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. He has had the honor of receiving numerous plein air awards, most notably Best Building for July 2022 Plein Air Salon as well as an Oil Painters of America Scholarship Recipient.

One of Todd’s most common subjects is old barns and buildings. For years Todd has built furniture out of reclaimed wood and other materials, therefore he has grown an appreciation for the potential left in things that may otherwise be disregarded or thrown away. He enjoys finding those weathered and worn features that only time graces us with.

“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