Artist of the month,  Marcus Thomas

The featured artist is Marcus Thomas of Weaverville, North Carolina. A recent college graduate in 1985, Thomas loved the outdoors and planned to become an activities director at a vacation resort. But a skiing accident changed his life forever, leaving him paralyzed from the shoulders down. His girlfriend Anne, now his wife, brought a more positive change into his life when she gave him a box of Crayola watercolors. Thomas learned to paint by holding the brush in his mouth, and he embarked on a successful career as an artist.

“Through painting, I remain active outdoors, visually absorbing all that nature provides, documenting interests and sharing my passion for life,” Thomas says.

His detailed pieces are presented in collections focused on small songbirds, landscapes, warblers, wildlife, still lifes and conservation.

“It is amazing what Marcus can achieve,” says Richard Sullivan, the festival promoter who has known the artist for six years. “Any artist would struggle to capture the colors and nuances in a bird’s feathers, fields of grass, leaves and flowers. For Marcus to create such fine works of art shows his patience, dedication and talent.”

Thomas has won many "Best in Show" awards, including the Naples Invitational Art Fest for both 2012 and 2011, and in 2009 the North Carolina Art in Autumn festival and Virginia Arts and Crafts Festival in Crozet, VA. He also took second place in the Sanibel Lion's Club Art Show last year.

He will sell his works and demonstrate his technique during the festival.