“I was born an Ahnisnabae-artist (people of the land). I am a painter in the Ojibway Woodland style for 35 years. This style uses symbolisms and imagery inspired by the pictographs that I saw as a child. The spirit of art and my elders have taught me through visions what to paint. These visions compliment the strengths, values and traditions of my people, my family, my community and my nation. Through my artwork, I paint these visions of teachings so that they can be shared with others.

It is not how I paint, it is what I paint that’s important. Painting experience than knowledge is easier. The spirit of art teaches me that the paint brush comes from the hair of an animal and the handle of the paintbrush comes from the tree. I would like to acknowledge my relatives for their wisdom of invention of the art material. Being an artist completes my purpose in life. I am forever grateful.”
Meegwetch!

Roy was born in 1949 on a trap line in Pacquashun (Moving Waters), Ontario, near Longlac. He was raised mainly by his grandparents, who had a great appreciation for nature. At an early age Roy was taught to respect nature and all living things through the stories his grandmother would narrate. It was his grandmother who encouraged him to express himself through art. She would give him a long stick to hold in his hand while she would tell him short stories. He began to draw what he visualized. Gradually she told him longer stories and gave him shorter sticks to draw in the sand, earth or snow. As he grew older he became frustrated with the drawing that would wash away or disappear in an instant with one big gust of wind. His grandmother assured him, “My grandson, the stories and drawings are never gone, someday they will all come back to you”. Eventually the stick was replaced with a pencil and then brushes. To this day Roy believes his grandmother is present in all his paintings and he honors her by signing his works with s small crow, which was the name his grandmother gave him. Roy, primarily a self-taught artist, was influenced by Norval Morrisseau, Daphne Odjig and Carl Ray, all of whom were the pioneers of the Woodland School of Art. Roy’s strength lies in his design ability and his bold use of line and color. He has had numerous one-man exhibitions and has participated in several group shows around the world. His work is represented in major Aboriginal Art Collections across Canada and in the US, Europe and Japan.

His distinctive style can be seen in the art of younger First Nations artists, many of whom he had mentored.

“I really like birds. When I was young and lived with my grandparents, I found a little crow with a broken wing. It was very weak so I fed it from my meal and I fixed its wing. I saw it for a period of 3 or 4 years. It used to come to me and then go away for a long time. Now I use a little drawing of a crow as a logo after my signature on paintings.” 

Roy Thomas passed away in 2004 at the age of 54 from cancer.