Tom Traeger

Creative pursuits have long been a part of my life, all the way back to my doodling in first grade that sometimes got me a scolding from Sister Hilda! My report card said ... “Tommy is not making wise use of his time”..... but I thought I was using my time very well, exercising my right brain, and clearing my mind for other school things like those famous 3 R’s.

I went on to “doodle” my way right through a Master’s Degree in Education at Seattle University and a thirty year career as a teacher, principal, and on to Assistant Superintendent.

And now, many years later, I am still stimulated and enriched (not getting rich!) by various creative avenues. Since retiring from the Shoreline School District 12 years ago, I have been doing home remodeling and building wood furniture for the home, patio and garden.

In 2000, I started a small business, TRAEGERART, to market my furniture, and then began making masonry cast leaves from rhubarb, hosta and gunnera for the home and garden. Some were built into water fountains and bird baths, and proved popular at various farmers’ markets and crafts fairs.

Recently I discovered watercolor painting through a friend and it changed my life! As I enjoy our local area or travel , I look at the world around me so differently. I see potential watercolor paintings everywhere. “Paint and you will never see your world the same again”, my art teacher, Tony Couch says . How true!

The focus of many of my paintings tend to be “the three B’s”..... barns, boats, and birches. Farm landscapes with barns reflect my early life in the Willamette Valley picking berries and hops, driving a tractor, milking cows, and enjoying the rural life as the youngest of nine children and son of a blacksmith. I also like to paint the farmlands and villages of Tuscany and Provence as well as rolling hills and stone fences of Scotland and Ireland where my wife, Bobbi, and I have enjoyed traveling.

I have been a Puget Sound resident ever since coming north to go to college. I cherish the saltwater, lakes, islands, harbors, ferries and boats that define this region. Great topics to paint!

My favorite tree is the birch. The beauty of the white bark provides a wonderful contrast in my watercolor paintings. Many of my works feature the birch tree and it sneaks into others. I am a fan of Robert Frost, and his poem, “Swinger of Birches”, is a favorite poem. I am currently doing a Robert Frost collection of watercolors based on some of his verse.

I am a member of the Northwest Watercolor Society... and reflecting my other interests and hobbies, I enjoy birdwatching with the East Lake Washington Audubon Society , wonders of the stars with the Seattle Astronomical Society as well as that most elusive creative art of all..... golf!

My watercolor paintings can be viewed at my home studio in Kenmore, Parklane Gallery (Parklane Gallery.com) in Kirkland, Monte Villa Farmhouse in Woodinville or at Alexa’s Cafe (alexascafe.com) in Bothell where I am the Featured Artist for 2007.