Craig Thomas

Craig Thomas was born in Fort Dix, New Jersey; he describes himself to others as a military brat. His family traveled around the world, living from coast to coast throughout the United States, Okinawa, Japan was one of his most adventurous childhood residences, after his parents retired from the military they settled in Southeast, Missouri.

Craig received his bachelor's Degree from Southeast Missouri State University in 1985; his emphasis was in Fine Arts and Technical Theatre. The education he received in theatre has had a strong influence on his art today, working with large backdrops and set design has given him an advantage when he does murals and street paintings.

Craig met his wife of 24 years, while working at Six Flags over Mid America; they airbrushed t-shirts and share a passion for the arts. He lives with his wife, Elizabeth, who is an art educator and received the title of Missouri Art Educator of the Year for 2011. Craig and Elizabeth have two children and two grandchildren.

Craig is President of the Visual Arts Cooperative which features 50 artists, he is on the board of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, board member to Cape Girardeau's mural committee and he coordinates the Southeast Missouri figure-drawing group. In 2007, Craig and Elizabeth opened the Black Door Gallery, which features individual and group art exhibits.

As a street painter, street painting is one of Craig's most popular art mediums. He has been the featured artist at Kansas City's La Strada Del Arte, (over four hundred artists participating), St Louis Art Fair, Lubbock, Texas and Cincinnati, Ohio.

His painting has lead him to competitions throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. Craig considers street painting to be one of the most difficult art mediums, dealing with weather (he has worked from snow, rain, to blistering heat), location (surface conditions and traffic), audience (young and old enthusiast, all types of individuals upstanding people to derelict off the streets) and window of time.

As a freelance artist, Craig works in a variety of mediums, fine art, murals, figurative, plein aire and street painting. Individuals, committee's and organizations have commissioned him in a variety of works. He has worked as small as negative retouching too as large as murals on skyscrapers.

Craig Thomas is a freelance artist living in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He is known for his fine art, murals, and street painting. His work has taken him throughout North America and Europe. Craig works commercial, public and private competitions.

Craig Thomas has been featured at the St Louis Art Fair, St Louis Street Painting Competition, St Louis Art Museum, City Museum, St Louis, Kansas City's La Strada Del Arte and part of a touring show in Europe.

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