We are interested in promoting local artists with talents that deserve recognition. This section is dedicated to Wesley Van Gelder, a 15 year-old from Powhatan County, Virginia.
Wes has been a member of the VHS with his father, David, for over four years. They have attended every annual survey in that time, including several BioBlitz surveys. Wes is best known for rounding up interesting herps at the annual surveys and showing them off while we are trying to conduct the business meeting!
By the age of six he loved drawing ships and lighthouses and was taking art lessons at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. At the age of eight Wes began drawing reptiles and amphibians and his fascination with trees grew about four years later. Wes also likes working in many different media including pencil, oil paint, water color, charcoal, pen and ink, and clay.
Since the time he could walk, Wes has been interested in herps. Wes also spends time studying reptiles and amphibians for a few hours on weekends in the laboratory of Dr. Rafael da Sa, Professor of Biology at the University of Richmond. Wes aspires to being a bush pilot in Alaska (he'll have to use his drawings to remind him of herps while he is out there)!
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