Andy THomas

Missouri

Andy Thomas is a Missouri artist whose impressive line of works includes paintings in oil, woodworking, ink pieces as well as charcoal, and some sculpture.  Because he has a great fondness for history, many of his paintings and pieces are based on historical places or figures.

Thomas is perhaps best known for his unique paintings of United States Presidents.  These depict many different U.S. Presidents from many different time periods all together around the table playing cards or in the middle of a game of billiards.  While many of these men were born generations apart, the depictions are so realistic that one might be led to believe that the painting was of an actual event that took place rather than a fictional story that is being told through the eyes of Andy Thomas.  

That is this artist’s main emphasis - which is to tell a story with each and every painting that he offers to the art connoisseurs that gather to view his work or to purchase it.  He has said that, “Whether the scene that is being presented is an actual event, a historical moment or a fictional figure, it still has to tell a story to the person who is viewing it.”  As one gazes at the paintings that he has offered of the Wild West, the historical places that were significant during the Civil War, or of prominent literary figures, they cannot help but begin to hear a silent story being told from the brush strokes that were placed on the canvas.  

Thomas maintains a home studio and work shop. There, he fosters a great marriage of history and art; giving him an outlet to create beauty to share with the many passionate followers that love his work.  His attempt at story telling is very authentic, and he gives new meaning to the thought that a picture is worth more than a thousand words.  The story that each person takes away from one of his paintings is as unique and differential as the interpretation that each person takes away from reading the same book as others.  He paints his story and then offers it to be interpreted and enjoyed by everyone who can read between the brush strokes.