We recently connected with Tony Thomas and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Tony thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Taking a Risk

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My creative vision draws inspiration from subject matter I have encountered in my daily life and extensive travels. It derives influence from both the timeless artistry of the great masters and the vibrant expressions of contemporary artists. I strive to cultivate a distinctive impressionist style characterized by bold yet harmonious tonal qualities. My artistic aspirations encompass an expanding repertoire of significant themes, primarily in oil, plein air and in studio. If I had to narrow it down in layman’s terms, I am all about faith, family, and creativity!

My passion for art has been engrained in me since my childhood. I was born in Ottumwa, Iowa in 1969, and I demonstrated a keen interest in drawing and painting during my formative years. My early artistic education began at the age of 12 in my hometown, under the tutelage of esteemed artist Chris Abigt. I honed my skills across various artistic mediums, exploring traditional drawing and painting techniques. As an adolescent, I showcased my works in local art exhibitions and galleries, specifically within Southeast Iowa.

In 1992, I went on to get my Bachelor of Arts degree in Commercial Art from Iowa Wesleyan College, in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. As a practical choice, I dedicated twenty years of his professional life to sales, with a predominant focus on newspaper advertising sales. However, in 2013, I , together with his wife Phyllis and youngest son Joel, embarked on a new journey as missionaries and relocated to Managua, Nicaragua. During my five-year tenure at Nicaragua Christian Academy International, I taught art to students ranging from PreK to 12th grade. This lead me to a passion for artistic growth, and I then pursued advanced studies with the University of Florida in 2015, successfully attaining a master’s degree in art education.

When we made our way back to the States, I began my journey of taking my love for art full-time. I kicked off my business, Tony Thomas Art in, 2020, and have been a full-time artist ever since. Now, we live in West Monroe, LA, and I am running my art business from here, constantly learning, and challenging myself to find new painting techniques to try, as I continue doing what I love.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I am not an artist that is set in his ways. I have stayed in constant pursuit of finding the technique and strategy for art that I resonate with, and fully expresses who I am as an artist. My style and approach is constantly changing, not to say I don’t have structure, but I am not opposed to changing it when necessary. This has come in handy when life hands me more lemons than I can carry.

In July 2023, I took a terrible fall off of a ladder, and had a significant compression fracture in my back. I was in the hospital for a week, and in a back brace for 3 months. If that doesn’t sound bad enough, when I fell. it was 2 months prior to a duo exhibition where I was unveiling 18 paintings, 16 of which I had yet to start. As you can probably guess. the odds were not in my favor.

When I finally made it home from the hospital, I had a choice to make. Was I going to give up this opportunity, or was I going to make the circumstances work for me as best as I can? I decided a fracture was not going to get in the way of me and my dreams. We rigged up my easel to where I could easily reach everything I needed to start this monster of a project, and I went to work. Funny enough, painting was the only thing I could actually physically do. I painted for hours on end, every single day. It was one of the most emotional, and inspiring moments of my entire life. I surprised myself at the number of paintings I was able to pump out, and it actually became a personal record.

Every cop out I could have used to not paint, and to not chase my dreams, were also the very reasons I had to overcome this. I have no idea where I would be today, if I had not decided to make my circumstances work for me, verses the other way around. We all face moments of great decision, and this was definitely one for me. Resilience isn’t always something you want to choose, but when you’re face-to-face with resilience or failure, it becomes the hardest, easiest choice you will ever have to make.

Have you ever had to pivot?

On May 22nd, 2018, my wife and I were in the airport about to leave our home in Nicaragua, due to civil unrest. We left behind our home, our belongings, aside from what we could pack in two suitcases, and embarked on a journey to ensure our safety. Things in Nicaragua took a heavy turn for the worst in 2018. We had mulled over the decision whether to leave or stay for a while, but as tensions increased, we knew what decision we needed to make.

When we made it back to the States we had to essentially start over. We were collaborating virtually with our friends in Nicaragua to sell our stuff and start the process of rebuilding our life here. Phyllis went back into nursing, and I became a Paraprofessional at an elementary school in Springfield, MO. Unbeknownst to us, the pandemic was right around the corner.

When the Pandemic hit in 2020, I was at home with time on my hands, and that is when I started painting again consistently. I had more free time than I knew what to do with. I started working on my first commission since coming home, and thus sparked the interest in starting the journey of owning my own art business. There has been a lot of pivoting in my life. Yet, this pivot turned into one of the greatest outcomes I could have ever imagined. Who would’ve thought that leaving a country, starting over, and then the world stopping, would lead me to my life’s dream.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tonythomasart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonythomasart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TonyThomasArt/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tonythomasart5714