"As long as I can see the natural world, I feel
the need to put down on canvas a world I can create within its
dimensions."
Born in Lyons, Texas, Travis grew up in Somerville.
He graduated from high school there and attended Blinn Junior
College. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the
University of Houston.
Travis spent twenty-eight months in Germany in the U.S. Army
where he viewed the great European art treasures.
In 1960, Travis married Betty Holt in Dallas. They have 3
children; Rebecca, Thomas and Kathy. In 1964 he became staff
artist for the Houston Museum of Natural Science until 1971.
After a trip through the hill country of Texas, Travis decided
to move his family to Kerrville and paint the beautiful country
and the wildlife found there.
Travis has two works printed by New York Graphics and several
prints with Arts Limited in San Antonio. His works are in the
collections of banks in Kerrville and San Antonio. As well, he
has works in numerous private collections. In 1990, he was selected
to design and paint two "Shipwreck" murals for the
Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, with the able assistance
of Mark Storm of Houston. And in 1994 he designed and painted
a 125' x 23' mural for the new Museum of the Gulf Coast in Port
Arthur. Melinda Dickinson of Coldspring worked with Travis on
this project.
Travis specializes in painting wildlife because it appeals
to a deep sympathy within him for wild creatures, something no
words can express.