April Lobby Artist: Tom Schultz

The work of Green Lake painter and illustrator Thomas Schultz will be featured throughout the month of April in the Town Square Lobby Gallery, with an artist reception on Friday, April 1 from 5 to 6 p.m.

Schultz is a well-known bird artist and has been working full-time as an illustrator for over 40 years. 

“For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated with the wonders and the beauty of the natural world – in all of its expressions and intricacies,” the Fond du Lac native says. “Birds in particular have always been a special interest of mine, and I enjoy their infinite diversities of shape, size, and color.”

His detailed illustrations have been published in a variety of books and bird field guides, including National Geographic’s Field Guide to North America’s Birds. He has also done work for the Smithsonian Institution, the Houghton Mifflin Company and various other publications.  

As an avid bird enthusiast, Schultz co-founded the Green Lake Bird and Nature Club and founded the Green Lake Bird Fest, held annually at Town Square. This year’s Bird Fest will be held April 29 and 30. 

In his paintings, Schultz strives to capture the beauty of birds within their natural environments – modified or emphasized by light or mood. 

“I frequently focus on small, intimate views of them in their world, appreciating the subtleties of lighting and texture that are unique to each element. My compositions are developed through a series of design sketches, in which I work out details of arrangement, form, and balance,” he says. “Careful brushstrokes bring them to life, with the finished works hopefully sharing the joys of my experiences.”

Town Square Community Center is devoted to showcasing local artists, and the Lobby Gallery is Green Lake’s popular showcase for the latest works of the area’s most outstanding artists.