Get to know the artist
About the Artist
Chad DeRuischer is a contemporary charcoal artist based in Mexico Beach, Florida, creating original portraits, wildlife, and coastal seascapes that explore the space between realism and abstraction.
Working primarily with charcoal and PanPastels, Chad builds each piece through layers of expressive mark-making, rich tonal contrasts, and soft atmospheric transitions. Rather than simply depicting a subject, his work reveals it—allowing faces, wildlife, and coastal landscapes to emerge from darkness, texture, and light. The result is artwork that invites viewers to pause, look closer, and discover something new with every viewing.
Inspired by the beauty of Florida’s Gulf Coast, Chad’s seascapes capture the quiet power of expansive skies, calm waters, and dramatic weather. His wildlife pieces celebrate the strength and spirit of nature, while his contemporary portraits explore emotion, mystery, and the human experience through the interplay of light and shadow.
Each original drawing is created by hand using archival materials, embracing the raw beauty and expressive possibilities of charcoal. His work seeks to balance technical realism with freedom of expression, creating timeless contemporary artwork that feels both familiar and deeply personal.
Through every collection, Chad’s goal is simple: to create art that evokes emotion, sparks imagination, and leaves a lasting connection between the artwork and the viewer.