Richard F. Loffler

Richard Loffler grew up on the wide-open Saskatchewan prairies, becoming fascinated with animals while on childhood excursions to his uncle's farm. As a teenager, Loffler became a committed outdoorsman, absorbing the wonders of the natural world around him. He also found zoos to be a retreat for observing animals in close quarters, while the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in Regina, where he worked for 22 years, was a haven to study the beautifully prepared natural history dioramas.

Loffler studied art at the University of Regina, the Kelsey Institute of Applied Arts, and the Scottsdale Artists' School. His work as a taxidermist for the Saskatchewan Museum of Natural History has given him the knowledge to accurately model each animal's unique textures and anatomy; his animals are realistic and the surfaces are lively and tactile. Loffler's goal is to capture the character of his subjects at their most expressive moments. For the purpose of conducting research and sketching animals at the zoos, Loffler travels throughout his native Canada and the United States.

Loffler is a member of the Society of Animal Artists and the National Sculpture Society.