Richard (“Dick”) Thompson
I was born on June 8th, 1933 in Pontiac, Michigan, and attended Michigan State University earning a Ph.D. in Psychology in 1962. I taught psychology at Michigan State University, Ohio University, Montana State, and Western Washington University. I retired from Western in 1999 and my wife and I moved to Olympia where our children and grandchildren live. I had been an amateur photographer for almost 50 years and many of my paintings are based on those images. I began taking watercolor classes at a community college in 1995 in anticipation of filling up all those hours once I retired.
Most of my paintings are watercolor, although I have been experimenting with acrylics over the last year or so. My style, if I have one, is best described as realism. My paintings are usually based on photographs I or my daughter, who is also a photographer, have taken. The images I choose to paint are on scenes in nature that I then photograph or one I create and photograph. I paint those images that evoke an emotional response from me based on content, ideas, or beauty.
Besides the Artists Gallery, I also have paintings at the Mason Jar Restaurant in Tumwater.
