The Humanitarian

The PHILOSOPHER & HUMANITARIAN

Richard believed in the power of art to do good. His paintings and many pieces of art by his fellow artists helped to raise over one million dollars in funding for the Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department in the mountains of northern Colorado during 1990s. In 2001, his live Portrait demonstration of the late Senator James Jeffords of Vermont, and partial proceeds from his original oils and prints benefited a Manchester, Vermont Day Care Center, which raised $13,000. In 2009, Schmid’s still life demonstration raised over $40,000 for the Salmagundi Club of New York. Then, in 2016, with the assistance of Kristen Thies, his fine art representative, Richard’s art helped raise over $20,000 to benefit the Rocky Mountain Conservancy of Colorado, dedicated to preserving open lands inside Rocky Mountain National Park.

Richard believed in the power of art to do good. His paintings and many pieces of art by his fellow artists, helped to raise over one million dollars in funding for the Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department in the mountains of northern Colorado during 1990s. In 2001, his live Portrait demonstration of then late Senator James Jeffords of Vermont, and partial proceeds from his original oils and prints benefitted a Manchester, Vermont Day Care Center which raised $13,000. In 2009, Schmid’s still life demonstration raised over $40,000 for the Salmagundi Club of NY. Then in 2016, with the assistance of Kristen Thies, his fine art representative, Richard’s art helped raise over $20,000 to benefit the Rocky Mountain Conservancy of Colorado, dedicated to preserving open lands inside Rocky Mountain National Park.

Richard introducing the annual fundraiser, “Richard Schmid Fine Art Auction,” Bellvue, CO

SPIRIT OF GIVING

Schmid used his commercial success to dedicate himself to philanthropy, raising thousands, and sometimes millions, of dollars in service to many communities and nonprofit organizations, also benefiting our country’s economy as a whole.

SELECTED EVENTS:

PALETTE & CHISEL ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS, Chicago IL

At the Palette & Chisel, Richard Schmid served as President from 1987 to 1989. His leadership played a pivotal role in sustaining this nonprofit organization, the second oldest art organization in the United States. Schmid’s

initiatives included expanding membership, fundraising for a crucial roof replacement, introducing new programs in Representational painting and other fine art techniques, and more. His active participation in painting sessions, monitoring, use of north light windows, and infusion of classical music set a precedent for the future, a legacy that persists to this day. Many artists who painted alongside him have since achieved notable success and are teaching and inspiring the world in his footsteps, inspired by Schmid's legacy.

For a deeper understanding of Richard Schmid’s remarkable contributions during his influential six-year tenure at the P&C, we invite you to read this heartfelt letter from President Val Yachik, written on May 21, just one month after Richard’s passing.

READ VAL YACHIV’S LETTER

Richard imparting his knowledge through a painting demonstration of Clayton Beck III, inspiring a new generation of artist members at the P&C.

Richard painted over 100 portraits while at the P&C with his colleagues. Selected four below.

RICHARD SCHMID FINE ART AUCTION, Bellvue, CO

In a remarkable show of support, Richard helped raise over $1.7 million. Read the Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department’s powerful statement on this extraordinary act below:

“In 1996, we hosted our first Richard Schmid Fine Art Auction. It was held in a hay field. The art was hung in an old, surplus, army tent. Richard personally invited, and may have even “begged” artists to participate. To top it off, Richard sold his own painting by standing in the bed of a pickup truck in order to get reception on his cell phone! Having said all that, we raised more money for our volunteer fire department that year than in any of the previous twenty years of our existence!

Every year since that time we learned a little more and became a little more successful. Although Richard and his wife, Nancy Guzik, moved out of our area some years ago, they both have continued to enthusiastically support our auction every year. Since its humble beginnings in 1996, over 1,250 pieces of fine original art have been auctioned for a total of over $1.7 million, generating over $650,000 to support our RIST CANYON Volunteer Fire Department. We thank the many artists who have contributed to our efforts over the years. We thank the many patrons who have joined us on many Sundays of Labor Day past weekends and purchased art.

And, most of all, we thank our internationally known artist, author, neighbor, friend and fundraising visionary, Richard Schmid!”

—The Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department

Nestled high in the serene mountains of Bellvue, Colorado, Richard Schmid embarked on a mission to support the Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department, a vital non-profit

... entity without any government funding. Guided by his belief that "Art has the power to do good," his initial fundraiser involved him donating his masterpiece, "Deer," and introducing a chance to win it by purchasing a mere $10.00 raffle ticket! Initially, volunteers bravely stood at a high mountain crossroad, engaging with passing cars to ask if they would like to contribute to this worthy cause and have a chance to win a painting valued at $12,000.

