Artist Statement
“For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated with the wonders and the beauty of the natural world – in all of its expressions and intricacies. Birds in particular have always been a special interest of mine, and I enjoy their infinite diversities of shape, size, and color.
In my paintings I strive to capture the beauty of birds within their natural environments – modified or emphasized by light or mood. I frequently focus in on small, intimate views of them in their world, appreciating the subtleties of lighting and texture that are unique to each element. My compositions are developed through a series of design sketches, in which I work out details of arrangement, form, and balance. Careful brushstrokes bring them to life, with the finished works hopefully sharing the joys of my experiences.”
Biography
It has been said that “birds are his life” – and for Thomas Schultz, that has certainly been the case!
He grew up in Fond du Lac, and then attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison, earning a degree in wildlife ecology. Tom has been working full-time as an artist/illustrator for over 40 years, and had his work published in a variety of books and bird field guides.
Many of his illustrations have been contracted by the National Geographic Society for several editions of their Field Guide to the Birds of North America. He has also done work for the Smithsonian Institution, the Houghton Mifflin Company (for the Warblers field guide in their Peterson Series), and various other publications.
Tom is an active birder with a strong interest in field identification, which is in part an outgrowth of his bird illustration work. He is actively involved with the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology – recently as president – and has also served as field trip coordinator for 34 years.
Locally, he has been a board member of the Green Lake Conservancy for the past 15 years. He has lived in the Green Lake area with his wife Wendy since 1983, and six years ago they established the “Green Lake Bird and Nature Club,” for which he serves as president.