Peter R. Gerbert, Wildlife Artist
Winner of countless art show awards, the wildlife paintings of Peter R. Gerbert provide realistic and unusual views of the untamed lives of animals and birds.

All of Peter’s unique acrylic paintings are based on experiences gained by exploring the great outdoors, studying wildlife in remote wilderness areas. He is always particular about all aspects of the subject’s environment, including the time of year, animal relationships and indigenous plant life. Each new painting begins with the research material the artist has collected…and a vivid imagination. Compositions are worked and reworked until the artist achieves a design that he is sure will be extraordinary. The actual painting is a layered process, working with texture, washes, and then thicker layers of acrylics to achieve lifelike paintings. The closer you look at his artwork, the more detail you will see.

Since 1997, the Florida Wildlife Federation has proudly featured and promoted the artist. Many wildlife art prints by Mr. Gerbert receive endorsement by the FWF and are marketed throughout Florida with part of the proceeds benefiting wildlife conservation programs. In 2000, in a joint effort with the FWF and the National Wildlife Federation, 600 of the artist’s “Life in the Everglades” posters were shipped to the United States Congress to encourage Congress to pass the important new Everglades Restoration Bill. The bill passed the U.S. Congress overwhelmingly and ultimately was signed into law by the President. In 2007, Peter was honored with a CONSERVATION SERVICE AWARD from the FWF for his “…dedication to the protection of Florida’s wildlife and natural resources.” His paintings have been on many of the FWF’s Florida Fish & Wildlife News magazine covers, including “Firefly Skies” (2019), “Tidal Discoveries” (2020) and “Florida’s Wild Beauty” (2022).

In 2010, Peter R. Gerbert received a very special WILDLIFE ARTWORK OF THE YEAR AWARD from Audubon Florida for his painting “The Spoonbill Lagoon.” This was the first time the Audubon group recognized any artist with this distinction and the art made the cover of the Florida Naturalist magazine. Other paintings have since been featured by this group as magazine covers including “Just One Moment in Eternity” (2012), “Somewhere a Peaceable Kingdom” (2017) and “River Journey” (2022). A portion of the proceeds from Mr. Gerbert’s featured prints benefits the group’s conservation efforts.

In 2020, the Coral Gables Museum instituted a six month long solo exhibition featuring forty-five of Peter R. Gerbert’s original acrylic paintings. The museum coordinated Meet the Artist events offering tours with the artist for museum members and visitors. Students visiting the museum received a coloring book highlighting detailed line drawings of Peter’s Florida wildlife art.

When Peter is not exploring Florida’s wilderness, he can be found creating original works of art in his art studio near a pristine wooded habitat in Hernando County, Florida.

• Artist Statement

Native Florida has been the main focus of my work since 1993, acrylic paintings capturing wildlife and wildlife habitats with realistic detail and unique concepts. I bring many elements into my work including: direction of light and shadow, the time of year, and the flora and fauna of the particular habitat that I am portraying.

All works are based on experience out in the field with my extensive research: boating, camping out and exploring remote wilderness areas to get a real feel for my surroundings and to study wild animals and birds. Going by my photography, pencil sketches and imagination, I work and rework different designs until I come up with a composition that I think will be intriguing and pleasing to the eye. With a lifelong flair for being very creative, I always try to come up with images that have never been done before. My latest works are done on custom pieces of Ampersand Gessobord. The actual painting is a layered process utilizing a technique that I have developed over the years, applying molding paste and Gesso and then adding many layers of acrylics. The texture helps to build realistic details and contrast. Given my extensive research in the field and creative design composition, each painting takes one to three months to complete.

• Achievements

Featured artist of the FLORIDA WILDLIFE FEDERATION since 1997. A series of limited edition prints and wildlife art products by Mr. Gerbert are being marketed throughout Florida, with a percentage of all sales directly benefiting wildlife conservation efforts in Florida.

October 23rd, 2010 Peter R. Gerbert receives a very special WILDLIFE ARTWORK OF THE YEAR AWARD from the AUDUBON FLORIDA for his latest painting “The Spoonbill Lagoon.” This is the first time Florida Audubon recognizes any artist with this distinction.
Prints of the painting are now being marketed exclusively through Audubon, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the group’s conservation efforts including roseate spoonbill research projects.

Peter R. Gerbert's "The Spoonbill Lagoon" is featured on the cover of the FLORIDA AUDUBON NATURALIST magazine.
WINTER 2010 - 2011

Granted a very special Conservation Service Award from the Florida Wildlife Federation during their 70th Annual Conservation Awards Banquet & Benefit on the evening of June 23rd, 2007. A beautiful, personally-engraved, wood plate declaring Peter's ten years of being the FWF’s Featured Artist along with his dedication to protecting Florida’s delicate environment.

In a joint effort with the Florida Wildlife Federation and the National Wildlife Federation, 600 “Life in the Everglades” posters were shipped to Congress in the fall of 2000 to help convince Congressmen of the importance of the new Everglades restoration bill. Every member was given this vividly detailed piece of artwork to keep for their own. The bill was passed unanimously.

Osceola County Board of County Commissioners purchase of the original acrylic painting “Journey Into Twilight” featuring Florida White-Tail Deer following the edge of a river at twilight, and the Fine Art Print “In the Presence of Sandhill Cranes” for the new county courthouse building in Kissimmee, Florida.

Commissioned in 1998 for the original painting “Roseate Sunset” depicting roseate spoonbills in their natural environment; now on permanent display in the lobby of the Inn at Disney's Celebration, in Celebration, Florida.

Commissioned three times by Bits & Pieces, Inc. for the original paintings “Life in the Everglades,” “Butterflies of the World” and “Exotic Birds of the World,” all three works produced by the company as 1,000 and 1,500 piece jigsaw puzzles and marketed internationally, with over one-million catalogues per mailing.

