Fred Oldfield

Template:Infobox artist: = Fred Oldfield

Fred Vernon Oldfield (March 18, 1918 – February 24, 2017)[1] was an American cowboy and western artist. He was also a world war two veteran.

Early life

Fred V. Oldfield was born in Alfalfa, Washington, and grew up as a cowhand near Toppenish, Washington, on the Yakama Indian Reservation. His days as a cowboy served as inspiration in much of his western art. When Fred was growing up, he had to hunt and trap to get food for his family. He hated to see the sight of a deceased animal and never hunted in adulthood. He remembers nights on the prairie so cold that he would literally set tumbleweeds on fire, to lie down in the warm spot they made as they burned. "You could sleep for about two hours before the cold woke you up" he’d recall. His collectors are drawn to these stories and early experiences that he told with his brush and canvas.

During Fred Oldfield’s childhood, the family followed seasonal work in the Pacific Northwest travelling in a horse-drawn wagon. The story goes that he did not realize his potential as an artist until he was about 17, when he painted a thistle flower on a bunkhouse wall which included a painted faux frame and nail to hang it on. Later, while living in Alaska (1941) his landlady, who was said to have been of somewhat shady reputation and incredible sales ability, acted as his first gallery agent. She managed to get him as much as $10 each for his 9" x 9" paintings on discarded linoleum depicting cowboys, Indians, and mountainous landscapes.

When the war ( WWII) started, he headed back to the States to join the Army. He spent most of his time in the Aleutian Islands. He painted patriotic scenes on leather jackets worn by fellow travelers on the boat. It was while he was in the Army that he really got excited about painting and began to think he might make a living as an artist. After the war, he attended art school in Seattle under the G.I. Bill and began painting murals on walls in Alaska, Canada and throughout the Northwest.

Fred Oldfield had a passion and appreciation for life that is reflected in his work. His colors are bold and powerful like the beauty he saw in his surroundings.

Career

Oldfield had strong ties with Toppenish and the Yakama Indian Reservation. Billed as the "City of Murals", Toppenish is where some very large outdoor murals boast Fred's autograph. One such mural spanned 108 feet in length delineates Haller's Defeat, a battle the local Natives won. The City of Toppenish has actively preserved its cultural diversity and fascinating history as a rugged western town with ongoing restoration and beautification measures. The city’s 70+ murals, primarily done in a western-storytelling style, are a display of community pride that includes Oldfield as an honored part of that ongoing history. The 108' mural was repainted in another location as the original building was torn down.

Fred moved his family from Toppenish, WA to Seattle, WA in 1946. There he stayed until 1959 when he moved to Ashford, WA. On the western side of Washington and the Cascade Mountain Range, is one of the world’s most massive volcanoes that dominates as the central subject of Oldfield’s artwork. In the 1960s, Oldfield had a few acres at the west entrance to Mount Rainier National Park. There, he incorporated the mountain into many of his paintings when he wasn’t driving guests around the forest in his stage coach. He and his wife moved to Federal Way, WA in 1976 and Fred stayed until 2007 when he moved to Tacoma, WA and resided until his death in 2017.

Recognition

On March 18, 2003, the City of Puyallup, the City of Federal Way and Pierce County celebrated Fred’s 85th birthday and proclaimed it "Fred Oldfield Day". It was simultaneously proclaimed "Fred Oldfield Day" by Gary Locke, Governor of the state of Washington, where the entire Senate rose to give Fred a standing ovation for his contributions to the region and humanity.[2] In 2008 on his 90th Birthday he was once again recognized in the Senate for his work and contributions to the community at large. Fred donated hundreds of paintings generating hundreds of thousands of dollars which benefitted numerous causes throughout the Pacific NW. Fred was especially drawn to charities benefitting children!

In 2003, Fred had been in a wide variety of shows and movies, most of which displayed his flawless talent of art, and if Fred ever made a mistake, which he often said he did, he would correct it and make his work better.

Buyers loved the landscapes of Mt. Rainier, but it was his evocative western paintings that became his trademark. He was painting the crusty, rough and ready cowhand that he’d known all his life and buyers were beginning to recognize the name "Fred Oldfield". Finally, it began to pay off. In the last six months of 1964 ~ incredibly ~ he made $4,500 selling artwork. In 1965 sales jumped to $7,500. Fred Oldfield was on his way.

A public television series Painting the West with Fred Oldfield was created for premiere April 2007. At least one cowboy song and six books have been written about Fred Oldfield and his art. One of the most detailed books being Fred Oldfield - The Man and His Art (Cheney, WA: Art of the Northwest, 1981) authored by Jay Moynahan of Spokane. Fred was the recipient of hundreds of awards for his accurate portrayal of the Old West.

The Fred Oldfield Western Heritage and Art Center was Founded in 2002. Fred's optimism was unquenchable and his enthusiasm for telling his story with his paintings was undimmed. His favorite recognition was not his awards, but the look in the eyes of children as he told them about the days on the range. He loved sharing the American dream with them ~ A Dream which came true for him! Because of Fred's involvement in the community and his charitable donations the next natural step was to build the Heritage Center, which is dedicated to preserving Fred’s dream of sharing his love of life, his Western Art and the history of the American West. The Center commemorates and preserves Fred's contribution to Western art and painting. The Oldfield Center is located on the Washington State Fairgrounds, in Puyallup, WA., near Seattle Washington. The Center provides an art school for students of all ages. "The Fred Oldfield Western Heritage & Art Center is dedicated to the preservation of his dream of sharing his love of life, his Western Art, and the history of the American West. As an interactive learning center it celebrates and promotes this dream for all generations."[3]

One month before Fred's death he was featured on KOMO TV in a segment of Eric's Heroes - it was a very touching tribute to a man who lived every minute to the fullest. Fred Oldfield suffered in his last couple of years with Macular Degeneration but refused to give up on life and continued to paint everyday until his death ~ a career and a passion for over 70 years!

Fred's Family Fred Oldfield's parents were William Ellsworth and Sophie Marie (Westervelt) Oldfield. His siblings included: Hazel, Kate, Patrick, George, Richard, William, Russell and Mary.

He married his brother Patrick's widow (Alice Daisy (Wyncoop)Oldfield on March 15, 1944. He raised Alice and Patrick's son Jerry and their daughter Patricia. In 1945 Fred and Alice had their only child, Joella Lynn. At the time of his passing Fred had 8 Grandchildren, 9 Great Grandchildren and 8 Great Great Grandchildren.

Additional sources

  1. ↑ "Family Tree". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  2. ↑ "Senate Resolution 8643" (PDF). Washington Senate. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  3. ↑ "The Fred Oldfield Western Heritage and Art Center".


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