Thomas is both inspired and exhilarated by the way light plays across his subjects and has devoted over thirty years to capturing it in oil. He prefers to work directly from life for its honesty and immediacy, incorporating many alla prima techniques developed by master painters such as Sargent, Sorolla, and Zorn.
Thomas is a member of the Laguna Beach Plein Air Painters Association, the California Art Club, the Oil Painters of America, and the American Impressionist Society. He travels extensively and maintains an active and distinguished exhibition history – one which has included the Portland Art Museum, the Laguna Art Museum, the Maritime Museum of Curacao, the Academy Museum of Art in Easton, Maryland, the American Impressionist Society, Oil Painters of America’s National & Regional Exhibitions, Arts for the Parks Top 100, and three New York Art Expos. Thomas’ work is widely collected throughout North America.
Recently, Thomas has been honored with a twelve month Artist Residency from the University Club of Portland, a Best of Show at the Carmel Art Festival, Artist’s Choice and Hamilton Family Award from the Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational, 2nd Place award at Los Gatos Plein Air, two selections as a Raymar Art Finalist, and once as a PleinAir Magazine Salon Finalist. He has also been juried into multiple Oil Painters of America and American Impressionist Society’s National and Regional Exhibitions and been featured as an Artist to Watch by the publication The Informed Collector.
Thomas has also been invited to instruct, demonstrate, and lecture at four Plein Air Convention & Expos in Las Vegas and Monterey, California.
Thomas is noted for his in-depth knowledge of art history and painting technique and for his enthusiasm for teaching. Besides pursuing his own work, he offers both group and private instruction throughout the year.
For more information visit: www.thomaskitts.com
Museum Exhibitions:
2011- 2013
Pacific Maritime & Heritage Center
Laguna Art Museum
Portland Art Museum
Academy Art Museum
Curacao Maritime Museum
Select Awards & Recognition:
2015
Third Place | Easels in Fredrick MD
Honorable Mention, QuickDraw | Easels in Fredrick MD
2015
Western Regional Exhibition | Oil Painters of America
2014
Hamilton Family Foundation Award | Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational
2013
Artist Choice Award | Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational
Pioneer Inn QuickDraw Award | Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational
2012
2011- 2012 Artist in Residency | Portland University Club
National Exhibition | 13th American Society of Impressionists
Second Place | Los Gatos Plein Air
Raymar Art Competition Finalist | September
Honorable Mention | 19th Annual Carmel Art Festival
Guest Artist and Demonstrator | 1st Annual Plein Air Convention & Expo
Raymar Art Competition Finalist | January
PleinAir Magazine Art Competition Finalist | July
2011
PleinAir Magazine Art Salon Finalist
National Exhibition | 12th American Society of Impressionists
Best International Artist | Plein Air Curacao
Best New Artist | Plein Air Easton
Raymar Art Competition Finalist | July
2010 and earlier
Honorable Mention | Telluride Plein Air
Carmel Art Festival | 1st Place & Mayor’s ChoiceAdditional Awards & Recognitions
Top 100 Artist | Arts for the Parks, National Parks Academy of the Arts, Jackson
Award of Merit | Connecticut Art Director’s Club, Connecticut
Award of Merit | Oregon Art Annual, Salem, Oregon
Silver Medal | Illustrator’s 28th Exhibition, Society of Illustrators, New York
Gold Medal | Art Director’s Club, New York
Honorable Mention | Society of Publication Designers, New York
Select Gallery, Expo & Sales History:
Village Gallery, Lahaina, Maui 2013
New York Art Expo 2001, 2002, 2003
Artifacts Gallery, Cambria
California Desert Art Source, Palm Desert
California SoHo Fine Art Gallery, Las Vegas
Nevada Collector’s Editions, Kauai & Hawaii
The Lanning Gallery, Sedona, Arizona
Rip Caswell Gallery, Jackson Hole, Wyoming,
Carlton Gallery, Carlton, Oregon
Chetwynd Stapelton Gallery, Portland, Oregon
Le Meitour Fine Arts, Portland, Oregon
Gango Gallery, Portland, Oregon
The Augustine Collection, Portland, Oregon
Corporate & Institutional Collections / Private Commissions:
Portland University Club, Portland, Oregon
Marriott Corporation, Palm Desert
Portland Trail Blazers, Paul Allen Foundation
Kaiser-Permamente Collection
Select Group Exhibitions
2012 | Portland Art Museum | Oregon Plein Air Invitational
2012 | 13th Annual Exhibition | American Impressionist Society
2012 | Laguna Art Museum | Laguna Plein Air Painters Association
2011| 12th Annual Exhibition | American Impressionist Society
2011 | Laguna Art Museum | Laguna Plein Air Painters Association
Oil Painters of America 19th Annual National Exhibition | Legacy Gallery, Scottsdale
Top 100 Artist Arts for the Parks National Tour National Parks Academy of the Arts, Jackson
New York Art Expo 2002, 2001 and 2000 New York
East Meets West | Chetwynd Stapelton Gallery, Portland
Oil Painters of America, 7th National Exhibition | P & C Gallery-Georgetown, Washington D.C.
Oil Painters of America, West Coast Regional Show | Jones & Terwilliger Gallery, Carmel
Chetwynd Stapelton Gallery, Portland, Oregon
Pacific Northwest College of Art Faculty Exchange | Salem, Oregon
Your Show of Shows, Society of Illustrators | New York
Select Solo Shows
Visual Meditations on the Northwest Landscape | Canessa Park Gallery, San Francisco
First Light Over Sauvie Island | Chetwynd Stapelton Gallery, Portland
Sauvie Island & Other Changing Oregon Landscapes | Le Meitour Fine Arts, Portland
Landscapes, Cityscapes & People | Le Meitour Fine Arts, Portland
Paintings From the Last Six Years | Le Meitour Fine Arts, Portland
History of Professional Affiliations
Artist Member, Oil Painters of America
Associate Member, California Art Club
Artist Member, American Society of Impressionists
Artist Member, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association
Instructor, Pacific Northwest College of Art
Artist Member, Society of Illustrators, New York
Art-related Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts, 1984, Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, Missouri
THOMAS JEFFERSON KITTS
(click image to enlarge)
"China Blue"
12 x 9 inches
oil on panel
Thomas Jefferson Kitts
