By John Christopher Fine
He was born in Detroit; it was a tough city.
His parents were auto workers. Back then, when he began drawing at 4, Wyland used his full name. His passion and talent developed through school years as did his athletic ability. High jumping and welterweight boxing were extra-curricular. Pencil sketches drawn then show inherent gifts that increased with an enthusiasm for the oceans that has never waned since he first began diving at age fourteen.
“L’enthousiasme est le seul vertu.” That legend was inscribed on a sign on young ensign Philippe Tailliez’ captain’s door. Enthusiasm is the only virtue. Tailliez, the father of modern diving, was Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s commanding officer in the Navy and the man that brought Cousteau into diving. Long after his distinguished career in the French Navy, Tailliez asked his first captain’s widow for the sign. It was prominently displayed in his fisherman’s cottage across from the ancient port of Toulon. It was with friendship and respect, many years later in New Orleans at a major diving convention, that Wyland presented Captain Tailliez with a copy of one of his books. More than marked coincidence both pioneers, Tailliez in diving, Wyland is art, kept that wonderful quality throughout life: enthusiasm.
Wyland’s book “The Art and Life of Wyland” is a collage, a collection, a sentimental journey that opens wide a window on his life. Family pictures, growing up pictures, “Whaling Wall” pictures. Wyland of the famous murals painted larger than life on buildings, structures, even on the Great Wall of China his number one hundred Whaling Wall. Now that’s enthusiasm.
“I paint them on canvas. When I do a wall I just see it bigger,” he said.
Wyland is building a studio that will enable him to create gigantic canvases inside. When asked how he will get the large canvases out of his new three story studio going up at his place in Islamorada, he smiled, “Roll them up.” As if it was obvious that any mere building could contain Wyland’s colossal works of art.
He drives a unique Harley-Davidson bike — only two of them were made. At home in the Florida Keys, Wyland, despite world-wide fame and instant recognition, is down to earth. He greets everyone with an open smile and winning disposition. No super-star snobbishness, he takes time to talk with servers when he eats out, knows them on a first name basis, greets the FedEx driver and takes time to talk, is affable and generous.
Children play a special role in Wyland’s work. He enlists students, teachers and parents in his grandiose outdoor painting projects. He encourages art and supports many charities that serve environmental causes. His original art as well as his sculptures, jewelry, shoes, books are sold from Wyland studio stores, on-line and are featured on cruise ships that carry art. He takes underwater photographs diving, yet doesn’t need them to copy from.
“I see a whale underwater and watch it flow, I can visualize the flow and dimension when I start to paint,” he said.
His art can be realistic down to the eye of a marine mammal, stylistic, modernistic, always creative. As with gifted artists in history, Wyland’s talents are not limited to use of palette and brush. He is a sculptor, designed the building for his new studio under construction, dives around the world, composes music and plays with bands.
Celebrities often surround themselves with protectors to fob off fans. So many get that Hollywood syndrome that comes with wealth and notoriety, dismissing the very people that gave them their fame and fortunes. With fame, Wyland remains what he was, a kid from Detroit with a supportive mother, father and siblings. Happy to engage people at any level with the same enthusiasm for life and dedication to ocean conservation he issues when he meets with Presidents and kings, governors and other artists of equal fame.
Wyland is an underwater explorer, a pioneer interpreter of the ocean realm and its creatures large and small, a hail-fellow-well-met with an outgoing nature and charm that comes natural. His book of poetry, thoughts and philosophy are set down in “Wyland Wisdom.” His life is lived every day with the same enthusiasm he felt after his first ocean dive more than five decades ago.
