Waterloo - After more than forty (40) years as one of the region’s most successful artists, painter Peter Etril Snyder (b.1944) is announcing his retirement. His gallery on Erb Street will close on December 31, 2009 and he will no longer be issuing reproductions of his famed works after that date.

Snyder’s career mirrors the story of Waterloo: from his Mennonite upbringing, his father leaving the traditional farm behind to open Maple Lane Dairy “in town”, to the broad cultural influences of art school and international travel. He exemplifies the blending of old world values with modern sensibilities and this is evident in the varied themes of his paintings: capturing the simple charm of Mennonite life; the glorious colour of a fall landscape; or an exotic foreign garden. His paintings are avidly collected by people, corporations and organizations worldwide, including the Canadian Museum of Civilization. One of his paintings, The Homesteaders, was officially presented to HRH Prince Phillip during a visit to Alberta in 1985. During his career he has also been recognized with an Honourary Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) degree from Wilfrid Laurier University and is a Paul Harris Fellow with Rotary International.

“A charmed life” is how Snyder often describes his career. A combination of hard work and good luck seemed to propel his long career. He says: “I owe all of my success to the public, who somehow kept returning to reward this picture-maker with a good living from doing what I love. My story isn’t the conventional suffering artist’s tale, we struggled in the early days but I managed to make a living without any artistic grants or outside funding. I just kept painting and buyers just kept coming. People really responded to my paintings and for that I am so grateful.”

Now looking forward to a lighter schedule, without the concerns of running a busy gallery, Snyder plans to continue to paint in his home studio and take on some commissioned work but mainly wants to enjoy the many adventures that life offers, in Waterloo and abroad, with his wife Marilyn.

The Gallery at 59 Erb Street, near King, will be open as usual until December 31s,2009 and continues to offer a wide range of original paintings, limited edition reproductions and books. Snyder will also hold three special exhibitions of themed originals in October of this year.