, HCAA Gallery - Noblesville, IN
Paint the Towns in Fall Color, Plein Air Winners Show, Plymouth Art Center - Plymouth, WI
118 Art Gallery, Passages Online Exhibition, Juried selection
2021
Richeson75 International, Small Works 2021, Juried selection - Kimberly, WI
SECURA Fine Arts Exhibition, 41st Annual, Juried selection - Appleton, WI
Richeson75 International, Landscape, Seascape & Architecture, Juried selection - Kimberly, WI
NOAPS Spring 2021 Online International
Into Nature International Plein Air Exhibition - White Bear Lake, MN
Awards
2023
Best of Show - Bluffstrokes Plein Air Event, Dubuque, IA
Best of Show - Port Wing Plein Air, WI
Peoples Choice - Port Wing Plein Air, WI
Best of Show - Paint Cedarburg - Cedarburg, WI
Artist’s Choice - Paint Cedarburg - Cedarburg, WI
2nd Place - Paint the Point, Mineral Point, WI
Honorable Mention Postcard - Paint the Point, Mineral Point, WI
Merit Award - Carmel on Canvas, Carmel, IN
Top 100 Juried Selection - August Plein Air Salon
Semi-Finalist - 2022-2023 Plein Air Salon
Honorable Mention - Paint Grand Traverse, Traverse City, MI
Sponsors Choice - New Melle Paint Out - Augusta Plein Air - Augusta, MO
Nocturne - Judges Choice - Augusta Plein Air - Augusta, MO
2022
Best Building - 1st Place - July Plein Air Salon
Vehicle’s Category - Honorable Mention - July Plein Air Salon
Best of Show - Plein Air Between the Bluffs - LaCrosse, WI
Artist’s Choice - Plein Air Between the Bluffs - LaCrosse, WI
Second Place - Paint the Towns in Fall Color - Plymouth, WI
Honorable Mention - Paint Grand Traverse, Traverse City, MI
2nd Place Small Wonders - Paint Grand Traverse, Traverse City, MI
Award of Excellence - Midwest Juried Art Exhibition - Noblesville, IN
Honorable Mention - Midwest Juried Art Exhibition - Noblesville, IN
Honorable Mention - Nocturne First Brush of Spring - New Harmony, IN
Sponsors Choice - Birding Habitat - Augusta Plein Air - Augusta, MO
Honorable Mention - Paint Cedarburg - Cedarburg, WI
Artist’s Choice - Paint Cedarburg - Cedarburg, WI
Third Place - Jefferson Plein Air - Jefferson, WI
Artist’s Choice - Jefferson Plein Air - Jefferson, WI
Best Nocturne - Red Wing Plein Air - Red Wing, MN
2022 OPA Scholarship Recipient
2021
Award of Excellence - Plein Air Between the Bluffs - LaCrosse, WI
Best of Show - Paint the Towns in Fall Color - Plymouth, WI
Artist's Choice - Jefferson Plein Air - Jefferson, WI
3rd Place - Jefferson Plein Air - Jefferson, WI
1st Place - Paint the Point - Mineral Point, WI
1st Place - Appleton Downtown Paint Out - Appleton, WI
People's Choice - Catiri's Fresh Paint - Amana, IA
3rd Place - Carmel on Canvas - Carmel, IN
2020
3rd Place - Appleton Downtown Paint Out - Appleton, WI
Affiliations
Oil Painters of America
