An avid outdoorsman, Fred W. Thomas has spent much of his art career painting and illustrating the wildlife and environment of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Thomas established a national reputation as an illustrator with such clients as Eddie Bauer Co., National Geographic Society, McMillan Publishing, Pepsi Cola Corporation, Microsoft and Alaska Airlines. Perhaps his most visible work is the "Smiling Eskimo" on the tail of Alaska Airlines' aircraft. He was named Washington State Artist of the Year for 1991 by Ducks Unlimited, has been accepted to National Arts for Parks, received awards at the Pacific Rim Wildlife Exhibit, and was chosen to produce the 1992 Alaska and 1993 Washington State Duck stamps. His art has appeared on the 1987, '89, and '92 Washington State Salmon Stamps. Thomas has received numerous awards and produced several one man gallery shows. His paintings hang in many corporate and private collections.  

My personal interests and activities are varied, consequently the subjects of my paintings are often as different as golf, fly fishing or maritime art. While my style is less varied I produce images in several mediums including oil, graphite, ink and most often watercolor.  

My enjoyment of the natural outdoors is evidenced in many landscape, wildlife and sporting art paintings. Although animals are not always major characters, I usually include one or more in each composition. They bring life to a scene and help create a story within the image. That story may reflect personal experiences or encourage the viewer to contemplate more than the obvious.  

I enjoy developing a concept into an image as well as the physical act of painting, whether it is to produce a major painting or a simple study. It is a bonus when -- through viewing my paintings and prints -- others can share my feelings and hopefully enjoy the images I create.