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Les Thomas has long recognized
painting as a language in its own right, and its
diversity in terms of poetic and conceptual messages,
exhibited by each individual picture.
Les Thomas's education is
indicative of his dedication to his chosen profession as
an artist. He sifts through a wide variety of visual
sources for the imagery in his work. The influence of
his view of painting as a very noble activity is
combined with his acknowledgement that it can be
inventive and enjoyable for both the artist and the
viewer. The other major influence is culture, in its
broadest terms, including all aspects of our everyday
life.
Les Thomas's animal paintings
tend to play with the relationship between culture and
nature. The special encaustic wax finish that he
applies, he explains, “may very well pertain to
memory, and the manner in which we hold visual
experiences within the capacities for recollection.
Think of the last time you encountered a bear on the
roadside, or craned you neck to watch a mountain goat or
sheep on a steep and rocky slope.”
Les Thomas, as a highly
accomplished artist has received many awards for his
work, and been featured in several publications, and has
his paintings in public and private collections in
Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. and Germany. |
