Firefighter uses artistic touch to give back

There are two things Lawrence Schneider loves — painting and the Fredonia Fire Department.

The 19-year-old Fredonia man was able to combine the two recently with his watercolor “Behind the Mask,” which he auctioned online for charity.

The painting, which shows masked firefighters moving through what looks like a smoky haze, sold for $750. The money went to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the World Trade Center to benefit first responders, veterans and their families.

Money for the painting was put up by members of the Fredonia Fire Department. It will now hang in the Fredonia fire station.

“That was quite a surprise,” Schneider said of the firefighters’ purchase.

Schneider joined the department as an explorer and is currently the department’s associate secretary.

He said his parents, Julie and Ken Schneider, an emergency medical technician, encouraged him.

“He mentioned they had a junior program. I think it’s nice to help the community and give back a little,” Schneider  said.

He said the painting was done in honor of the anniversary of 9-11.

“It shows firefighters putting out a fire, not specifically showing 9-11, but references the work of firefighters everywhere,” he said.

“It’s meant to give people the idea of what it’s like to be going out on a call, getting out of the truck, setting up a hose and be a firefighter in general. To show we’re all brothers.”

Schneider is a self-taught painter, having been homeschooled, studying art online and in books.

“I would learn from other artists, go exploring for other techniques,” he said. 

Schneider also entered some of his art in the Ozaukee County Fair.

His hope is to make a living as an artist.

His favored medium is watercolor.

“I like the look of it. Something drew me toward it. I tried acryclic and I tried oil. Watercolor just stuck,” he said.