Wayne Thiebaud, a nationally acclaimed artist whose paintings hang in museums and galleries across the country, has given a substantial gift of his works to the University of California, Davis, campus, where he has taught for more than 35 years. The Richard L. Nelson Gallery & The Fine Arts Collection at UC Davis received 31 works on paper. They include rapidly executed sketchbook pages in pen and ink, exacting figure studies in pencil and charcoal, etchings of landscape reworked in pen and ink and color, and still-life studies in pastel. These are the latest in several gifts of art, his own and that of others, made to the collection over the years by Thiebaud and his family. The pieces richly enlarge the collection's current holdings of Thiebaud paintings and works on paper, and amplify the collection's ability to represent the breadth of Thiebaud's artistic vision, unique style, working manner and methods of personal inquiry, according to Price Amerson, director of the gallery and collection. "I love looking at the work of other painters and looking at how they go about their work. If these things give that kind of access to others, that would be a pleasure," said Thiebaud. Many of the works, he said, emerged from his decades of teaching at UC Davis, a place that has "always meant a lot to me." Honored nationally in 1994 with a National Medal of Arts for his lifetime achievements and contributions to the country's culture, Thiebaud is well-known for his distinctive paintings of opulent pies, cream soups, sumptuous cakes and other famous images of food. His celebrated body of work also includes other still lifes, landscapes and cityscapes. Thiebaud joined the UC Davis faculty in 1960 and, although he retired as a professor emeritus in 1991, he continues to teach students on campus. His teaching talents and contributions, together with his artistic achievements, were recognized in 1988 with the UC Davis Prize for Teaching and Scholarly Achievement, which carries a $25,000 award. The campus will continue to benefit from his work through this latest gift, said Amerson. It significantly enhances The Fine Arts Collection's ability to represent major artists associated with UC Davis by providing a meaningful overview for students, scholars and the general public of the artists' achievements and of the development of artistic ideas. The dollar value estimated for the works is over $125,000. "There is no more enriching a gift that UC Davis -- or any university -- could receive than this collection of works demonstrating the mind and hand of such a distinguished artist as Wayne Thiebaud," said UC Davis Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef. "With this gift, Wayne once again reveals where his heart lies -- with students seeking expression of their own artistic voices and with this university, which has been so blessed by his presence. We are truly grateful for his generosity and that of his family." The Nelson Gallery plans to exhibit the gift of works by Thiebaud at a date to be announced in the near future.