Phil Thomas Art

Winter Mountain Road 9 x 12 Oil

Phil Thomas was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1948. He spent his early years in rural Pennsylvania but has lived in Georgia most of his adult life. Coming from a family of talented artists, he had always been interested in drawing and painting yet never seriously pursued painting until later in life. He found his passion for painting in 2002 in a watercolor class. Phil has studied with several nationally known instructors and takes every opportunity available to further his art education.

He is an award winning artist whose work is displayed in both public and private collections. In December 2008, Phil decided to pursue his art career full time after working in accounting and software for many years. He had two solo exhibits in 2009 and he also shows his work in juried exhibitions on a local, regional and national level.

He is currently an associate member of the Oil Painters of America, a signature member of the Georgia Watercolor Society, a member of the Southern Watercolor Society, past treasurer of the Atlanta Artists Center, and past president of the Sawnee Artists Association.

"I initially was a painter of plein air landscapes but over the years have discovered that my studio work was becoming increasingly important. My subject matter has grown to include many still life and figurative pieces. I have grown to realize that the interplay of light, shadow and color are really what fuels my passion to paint a particular painting. By painting from life, either outdoors or in the studio, I am able to see color, values and relationships that just don't show up in a photograph. I am still in awe at the magic that occurs when everything comes together and the painting just seems to emerge from the canvas on its own."