Biography

Thomas has exhibited at the Grenning Gallery in Sag Harbor NY where he also teaches sculpture drawing, and at the Hampton Roads Gallery in Southampton NY. He teaches drawing at the Long Island Academy of Fine Art. Placing an emphasis on artwork that combines beauty and skill, Thomas currently pursues a 19th century style training regimen at the Grand Central Academy founded by Jacob Collins. He has studied extensively with Robert Armetta, Travis Schlaht, Edward Minoff, Jon DeMartin, Brian Schumacher, and Rick Piloco.

His eclectic academic background includes degrees in mathematics and political philosophy. An avid surfer, Thomas is a resident of East Hampton New York.

Creative Influences

Statement of Purpose

In this era of commoditized images, oil painting provides a medium for authentic individual self-expression that also fulfills core human needs for transcendence and relatedness.

Realistic paintings based on skillful observation of the human figure and the rest of the natural world allow the artist to employ a visual language that is implicit in the human mind, inspiring the viewer by accessing the same collective unconscious syntax that is found in music and mathematics.

For me, Beauty is one of the most challenging, complex and rewarding of ideas. Encompassing philosophy, psychology, religion and history, classical notions of Beauty can imbue artwork with intrinsic value for its viewers independent of the marketing labels, critical discourse or political agenda associated with it. I hope to re-connect with traditional painting practices from the 17th and 19th centuries and apply this rich heritage to contemporary subject matter.

Many important ideas about the human condition contain paradoxes which do not lend themselves to abstract reduction without a loss in the richness of their meanings. These paradoxes, which permeate the spiritual and literary heritage of all cultures, naturally lend themselves to emblematic visual expression. In my opinion, it is the task of the artist to give form to these ideas by combining inspiration with thoughtful craftsmanship. This skillful pursuit of Beauty, inspired by careful observation, is central to humanity's collective drive to define a meaningful existence.

"Slow Painting" Critical Manifesto