About Andy
Andy Thomas is an illustrator of fine arts residing in Carthage, Missouri. He primarily paints with oils but is also known to use pencils and watercolors to illustrate the realism he depicts with each and every tale he spins upon his canvas.
Bringing stories to life, one brush stroke after another.
Andy is thought of by many people as The Storyteller. Just a glance at his portfolio is enough to explain how he earned that title. He illustrates many epic tales with his brush, often leaning into his desire to 'bring cowboys back to life' with his action-packed Western art.
Throughout his career, Andy has used his canvas as an avenue to explore many diverse and interesting topics. Some of these include many depictions of American History, a picnic by the river, kids playing various sports, and even the occasional bear fight in all of its brutality.
The one common thread woven through all of his tapestries is that his paintings tell you, the viewer, something about our lives, and you never know what kind of adventures he will take you on next.
Andy's Accomplishments
Andy's career in professional art began in the fall of 1991 after sixteen years of working for Leggett & Platt, Inc. He currently works from his studio in Carthage, Missouri, where he creates his unique oil paintings.
You can find Andy's work in the articles of many magazines including Western Art Collector, Art of the West, Rural Missouri, as well as National Park Service brochures, and educational books by Franklin Watts Children Press, Harcourt, and others.
Andy has also illustrated many books and many of his images have been used as book covers (with his permission, of course).
His self-published hardbound books titled, The Artful Journey & The West in Action, contain over one-hundred color images of his work and many of the accompanying stories were written by Andy himself.
Andy's work can also be found in videos produced by the National Park Service, U.S. Federal Claims Court, and even National Geographic.
Andy has had the honor of being the Artist in Residence at Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas where he lectured and gave painting demonstrations to both college students and the general public.
In 2015, Andy was invited by the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma to be the 2015 Rendezvous Artist for paintings.
Andy's work has won numerous awards and, throughout his career, he has been a participant in many shows across the country.
Presidents Painting
Charlie Russel & His Characters
Grizzly Mountain
Oil Field Paintings
Championship of the West
Civil War Paintings
More Information About Andy
The following sections contain even more information about Andy, his accolades, organizations he belongs to, and even some more personal facts.
The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art | St. Petersburg, Florida
The Gilcrease Museum | Tulsa, Oklahoma
The Pearce Western Art Museum | Corsicana, Texas
Pea Ridge National Military Park | Garfield, Arkansas
Fort Donelson National Battlefield | Dover, Tennessee
Stone's River National Battlefield | Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Prairie Grove State Battlefield Park | Prairie Grove, Arkansas
The Iowa State Historical Museum | Des Moines, Iowa
Carthage Civil War Museum | Carthage, Missouri
Leggett & Platt, Inc. | Carthage, Missouri
Hometown Bank | Carthage, Missouri
The William I. Koch Collection
Healthpoint Limited
Salmagundi Club | New York, New York
The Portrait Society of America
artCentral | Carthage, Missouri
Spiva Center for the Arts | Joplin, Missouri
Andy is married to Dina, who has also been his business partner since 1991.
Andy and Dina have six children and eleven grandchildren.
Andy was born on September 6, 1957.
Andy earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management at Missouri Southern State University in 1981, Magna Cum Laude. He is primarily self-taught in the arts.
Andy's artistic influences include Charlie Russell, Richard Schmid, Frederick Remington, Norman Rockwell, Charles Dana Gibson, Bob Tommey, and Howard Pyle.
His art style is described as realism that ranges from very loose to very tight and he will tell you that he probably uses every technique available.
His primary discipline is painting with oils, but he also uses watercolors, pen & ink, charcoal, pencils, ink wash and even does some sculpture.
When it comes to subject matter, Andy covers all subjects. According to him, "I don't limit myself to one subject or style."
Andy's statement of purpose: "I always remember why I do paintings or drawings when I see great work that I admire and my stomach swirls. I suppose my desire to create is funneled into the area I most admire—painting realism."
Many historical images have been used in books and as book covers (with permission), including Siege of Vicksburg, Wild Bill Hickok—Gunfighter, Civil War in the Ozarks, Civil War in Indian Territory, Civil War in Texas and New Mexico, and many more.
Andy's work has also been included in many movies and documentaries, including Halloween II *Grand ol' Gang), Superman (Storyteller), House of Cards (Reagan), and many more.
Andy has two self-published books: The Artful Journey, published in 2003 and The West in Action, published in 2012.
Andy's work has been displayed in many exhibitions since 1991, but a few more recent ones include Coeur d'Alene Art Auction, Settlers West Show, Quest for the West at Eiteljorg Museum, and Charles M. Russell Museum Auction.
Saddle up and lose yourself in the adventure of the Old West!
Adorn your walls with the life-like depictions of your favorite cowboy stories by purchasing one of Andy's prints from our online store. You'll definitely have the fanciest saloon in town!
