Often setting up to paint on the beach in the cool air of predawn, Gregory Thomas appreciates the natural meditative quiet of the environment, interrupted only by the occasional waking bird. Here the darkness gradually yields to the orange pink and purple colors of dawn reflected in the sea. Witnessing this relatively brief natural event and responding with paint, pastel and brush on paper has resulted in a series of superimposed images representing the moment to moment experience of the changing natural light. This experience is captured in many of Gregory’s paintings.
Painting on site directly from nature has led Gregory to the development of a technique of mixed media, using both watercolor and pastel. This technique takes full advantage of the transparency and fluidity of watercolor paint and the opacity and brilliance pastels.
Since 1985, the colorful environment of Hawaii has provided a subject, which is ideal for his particular technique. These original paintings have been transformed into limited editions of gicle’e prints, as well as, having inspired oil on canvas easel paintings.
Gregory earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a minor in fine arts and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a major in painting from Portland State University. Gregory's interest in art and painting technology led him to a Master of Arts Degree and Certificate of Advanced Study in Art Conservation.
Working from sketches made on site, plein-air, Gregory has produced many seascapes, at wide ranging locations. These include Bermuda, Nantucket, the East, Gulf and West Coasts of the mainland, as well as the Hawaiian Islands.
Currently Gregory Thomas paints in Kailua, Oahu. You are welcome to visit at his studio by appointment, call (808) 397-0900 or e-mail: artcare@mac.com. Images of Gregory’s paintings and gicle’e prints can be seen at www.kailuaseascapes.com
