Thomas Whichester Wells

Thomas Whichester WELLS 1916 - 2004 Thomas Wells, BFA, AICH/FASMA sailed away into the western sunset on March 11, 2004. He is an internationally known marine artist, well recognized amongst rig sailors and art collectors. His knowledge and love for the sea and ships is portrayed in his paintings by an extensive academic art training combined with youthful experiences at sea; before the mast, in fore-and-afters, square-riggers, steam. Tom was born October 20, 1916 and raised in Menominee, Michigan. He attended the local schools, graduated Northwestern Military and Naval Academy, Lake Geneva, WI and PFA School of Fine Arts at Yale University in '42. In 1936 he sailed on an Artic expedition in the schooner "Effie M. Morrissey", a year later fished off the Nova Scotia banks in the Gloucester Schooners "Teazer" and "Grand Marshall". During 1938-39 he sailed to Australia and returned via Cape Horn in the four-masted bark Passat. During World War II he served as a young Naval Officer; 1942 - Flag Quartermaster for Vice Admiral Jonas Ingram, South Atlantic Theatre, 1943 - Commissioned Ensign, U.S.N.R., 1944 - Communications Officer in Schooner "Juanita" Ex "Vega", 1945 Commissioned Lt. J.G., U.S.N.R., 1945-46 - Executive Officer, navigator, salvage, diving officer in the "Sarsi", ATF 111 in the Aleutians. Tom is a past president of the Puget Sound Group of North West Painters, a Fellow in the American Society of Marine Artists, advisor to the National Marine Artists, and to the National Maritime Society, a member of the Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society, member of the Association International Cape Horners, British Section and Cape Horners of Australia. In 1946, Tom married Wanda Zallinger and settled in Seattle. He worked for years as a technical illustrator at the Applied Physics Lab, U.W. His paintings were exhibited in galleries here and abroad. The awards and credits are too numerous to mention but to spotlight a few; 1948 - Washington State Capitol mural design award, 1972-82 twelve complete sell-outs of "one-man-shows" of marine art on the West Coast. In 1955 three paintings were placed in permanent collection of the Seattle Art Museum, 1957-58-59 First Place Awards in marine exhibitions Seattle Museum of History and Industry, 1976 - Invitational exhibit, Kennedy Gallery, N.Y. City "OpSail" show; '80 - Honorable mention, Mystic Seaport International Marine Art Show. He is listed in the International Dictionary of Sea Painters, E.H.H. Archibald, and in the "Who's Who in American Art", Tom is rated as one of the top ten marine artists in the world and received the "Best of Show" award illustration, 1981 San Diego Art Directors. Tom is an honorary member of the Seattle Yacht Club, a member of the Sand Point Country Club, and the Sand Point Community Methodist Church. He is survived by his beloved wife Wanda, son Tom Jr., daughter Jean Hamerslag, and two grandchildren. He was often asked to lecture before Yacht Clubs and sailing groups having common nautical interests. He was an old salt and entertaining raconteur whose tall tales of tall ships were as entrancing as his paintings. Tom's favorite opus was the Large Mosaic in the Apse of St. Demetrios, Greek Orthodox Church in Seattle. Whether the canvas be on a four mast schooner or on an artists easel, Tom was equally adept, a true warrior-poet. This mariner and artist now sails the eternal seas. No service at his request. Donations may be made to the Tom Wells Artist Fund, c/o Bob Bryant, PSGPWP Scholarship Fund, 209 Raft Island, Gig Harbor, WA. 98335-5600, or the Sand Point Church, 4710 N.E. 70th St., Seattle, WA. 98115.