Robert Metropulos

Robert Metropulos, Jr. was born in Alexandria, Virginia on September 9, 1957, while his father was stationed with the military in Washington, D.C. A year later, the family moved back to their home town of Cedarburg, Wisconsin, a historical art-oriented community in the southeastern part of the state.

Bob’s early interest in art was inspired and encouraged by his mother, who was an amateur artist herself. Later, as a teen, Metropulos was lured to the art studio of Harold Hansen, where he watched the artist render paintings that depicted old buildings and various landscapes of the Cedarburg community. With Hansen’s encouragement, Metropulos soon pursued painting with passion in his early watercolors of landscapes and old farm scenes.

Metropulos continued his art interests at the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh. There he became fascinated with drawing in charcoal, and this became his medium of choice. With each effort he attempted to create the illusion of color with soft value tones of each charcoal stroke. Later he began adding just a hint of color to his compositions.

In 1979 Bob moved to the Northwoods and opened a small studio in Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin. Here he was captivated by the beauty of nature and the wildlife abounding around him. Soon he was using charcoal to create wildlife portraits; he felt comfortable with the medium, but with each work he kept in mind how he would execute the piece in color. Later he began working in oils, and presently is most accomplished in his use of acrylic paints.

In 1981 he expanded his studio to Parkside Gallery in downtown Minocqua, Wisconsin. The gallery features his work, both originals and limited edition prints, and the work of many other artists. For several years he has been painting on-site in his gallery where he enjoys receiving one-on-one feedback from browsers and buyers.

Bob believes in giving back to the Northwoods which has given to him; he donates artwork to both state and local societies and organizations for fund raising purposes. He also has a number of achievements and awards to his credit. The following are only some of these:

1991 Northwoods Wildlife Center Artist of the Year (Minocqua, Wisconsin)

1992 6th Place Federal Duck Stamp Contest

1994 Winner of the Delaware Duck Stamp Contest

1995 5th Place Federal Duck Stamp Contest

1997 Lee LeBlanc Wildlife Art Festival Artist of the Year (Iron River, Michigan)

1998 Lee LeBlanc Wildlife Art Festival People's Choice Award (Iron River, Michigan)

1999 Winner of the Indiana Game Bird Habitat Stamp Contest

2001 Northwoods Wildlife Center Artist of the Year (Minocqua, Wisconsin)

2002 9th Place Federal Duck Stamp Contest

2003 Winner of the Wisconsin Pheasant Stamp Contest

2003 State of Ohio Ducks Unlimited Sponsor Artist of the Year

2004 Winner of the  Ohio Duck Stamp Contest

2006 Wisconsin Pheasant Forever Sponsor Artist of the Year

2020 State of Ohio Ducks Unlimited Sponsor Artist of the Year

2020 Winner of the Wisconsin Duck Stamp Contest

BOOK ILLUSTRATIONS: Slip Bobbering by Greg Bohn and Reel People by Tom Hollatz

COMMUNITY: President, Manito Art League (4yrs) and Advisory Board Member, Northwoods Wildlife Center

TEACHING: Gifted Children's Program, Northern Wisconsin School District and Charcoal Drawing Workshops, Nicolet Area Technical College

PUBLIC SPEAKING: Spokesperson, Northern Wisconsin Task Force on Literacy and Spoke on art and dyslexia for the 'Personal Profile Program' at participating Wisconsin high schools.