Meet the Artists

Lance

I first became interested in oil painting around the age of 12. I was fortunate to grow up near a small rural town in Indiana, where I had the opportunity to take lessons from Robert Weaver, Professor of Art at the Herron School of Art in Indianapolis. However, beginning in late adolescence, my focus shifted to academics, and art took a backseat for over a decade.

Despite this, my passion for art never faded. Throughout my life, visits to art museums—primarily in the United States and Europe—were either the focus of vacations or a meaningful addition to professional travel. It wasn’t until the age of 41 that I returned to painting in a serious way, taking classes at the Indianapolis Art Center and participating in a few invited exhibitions in Indianapolis.

In 2019, my wife and I made the decision to semi-retire and move to Saugatuck, Michigan—drawn in part by the vibrant local art scene. Since then, I’ve continued to develop my skills through workshops with artists such as Ken Cadwallader, Richard Jordan, Colley Whisson, and James Swanson. The move was also inspired by the region’s natural beauty, which remains the central subject of my work.

My primary interest lies in landscape painting. My goal is to find, emphasize, and express the beauty and emotional intensity found in nature—and in ourselves. Art is the color of a meaningful experience. My motivation has always been to create art for the experience of doing so, and to share that experience with others—not to sell it. I often find it difficult to part with a painting, and when I do, I prefer to know who is acquiring it and why. For me, art is deeply personal. If a painting brings someone joy, I want to share in that experience. That kind of connection doesn’t happen through an anonymous gallery sale, which is why I’ve chosen to sell my work only through personal interaction with the buyer.

And contrary to a lot of advice, you won’t find me on Instagram or Facebook.
My art isn’t about sales or marketing—it’s about art.

If you have questions about my work, or simply want to talk about art, life, and finding the best in both—or if you're interested in acquiring a painting—I invite you to reach out to me directly at lance.trexler@gmail.com.

Thank you for visiting my website —
I hope these images bring a moment of joy and intensity of experience to your day.