D. Omer Seamon
Encyclopedia
D. Omer "Salty" Seamon was an American painter known for his folksy watercolors and landscapes of Indiana
and the Midwest. His work can be found in galleries and homes across the United States
.
, to parents Louis and Estel Seamon. He began drawing at an early age, sketching pictures to send along with letters his parents sent to an older brother fighting in World War I
.
Much of Seamon's training came experientially. Early jobs included trimming windows for a department store in Evansville, Indiana
, and preparing posters for a dry goods store. In 1929 he worked in Minneapolis painting theater posters for Paramount Studios. During the Great Depression
he returned to Terre Haute, Indiana
, as art director for Thomson-Symon Co.
During World War II
Seamon served over three years with a United States Army
Special Service Unit. He spent this time in the Pacific
, including Australia
, New Guinea
, the Philippines
and Japan
. During his service, he continued to make art, in particular painting of military and native life in the islands.
, where Seamon had a painting studio. He became well known in the Wabash Valley
area. In addition to selling paintings directly to members of the community, Seamon annually created arts for the Forrest Sherer Agency Christmas cards. His work was even available on personal checks from Terre Haute First National Bank
.
Seamon often painted the local people and places he saw around him, from covered bridges and rivers to specific locales including the Vigo County Courthouse
, the Indiana Theatre and the Church of the Immaculate Conception
, all in Vigo County, Indiana
.
In 1980 Seamon was named a "Sagamore of the Wabash" by Indiana governor Otis Bowen. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
has shown a particular appreciation for Seamon, granting him an honorary doctorate in 1979 and creating a collection of many of his works. Seamon died in 1997.
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and the Midwest. His work can be found in galleries and homes across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Early life
He was born Denzil Omer Seamon in Gibson County, IndianaGibson County, Indiana
Gibson County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Indiana and is included in the Evansville, Indiana–Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 33,503. The county seat is Princeton.-Geography:...
, to parents Louis and Estel Seamon. He began drawing at an early age, sketching pictures to send along with letters his parents sent to an older brother fighting in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Much of Seamon's training came experientially. Early jobs included trimming windows for a department store in Evansville, Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
, and preparing posters for a dry goods store. In 1929 he worked in Minneapolis painting theater posters for Paramount Studios. During the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
he returned to Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and...
, as art director for Thomson-Symon Co.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Seamon served over three years with a United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Special Service Unit. He spent this time in the Pacific
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
, including Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. During his service, he continued to make art, in particular painting of military and native life in the islands.
Freelance work
After the war, Seamon devoted his time to becoming a full-time freelance artist. He and his wife Marjorie "Polly" Kress and stepson Edgar Mechling moved to a home near Rosedale, IndianaRosedale, Indiana
Rosedale is a town in Florida Township, Parke County, Indiana, United States. The population was 725 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Rosedale is located at ....
, where Seamon had a painting studio. He became well known in the Wabash Valley
Wabash Valley
The Wabash Valley is a region with parts in both Illinois and Indiana. It is named for the Wabash River and spans the middle to the middle-lower portion of the river and is centered at Terre Haute, Indiana...
area. In addition to selling paintings directly to members of the community, Seamon annually created arts for the Forrest Sherer Agency Christmas cards. His work was even available on personal checks from Terre Haute First National Bank
First Financial Bank
For the Cincinnati-based bank, see First Financial Bank .First Financial Bank is a regional bank with approximately 54 retail branches operated by First Financial Corporation and based in Terre Haute, Indiana...
.
Seamon often painted the local people and places he saw around him, from covered bridges and rivers to specific locales including the Vigo County Courthouse
Vigo County Courthouse
The Vigo County Courthouse is a courthouse in Terre Haute, Indiana. The seat of government for Vigo County, the courthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.-Temporary meeting place:...
, the Indiana Theatre and the Church of the Immaculate Conception
Church of the Immaculate Conception (Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana)
The Church of the Immaculate Conception, is on the motherhouse grounds of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods...
, all in Vigo County, Indiana
Vigo County, Indiana
Vigo County is a county located along the western border of the U.S. state of Indiana. Vigo County is included in the Terre Haute, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county seat is Terre Haute....
.
In 1980 Seamon was named a "Sagamore of the Wabash" by Indiana governor Otis Bowen. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Rose–Hulman Institute of Technology , formerly Rose Polytechnic Institute, is a small private college specializing in teaching engineering, mathematics, and science. RHIT is highly regarded for its undergraduate engineering program, which US News and World Reports ranked in 2011 as No...
has shown a particular appreciation for Seamon, granting him an honorary doctorate in 1979 and creating a collection of many of his works. Seamon died in 1997.
External links
- Omer "Salty" Seamon: An American Artist: A gallery of images from a Vigo County Historical Society exhibit