Artist Profile: Thomas Arvid

The Glass Is Always Half Full

By Tina Morris

Arguably the best at what he does, Thomas Arvid didnt start in oil painting. Growing up in Michigan, Thomas always found an artistic way to complete his classwork, whether it was illustrating poetry for an English assignment or creating a mural for history class. He made airbrush T-shirts for friends and created stone sculptures for a landscape company. After graduating high school, Thomas went on to work in the printing and sign painting industry.

It wasnt until Thomas moved to Atlanta that he began to work with oil paints, a natural progression of his artistic pursuits. He slowly transitioned from his nine-to-five job, eventually spending more and more time painting. Early in his career, Thomas could often be found at Caf Tu Tu Tango in Atlanta, a restaurant that provided studio space for artists to work, where patrons could watch, make requests, and purchase artwork on demand.

Thomas started his oil painting journey with a focus on the color red. This series included Converse shoes, a Radio Flyer wagon, and red wine. The first red wine painting was bought off the easel. It seemed every time he started another one, someone would buy it, and people began recognizing him as the artist who painted wine.

Thomas style is cropped in such a way as to invite the viewer in. His paintings are void of people, so anyone can feel part of the vignette, reflecting a natural table scape, as if the viewer just joined the party. The craftmanship of his work is exquisite. His attention to detail makes his pieces intimate and well respected.

When asked about some of his favorite pieces, Thomas named that first oil painting of the red Converse shoe along with other examples of where he brought his work to another level. Other personal favorites include Reflections, Unplugged, and Best Case Scenario. Reflections has a level of detail people may not notice at first glance. It is close-cropped wine bottles, and the light that shines on them reflects the room. The viewer can see the refrigerator in the kitchen, full of magnets and childrens artwork or photographs. Its this level of verisimilitude that causes people to mistake his work for a photograph.

It is clear that Thomas is living his best life by pursuing his passion and sharing it with those around him. His positivity and zest are evident in his work. He wants to share his optimism with his audience, and that is why all the titles of his paintings have positive connotations. The glass is always half full for Thomas. His advice for other artists? Make a conscious decision to dedicate the time to your work.

All the paintings mentioned in this column (along with many others) can be found on ThomasArvid.com. Vinings Gallery hosts several pieces and a show a couple times a year if you desire to see his work in person.