Ted Watts

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OSWEGO, KS, U.S.A.

SPORTS ARTIST

11/13/2015, OSWEGO, KS, U.S.A.

Nationally-renowned, area legend sports artist Ted Watts died Friday, November 13, 2015 at the age of 72.

During his high school freshman year, Ted Watts moved four times, Larned, Miami, Oklahoma, Leavenworth and back to Miami. He eventually graduated in 1960. Watts’ father as a security guard for the railroad. His job caused him to move often. Ted received a bachelor of fine arts from Pittsburg State University. He served in the National Guard during the Vietnam War era.

Ted Watts, is known for his sports theme paintings, especially portraits of athletes. At age 27, Watts was unpublished as an artist. Two years later, he opened his own free-lance art studio specializing in sports illustrations and drawings prepared specifically for college and university sports information and athletic departments.

Ted received a bachelor of fine arts from Pittsburg State and served in the National Guard during the Vietnam War era

Ted married Faye Newbanks in 1967 and opened his art studio in May 1972.

Ted and Faye called Oswego home while he worked at producing art work, marketing it, selling it and delivering it.

Ted Watts’ art graced the covers of PSU’s football programs and rendered cover illustrations for three NCCA Basketball Championships ‘Final Four’ event programs. Watts’ passing leaves one fewer of a dying breed of classically-trained artists working in traditional mediums, rather than the plethora of digital options.

Ted Watts, is known for his sports theme paintings, especially portraits of athletes. At age 27, Watts was unpublished as an artist. Two years later, he opened his own free-lance art studio specializing in sports illustrations and drawings prepared specifically for college and university sports information and athletic departments.

His first published work with a sports theme appeared as a regular feature on the sports page of “The Coffeyville Journal”, beginning in November 1970. In May 1971, Watts began “moonlighting” as a free-lance artist from his home studio, producing sports art for collegiate clients.

Ted created great murals that grace college campuses and halls of fame from South Bend, Indiana, to Cooperstown, New York. His portrait series of “The Heisman Trophy Winners” is on display at the College Football Hall of Fame (South Bend), and a 33-foot by 11-foot mural of the Oklahoma Sooners is at the Oklahoma University campus in Norman. He also painted a 172-portrait series for the University of Kansas. A Ted Watts sports mural, the largest in America, hangs at Wichita State University.

Ted Watts was a quiet man, living a quiet life rather than the celebrity to which his undeniable talents entitled him. Pittsburg, Southeast Kansas and the world of sports are poorer for his passing. Ted Watts had a kind heart and loved everybody. He helped many budding artists in his day.