Richard’s painting, BRATTLEBORO HOUSE, was featured in the Richard Schmid Fine Art Auction, whose proceeds benefited the Rist Canyon All-Volunteer Fire Department and have served as a beacon of community support.

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PAINTING SENATOR JAMES JEFFORDS, Manchester VT

In 2001, Richard Schmid embarked on painting the portrait of the late Senator James Jeffords of Vermont in Manchester. Simultaneously, he conducted a live interview with the senator before a live audience. With the assistance of Kristen Thies, funds from this project were directed to the endowment fund of a local daycare center. The dynamic live exchange of wisdom, wit, and storytelling between

... Schmid and Jeffords, combined with Schmid's profound respect for the senator, served as the catalyst for the creation of a compelling short documentary titled "An American Portrait: The Senator & The Artist."

Richard sharing a moment of camaraderie while painting a fundraising demonstration with the late Senator James Jeffords.

SALMAGUNDI CLUB, New York, NY 2010

Richard Schmid recognized the significant role the Salmagundi Club played for artists, art enthusiasts, and the global art community. In 2009, and in collaboration with Kristen Thies, owner of West Wind Fine Art, he engaged in discussions with then-president Tim Newton, leading to a collective decision to organize a fundraiser, with Richard showcasing his artistic knowledge with a…

... live demonstration of a still life painting at the Salmagundi Club, generously committing 100% of the sales proceeds to benefit the club. The artwork, aptly titled “Richard’s Flight,” became a symbol of this philanthropic initiative.

Under the leadership of Tim Newton, the funds raised were judiciously allocated to support the extensive renovation of the grand gallery, further enhancing the club’s artistic space. For additional information, please visit Salmagundi Club’s official website.

RICHARD’S FLIGHT oil, 19×25, 2010
Kristen Thies, Richard’s Art Representative, was instrumental in selling his oil, and also donated her portion of the sales commission to the Salmagundi Club. Together, Richard and Kristen donated 100% of the funds to the Salmagundi Club to help build the new glass ceiling in the grand gallery.

Richard with his colleague, Tim Newton, President of the Salmagundi Club

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN CONSERVANCY History Colorado Center Denver, CO

As an integral component of the “RICHARD SCHMID: A Retrospective Exhibition,” Richard Schmid and Kristen Thies curated a fundraiser for The Rocky Mountain Conservancy, showcasing Richard’s lithograph, “Aspen Forest.” The success of the event was evident as all 100 signed prints were swiftly purchased within hours, resulting in a remarkable $20,000 in proceeds solely directed towards advancing the Conservancy’s impactful and worthy cause. Every dollar generated from this initiative went directly to the Conservancy, highlighting the unwavering commitment of both Richard and Kristen to its vital mission. This collaboration between art and conservation not only enriched the cultural landscape but also contributed significantly to the advancement of the Conservancy’s important initiatives.

STOVE PRAIRIE PRESS, Richard Schmid’s Publishing Company

Visit Richard’s Store: RichardSchmid.com

After becoming a world class master painter, Richard had a dream. He knew it was important for him to write down and explain his artistic knowledge that he acquired through his teachers and his extensive painting experience, for artists who were hungry for this knowledge. Faced with rejections from leading publishing companies, Richard, with the assistance of Kristen Thies, took matters into his own hands. The result was the creation of Stove Prairie Press, a platform dedicated to realizing his vision. With his best seller, ALLA PRIMA II in its 20th printing, Stove Prairie Press continues Richard’s tradition to

... this day, bringing the same valued excellence and oversight to everything it publishes.

He also championed the cause of publishing his books in the United States. Despite the prevailing industry trend of outsourcing to reduce costs, Schmid's commitment to supporting U.S. companies through domestic publishing contributed to our economy and the employment of fellow citizens.

Richard Schmid's dedication to his books extends beyond mere oversight; he personally insisted on being present for each printing to ensure the best color quality and clarity. This commitment guarantees that the images within his books present their absolute best for the discerning artist's viewing and learning. This dedication to excellence in the printing process is a hallmark of Stove Prairie Press, a tradition that has been maintained under the current leadership and continues to be honored into the future.