Tom Traeger, artist and former Shoreline Schools superintendent

Tom Traeger, former Assistant Superintendent for Shoreline Schools, is a Featured Artist of the Month on the website The Arts of Kenmore.

Tom lives and works in Kenmore, but has deep Shoreline roots.

I was in Shoreline from 1964 to 1994, beginning as a teacher at Brookside, moving to North City in 1970 as vice-principal and principal. I moved to Lake Forest Park in 1973 to start the Shoreline Community School program and then on to central office for a number of positions in Federal Programs (Head Start, Title I, Grants Manager) and instructional leadership - Director of Instructional Services, Director of Elementary Education, Public Information Spokesman. From 1985 to 1989 served as Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent and from 1989 to my retirement in 1994 as Assistant Superintendent.

About his work, Tom says,

"I have always had an interest in creative pursuits, having explored clay sculpture and oil painting years ago, many enjoyable hours in my workshop designing and building wood projects. A few years ago, I began casting garden art leaves (rhubarb and gunnera) which I have sold at farmer's markets."

Anyone interested in purchasing his art work can contact him at 425-488-2818 or by email .

Charlene Freeman, in The Arts of Kenmore, provides this information about Tom.

Tom Traeger has been enjoying watercolor painting for the last six years and is now exploring the world of acrylic painting.

His work is inspired by many fond memories of his boyhood home in the farmlands of the Willamette Valley as well as the Puget Sound area where he came to attend college many years ago and has called home ever since.

When asked to describe his favorite topics, Tom can summarize it as boats, barns and birches.

The allure of the white bark of the birch tree finds it way into many of his paintings as it provides a wonderful contrast with many colors.

Tom and his wife, Bobbi, have enjoyed traveling throughout the country. In particular, New England has offered many of his favorite scenes as well as the inspiring visits Tom and Bobbi have made to villages in Mexico and Europe.

Tom was a member of Parklane Gallery in Kirkland for three years and now has an ongoing display of his watercolor and acrylic paintings at Alexa’s Café on Main Street in Bothell. Alexa’s has provided a wonderful gallery space for Tom while offering the many diners at this hometown café an ever changing art show for their enjoyment.

Tom retired a few years ago as Assistant Superintendent of the Shoreline School District. He has had a lifelong interest in genealogy and community history. Tom served as founding president of the Kenmore Heritage Society and takes pride in two outstanding projects accomplished with the members, the Kenmore History Book and the History Path at Log Boom Park.

In his leisure time, in addition to painting, Tom enjoys another creative and challenging pursuit…. golf!