Donna Thomas
"Creating art is a personal, emotional and exciting journey and painting for oneself is the essence of true creativity."
Originally from Savannah, Georgia, Donna attended the School of Fine Arts at the University of Georgia in the early 70’s. Taking an early departure from this program to study physical therapy, she returned to oil painting in the mid 80’s and studied under the direction of numerous local and nationally known artists. Enjoying earlier success in the equestrian arts, the artist’s work has ranged from contemporary realism, abstract expressionism to tonal work.
The artist has owned two galleries in Atlanta, one which specifically held national juried exhibitions affording the artist exposure to many types of work, genres, and mediums, as well as, exceptional artists in their medium.
She is past founder, owner and instructor at The Art School in Sandy Springs which os currently closed. Due to multiple orthopedic injuries, she took a hiatus for several years. She has taught nationally in Port Townsend, Washington and on Martha's Vineyard.
She currently holds a weekly small group oil painting class at the Chastain Arts Center in Atlanta.
PAST EXHIBITS:
ADAC
Anne Irwin Fine Art (Atlanta)
Atlanta Artists Center
B.D. Jeffries, (Atlanta, Charlotte)
Bank of America Corporate Headquarters (Atlanta)
Buckhead Library (Atlanta)
Butler II Galleries (Clayton, Ga)
Chastain Arts Center (Atlanta)
Concept 101 Corporate Headquarters (Atlanta)
David Gallery (Atlanta)
4 Paces Gallery (Atlanta)
Frameworks Gallery (Marietta)
GASP! Gallery (Atlanta)
Huff Harrington Fine Art (Atlanta)
Landings Art Association Exhibition (Savannah, Ga)
Limelight Gallery (Atlanta)
Lookout Mountain Gallery (Chattanooga, TN)
The Art House Atlanta
The Defoor Center Gallery (Atlanta)
The Gallery at Paper Mill Village (Atlanta)
PRINTED WORK:
Arhaus
Ballard Designs
Bloomingdales
Crate & Barrel
LAZYBOY
Lillian August
Macy's
Neiman Marcus/Horchow
Pottery Barn
Several prints released for movie sets including House of Cards
INSTRUCTION:
The Art School in Sandy Springs, Atlanta, GA
Binders Art School, Atlanta, GA
The Bascom, Highlands, NC (Palette Knife Painting)
Gallery Palette Knife Demonstrations, Atlanta, GA (The Art House Atlanta, Frameworks Gallery)
The Quinlan Visual Arts Center, Gainesville, GA
Port Townsend School of the Arts, Port Townsend, WA
MAGAZINE ARTICLES:
Horses in Art, 2007
American Art Collector February 2011
Art Galleries and Artists of the South 2011
NATIONAL CHAIRPERSON:
Chair, National Show, Atlanta Artists Center
Co-chair, "Trees in Art", National Show, TREES ATLANTA
JUROR/JUDGE:
Johnson Ferry Baptist Church Gallery 2014
Il Chiostro, SOHO, NYC 2011
ArtsClayton, GA 2011
RADIO AND NEWS ARTICLES:
AJC (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
Northside Neighbor, Atlanta, Feature articles
Radio Sandy Springs
BOOKS:
A Studio Guide to Creating Encaustic Art
FUNDRAISER DONATIONS:
High Museum of Atlanta
Atlanta Opera
Zoo Atlanta
