Fred Oldfield

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 serve as inspiration in much of his western art.

When Fred was growing up, he had to hunt and trap when he was a kid to get food for his family. He hated to see the sight of a des ceased animal.

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.

Career

Oldfield had strong ties with Toppenish and the "rez" (reservation). Billed as the "City of Murals", Toppenish is where some very large outdoor murals boast Fred's autograph. One such mural spanning 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.

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.

Recognition

The Puyallup Fair and Event Center in Puyallup, Washington, created The Fred Oldfield Western Heritage Center as an interactive learning center and museum dedicated to the preservation of Fred Oldfield's dream of sharing his love of art and the American West.

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. 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.

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 The Fred Oldfield Book (Cheney, WA: Art of the Northwest, 1981) authored by Jay Moynahan of Spokane.

The Oldfield Center was founded to commemorate and preserve Fred's contribution to modern art and painting. The Oldfield Center is in the Puyallup Fairgrounds near Seattle Washington. They host various classes and camps. "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."

It was reported that from 2007 till his death, Fred Oldfield painted in his home studio in Federal Way.