Andy Thomas

Western Artwork

Andy Thomas is not only an immensely talented painter, but also a storyteller with the images he creates.  Andy Thomas's subject matter consists of a variety of images from historical events to intimate moments of everyday life. Thomas’s medium is primarily oil, but he also works in watercolor, pen and ink, charcoal, pencil, and ink wash.  

Andy Thomas - primarily self-taught, began his professional art career in 1991 after sixteen years with a major advertising agency.  In his studio, the artist creates his unique paintings that tell their “stories.”  Andy Thomas’s style has been compared to Russell and Remington.

The artist's historical images have been used in books and as book covers, and his various paintings also have been featured in numerous magazines.

Biography continued below....

Andy Thomas is described as the ‘Storyteller' and if you have ever had a chance to view his work you might just agree. Currently he is telling many stories with his action filled western art. These pieces are bringing the cowboys back to life as well as the American West history. In the past, Andy has painting many subjects from a picnic by the river, kids playing sports to a brutal bear fight. All of his paintings end up telling you, the viewer some kind of story of our lives.

He is currently working on two large projects for the NPS. The Civil War Project will depict the battles at Ft. Donelson and Stone's River, Tennessee . There will be a total of eleven new images that will be used as wayside exhibits for each of the battles. After the National Park Service has completed its usage of the original oils they will be for sale to the general public. The expected public unveiling date is sometime in Spring of 2008.

He has worked full time from his studio in Carthage Missouri to create his unique oil paintings that many private and corporate collectors throughout the nation have purchased. In addition, many national parks have his original oils that document their battles such as Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove Arkansas and Wilson 's Creek, Missouri . Let us not forget the large mural of the Battle of Carthage that hangs in the Civil War Museum off the square in Carthage , Missouri .

You can find his work in magazine articles, National Park Service brochures, and educational books by the Franklin Watts Children Press, Harcourt and others. He has also illustrated books and his images have been used on many book covers. The hardback book titled The Artful Journey contains over one hundred color images of his work and many include their stories that were mostly written by Thomas. It is available through his studio. In addition to books his work can be found in videos produced by the NPS, US Federal Claims Court and National Geographic.

During the years he has judged art shows and given art lessons to both children and adults. He had the honor of being the Artist in Residence at Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas where lectured and gave painting demonstrations to college students and the general public. His work has won numerous awards and he participates in many shows and exhibitions throughout the country. Some are the CM Russell Art Auction, International Masters of Fine Art Show, Salon International Show, Midwest Gathering of Artists, Settlers West Show and others.

The Pearce Western Art Museum , and the Iowa State Historical Museum are a few of the museums that have his artwork displayed as part of their permanent collections. Also corporations such as Leggett & Platt, Inc., Stanton Partners Inc., Lathrop & Gage, Hometown Bank and Health Point Limited are owners of his original oils.

He graduated Magna Cum Laude from MSSU and is married to Dina who is also his business partner.
They reside in Carthage and have six children.