(1925 – 1985) These wonderful gouache and watercolor paintings by Otis Thomas of the Hopi culture were commissioned by a La Jolla architect for his museum collection. Otis was an artisan who designed aircraft for the aviation industry in California and would take off for journeys up to three months at a time in the desert of Arizona where he would paint the individual portraits of the Hopi ceremonies.He served in the armed forces and was on active duty in the Korean War. Otis lived off his creativity and his veteran's income and was not interested in notoriety or money. His models of airplanes are on permanent display at the San Diego Aerospace Museum.