Fishing Art - How Fish Face Founder Troy Thomas Got His Start

(Part one of a series)

Fish Face takes pride in offering original and unique designs on all our products. But did you know Fish Face founder and illustrator Troy Thomas didn’t originally plan for a career in illustration or fishing art? In fact, he even received a failing grade in a high school art class. Below, Troy recounts some of those early school days and how he finally determined his career path.

Back in grade school I realized I was good at drawing. I joined an after-school art club hosted by one of the art teachers (I wish I could remember which one). I remember enjoying it and found myself drawing once in a while when I had some spare time. My mom and dad did encourage it. One summer during my middle school years I took oil painting classes with a local artist. I can remember being the only kid in the class (of about 12 or so). I can't remember much of what we painted, but I remember the instructor being somewhat of an oddball. He was a terrible instructor. All he did was sit in the back of the room and read. He gave very little instruction or critiques of your work. He rode a bike everywhere he went, and I could hear him talking to himself as he rode.

In high school I continued to take art classes. I was good. I won a few Gold Key Awards among others during the years, but I still only did art as a class. I regret not taking it seriously back then. Art classes were my "blow-off periods." I was more interested in sports, cars, partying and girls. Mr. Heston gave me a failing grade for my senior year independent study course in pottery. I remember sitting down with him to go over the grade and him telling me I was “wasting my talent." I didn't want to be an artist at the time anyway. I loved science (but was a terrible student), so I naturally applied to the University of Tampa to be a marine biologist (I also loved the water and fish). I dropped out after one semester down in Florida!

I came back home and enrolled at Illinois Central College in illustration classes. The rest is history. That was the year I knew I didn't want to go into business with dad (working construction). I began taking art seriously. I'm still not sure if I really "liked" being an artist yet, but I saw illustration as a practicable way of making a living and getting out of town and Chicago was the goal.

Some of Troy’s non-fishing work.