(T. WALKER)
Teri Walker Thomas

As soon as I could hold a pencil I started drawing horses--my first love! At age twelve I won honorable mention in the Western Horseman Magazine's art contest.

I was fortunate to grow up in the California countryside, where I could ride, raise, train and show horses. I attended Chouinard Art School, Los Angeles California, at age nineteen. Then I got a job at Africa USA (50 miles northeast of Hollywood, California). I put my art on the shelf while I pursued a career with exotic animals, horse training, and building my herd of Appaloosa horses.

My life's dream of being an artist never left me all those years! Then in the 80's I started taking plein air art classes with the teaching of Glen Knowles in California.

Nowadays, while living in "exile" in Oregon, I have a large, light filled studio where I can paint "out of the rain"!
My personal inspiration is to capture the nostalgia, charm and beauty of God's creatures and His creation!

......."In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth"
Genesis 1:1

Family History
Born into a pioneer family, she spent her youth riding, training and showing horses.

Teri was influenced by the western movie industry. Hollywood Actors, Pancho and Cisco the Kid, as well as many others, were filmed on the Walker Ranch near Newhall, California. At that time Teri's grandfather, Frank E. Walker still lived in his rustic cabin on the ranch where he raised an even dozen children. Today, the Walker Ranch is the Placerita Canyon State Park.

Teri's artistic talent came through the French paternal grandmother side of the family. She has fond memories of visiting her Aunt Mickey, (Hortense Walker Schafer), at her home where she had painted beautiful murals on the walls. Two of Teri's cousins, are artists working for Disney Studios.

Teri attended Chouinard Art school in Los Angeles and attended many classes with Glenn Knowles in Plein Air painting.
By Debra Lynn Bush.

Galleries
Sterling Collection
Beverly Hills, California

Inside Out Home Decor
Sherwood, Oregon

Hughes Water Gardens
Tualatin, Oregon

Collected in the United States, England and Central America