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Roy Thomas was born in 1949 in Longlac, Ontario and resided in Thunder Bay, Ontario. As an Ahnisnabae-born artist, Roy was devoted to learning about the ways of his people, their teachings, and the ways of nature.
While he was principally a self-taught artist, Roy was guided by the memories of his Ahnisnabae elders who taught him what to paint, and was inspired by the ancient rock paintings in the Northwestern Ontario, where he grew up. As a child, his grandparents encouraged him to draw as they told him stories. At first he drew on the ground, on beaches, in snow banks, and in the dark with a lighted stick. When he told his grandparents that his drawings disappeared, they assured him, 'One day, my grandson, they will come back to you.' A pencil and then a paintbrush eventually replaced the stick.
Today Roy is critically acclaimed as one of the most brilliant and prolific members of the Woodland School, the art movement that began with the work of Norval Morrisseau in 1962. Roy used symbolism and imagery to pass on traditional legends, events and spiritual knowledge. Influenced by the pictographs he saw as a child, his work is characterized by brilliant color, the importance of the circle, and frequent depiction of Turtle Island (North America). Roy painted what is real in response to the power of life forces in nature.
During Roy's thirty-five years of painting, he has exhibited in many one person shows and multiple group exhibits nationally and internationally. His work is exhibited in numerous museum collections, including The Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario; Esso Resources, Edmonton, Alberta; Foreign Affairs and International Trade (Canada); McMichael Canadian Collection, Kleinberg, Ontario; The Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario; The National Museum of Man, Ottawa, Ontario; Thunder Bay Art Gallery, Thunder Bay, Ontario; Inuit Gallery, Mannheim, Germany; and the National Gallery of Ethnology, Osaka, Japan.
Artist Statement
I am born an Ahnisnabae (People of the Land) artist. I know how to paint, the spirit of art and our Elders teach me what to paint. It is not how I paint that is important, it is what I paint. It is easier to paint experience than knowledge.
The spirit of art teaches me that the paintbrush comes from the hair of the animal and the handle comes from the tree. I also acknowledge my relatives for their wisdom of invention of the art material.
Being an artist completes my purpose in life. I am forever grateful.
Sivertson Gallery celebrates the life and work of our friend, Roy Thomas. (Dec.29,1949-Nov.13,2004)
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