Commissioned by Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Petersburg for the original painting “Communion with the Son,” reproduced as posters commemorating the Jubilee Year and RENEW 2000.

Artwork included in “Nature Kits” mailed out to all Florida Public Schools by the National Wildlife Federation.

Limited Edition Prints offered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as a fundraiser for the “WILD Action Grant” Fund for Florida’s Schoolyard Habitat’s.

Four paintings chosen as “patch designs” by the Boy Scouts of America, patches currently in production.

Artwork featured in newsletters for Southwest Florida Water Management.

Featured artist on the website of CloudEight Stationery, with artwork used as Microsoft Outlook stationery. CloudEight Stationery has been rated as one of the top one-hundred website's in the world with over ten-thousand visitors per day.

Sample Peter R. Gerbert Outlook Stationery included on Microsoft’s Outlook Training CD-ROM.

The paintings "3 Birds and a Star" and “In Mom We Trust” were both contest winners in the Florida Wildlife Magazine 2009 Wildlife Art Contest; featured in the July /August 2009 issue. Note: the magazine is not affiliated with the Florida Wildlife Federation

In August 2001, a framed “Bear Trees” Fine Art Print is presented to Florida's Attorney General Bob Butterworth on behalf of the Florida Wildlife Federation; a token of appreciation for Mr. Butterworth's outstanding efforts to help protect Florida's fragile wilderness and unique wildlife. The artwork was displayed in Mr. Butterworth's office inside the Florida Capitol Building.

Wild Wings, Brilliant Birds exhibit at the Tampa Museum of Art, September 6th, 1998 to January 10th, 1999.

One Man Art Exhibits for the Florida Wildlife Federation’s Conservation and Awards Banquet almost every year from 2000 through 2019.

Approximately fifteen to twenty fine art shows per year including Mt Dora Fine Arts Festival, ArtiGras in Jupiter, Santa Fe Community College Spring Arts Festival in Gainesville, Hernando County Art Festival in Brooksville, Cool Art Show in St. Petersburg, Space Coast Art Festival in Cocoa Beach and many others.

Awards include:

“Award of Distinction” Citrus County Festival of the Arts, Inverness, 2023

“First Place” Homosassa Arts, Crafts & Seafood Festival, 2010, 2011 and 2012

“Award of Excellence” Citrus County Festival of the Arts, Inverness, 2010

WILDLIFE ARTWORK OF THE YEAR AWARD -2010 Florida Audubon Assembly at the Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon

“First Place” Fall Harvest of Art, Spring Hill, 2008

“Award of Distinction” Hernando County Art Festival, 2008

“First Place” Windermere Art Festival, 2008

“Award of Merit” Lake Eustis Fine Arts Festival, 2008

“Award of Excellence” Chain of Parks Fine Arts Festival, Tallahassee, 2007

“Award of Merit” Florida Manatee Festival, St. Petersburg Times Fine Art Show, 2007

“Best of Show -First Place” John's Pass Arts, Crafts & Seafood Festival, 2006

“Award of Merit” Chain of Parks Fine Arts Festival, Tallahassee, 2006

“Award of Merit” Lake Eustis Fine Arts Festival, 2006

“People's Choice” Fall Harvest of Art, Spring Hill, 2005

“Best of Show” Starke Fall Art Festival, 2004

“First Place” Spring Hill Art League Art Festival, 2004

“Award of Excellence” Citrus County Festival of the Arts, Inverness, 2004

“Award of Distinction” Hernando County Art Festival, 2004

“Award of Excellence” Florida Manatee Festival, St. Petersburg Times Fine Art Show, 2004

“Award of Merit” Out of the Blue Fine Art Festival, Clearwater, 2004

“Best of Show” Hernando County Art Festival, 2003

“Best of Show” Venice Art Festival, 2003

“Best of Show” Florida Black Bear Festival, 2001, 2002 and 2003

“Award of Excellence” Apopka Art & Foliage Festival, 2003

“Award of Distinction” Deerfield Beach Art Festival, 2002

“Award of Distinction” Starke Fall Art Festival, 2002

“First Place” Hernando County Art Festival, 2001 and 2002

“First Place” Spring Hill Art League Art Festival, 2002

“First Place” Venice Art Festival, 2001

“Best of Show” Silver Springs 6th Annual Wildlife Art Festival, 2000

“Award of Distinction” Leesburg Art Festival, 1998 …and many others

http://www.PeterRGerbert.com/

On the Internet since 1992

The Wildlife Art Studio of Peter R. Gerbert on Facebook

Audubon Florida

National Audubon Society

Professional Association of Visual Artists

Spring Hill Art League

Florida Wildlife Federation

National Wildlife Federation

Limited Edition Prints are currently being displayed and sold in art galleries and frame shops throughout Florida.

Artists of Florida Volume IV, Artists of America, Inc. Publisher

A Taste for the Great Outdoors, Cover Art, Florida Wildlife Federation, Morris Press Publisher

Peter R. Gerbert's "The Spoonbill Lagoon" is featured on the cover of the AUDUBON FLORIDA NATURALIST magazine.
WINTER 2010 - 2011

Artwork featured in almost every issue of Florida Fish and Wildlife News since 1997.

Make sure your speakers are cranked up, and dive into the complete creation process of "Coral Reefscapes -Plate 1" in the new short film "Another World Beneath -Part 1"

...partake in a scuba-diving trip with the artist, sit next to him as designs are created on his computer, watch over his shoulder in the art studio as this dynamic painting is built-up with 3-D texture and then painted, over a period of almost four months…

NOW PLAYING
...on the movies page of this website!

Film running time: 8 minutes, 15 seconds, HD WIDESCREEN 16:9, 5.1 Stereo Sound

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