Thompson’s career catapulted. Paintings sales in the new gallery were brisk, and Thompson enjoyed a lifestyle that allowed him freedom to paint. In July 1979 a feature article in "The Milwaukee Journal", written by art critic James Auer, gave Thompson the title of “Wisconsin’s Monet.” He admitted he was influenced by the great Impressionist Claude Monet. Thompson also felt much more could be explored after the era of Impressionism ended. This is where he felt he was the continuing link and could further the work started by the early Impressionists. He was devoted to colors created by the sun. “Color is then unlimited, as the sun is ever changing,” he said. A biography titled "Richard Earl Thompson, American Impressionist: A Prophetic Odyssey in Paint" was published in 1982 and written by art historian Patricia Jobe Pierce. During the summer of 1990 a film crew visited his summer home in northern Wisconsin to film his life, loves, painting, and philosophy. Unfortunately, he did not live to see the film because he died from pancreatic cancer on August 6, 1991. The film is titled "American Impressionist, Richard Earl Thompson" from the Holiday Video Library, a division of Finley Holiday Films. Thompson produced more than 1,525 numbered paintings in his fine arts career. He had numerous reviews, and his works adorned many covers of accredited magazines such as "Reader’s Digest, American Art Review, Southwest Art, Western Art Digest, Midwest Art, International Fine Art Collector," and "Country Gentleman". Thompson's paintings were chosen for eight covers on "The Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA)" magazine, with comprehensive articles included for each. He was a regular on the covers of "Yankee Magazine" and "Fortune’s Almanac." Thompson had eighteen one-man exhibits and was collected in private and corporate collections worldwide. Among them are The Lewer Agency, Kansas City, Missouri; Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Naval Art Collection, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.; R.W. Norton Art Gallery, Shreveport, Louisiana;, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin; and The Southland Corporation, Dallas, Texas. His work was exhibited in three museums – Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, Wisconsin, the Norton Art Museum & Gallery, Shreveport, Louisiana and Charles Allis Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.