The serene outdoors seem at odds with the wild and crazy character
of this artist, who is as famous for his paintings as he is
for his sense of humor and gaudy shirts! If seen on his constant
excursions into the wilds, many a collector would tell of an
eccentric pirate come to life, only this swashbuckling, seemingly
fearless explorer was more anxious to gain and share the treasure
of knowledge rather than riches.
"I grew up in a house full of pets," he says. "My
mom had a degree in fine arts and although my dad was a lawyer,
he was a weekend painter." So his love of animals and art
was sown early (also inspired when he received a gift of Roger
Tory Peterson’s Field Guide to the Birds) and he attended
Willamette University with a major in art and a minor in biology.
"So I could know my subjects outside and in," he says.
He put that education to good use as he embarked on a fine art
career that would allow him to do what he enjoyed most; explore
and learn.
Frederick built his house in the middle of the Oregon wilderness
and filled it with birds and animals. He’s hiked and camped
in mountains and forests throughout the northwest U.S., Central
America and East Africa. He knows the lakes and mountains as
well as he knows the plains and deserts, not to mention almost
all the creatures who live there, from the smallest bird to
the largest elephant. And he will paint them on whatever size
canvas suits them best.
In addition to his peaceful views of animals in their natural
habitats, he is also known for his paintings’ many different
sizes and shapes—each chosen to best suit his perfectly
balanced images of wildlife and wilderness.
