455:", which occupied the last fifteen years of his life, combined bold color-shapes of tropical foliage with a technique of painting that reflected back to his abstract expressionist youth. His "Orchids of Hawaii" watercolor series covers the entire time he lived in Kona and resulted in over two hundred paintings of numerous species of orchids, culminating in the triptych "Hilo Garden", 40 by 54 inches (1987). His best-known series is "Boy with Goldfish" comprising seven large oil paintings and smaller oil studies, and a suite of seventeen pencil drawings titled "The Battle". This series inspired Hawaiian folk singing duo Leon Siu and Malia Elliott to create a series of songs which were later developed into a large concert work for soloists, chorus, orchestra and organ by composer Jerre Tanner. The paintings and drawings were exhibited at The Contemporary Museum as part of the
491:, several of whose students were close personal friends. He named his personal application of the grid to the construction of his painting "Symbolic Stereometry". All his work from the end of his first year teaching at the University of Hawaii, Hilo Campus (1966) on, come under the influence of the grid. Concurrently, his response to the quality of light in Hawaii and the tropical vegetation resulted in a parallel study of color, particularly the manner in which the eye perceives color in relation to the colors surrounding it. Over forty years’ of studies on these two subjects are housed at Rod Library Special Collections,
487:, through Baziotes at New York University, critics early on saw him as a maverick, unconcerned with contemporary trends in the arts environment. While his peers were throwing off the trappings of previous conventions, Thomas was developing a system of grids to control the interplay between the two-dimensional surface of a painting and a symbolic third dimension within. He traced the source of the concept to his early studies of Italian Renaissance painters and the architect
519:
31:
503:
511:
527:
409:
and the Hawaii Island County
Council have issued him commendations for his contributions to the culture of the Islands. The Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts has purchased his work for the State Collection, and he has received commissions to create art for state buildings, most notably
224:
Thomas is among the foremost painters of Hawaii. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally in over 200 solo and group exhibitions in museums, universities and art galleries including one man shows at the Alan
Gallery (Charles Alan formerly assisted
430:
Thomas often did series of paintings centering on one subject. The first significant series was on the subject of allegorical figures, reaching an early high point with the oil painting "Triptych with
Predella – the Seasons" (1959) (collection of the
171:
John Paul Thomas was the third of four children born to Paul B. Thomas and Annie Watson Thomas. He enlisted in the Navy fall of 1944 and received a medical discharge the following summer. He received a B.A. degree in 1951 from
475:
SACD (1994) with Thomas paintings reproduced on the covers. The No. 1 painting "Rainbow Birth" was chosen for the cover of the
Brubeck-LaVergne Trio jazz LP "See How It Feels".
655:
394:
927:
907:
650:
406:
867:
922:
660:
310:
266:
620:
612:
604:
573:
254:
912:
390:
917:
386:
354:
306:
362:
290:
435:), and continuing throughout his life culminating in the oil "The Tempest" (1997). It included paintings of deities from
358:
318:
189:
492:
456:
432:
286:
278:
419:
460:
346:
233:), New York (1958-1961); Paul Kantor Gallery, Beverly Hills, California (1956-1958); the Esther Robles Gallery,
366:
330:
238:
365:
School of Art in
Honolulu (1966). He occupied the Ames Walker Professorship Chair in the School of Art at the
709:
484:
302:
250:
551:; Ha’ilono Mele, the Hawaiian Music Foundation Journal, vol. 11, no.8, pages 6 – 8; Honolulu, Hawaii 1976
246:
879:
detailed exposition of Thomas' grid concept with reproductions of examples and corresponding paintings
704:
506:
Thomas' analysis of
Vermeer painting "The Love Letter" grid overlay #2 showing module and primary axes
902:
897:
270:
234:
468:
402:
382:
294:
177:
488:
436:
415:
350:
326:
322:
298:
282:
274:
242:
840:
616:
608:
600:
569:
518:
496:
213:
136:
58:
30:
872:
861:
583:
452:
411:
378:
314:
230:
181:
92:
502:
281:. Group shows include the Kootz Gallery, New York (1950); Galleria Schneider, Rome (1955);
398:
258:
770:, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa; online publication; Volume 3, Issue 1.
810:
472:
440:
212:
in 1970 where he worked for thirty-one years until his death due to complications from
173:
891:
226:
209:
205:
197:
448:
201:
148:
444:
349:, Detroit, Michigan (1955-1956). He was Visiting Professor of Life Drawing at the
459:'s premiere of the music in October, 1976. The music was recorded in 1979 by the
565:
464:
193:
882:
640:, University of Northern Iowa online publication; Volume 3, Issue 1 (Fall 2007)
593:; American Artist magazine annual travel issue; vol. 50, no. 512; New York 1985
864:
for images of selected Thomas paintings and graphics accompanying music videos
152:
334:
796:. exhibition catalog; Contemporary Arts Center of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii.
510:
764:
On the
Origins and Application of the Grid in the Art of John Paul Thomas
634:
On the
Origins and Application of the Grid in the Art of John Paul Thomas
586:
in-flight magazine; vol. 15, no. 8, August, 1984; Los
Angeles, California
140:
76:
599:; cover art and article; volume I, Malama Arts, Honolulu, Hawaii (1989)
558:; Aloha, the Magazine of Hawaii; January/February 1980; Honolulu, Hawaii
526:
262:
160:
156:
144:
80:
525:
517:
509:
501:
317:, Louisville, Kentucky; Laguna Beach Art Association, California;
783:. Hoag McGlynn, Betty in Foreword; Malama Arts, Honolulu, Hawaii.
856:
185:
732:
American Artist
Magazine, vol. 42, no. 427; New York, New York.
313:; Lee Nordness Gallery, New York; Tucson Arts Center, Arizona;
868:
Special Collections, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa
661:
List of New York University alumni#Press, literature and arts
629:; magazine, vol. 19, no. 2, February 1994; Honolulu, Hawaii
410:
to create a memorial painting for the 150th anniversary of
690:; Art Centering; vol. 8, no. 8 February 1994; Hilo, Hawaii
269:(1976); and various sites throughout Hawaii including the
192:. Upon returning to the U.S. he established his studio in
522:
Kamapua'a (the "hog-child") painting by John Paul Thomas
467:
digital recording technology. Excerpts were released on
564:; orchid paintings and drawings; co-authored with poet
35:
artist John Paul Thomas in his Kona, Hawaii studio 1992
159:in several media. He was also an educator and arts
106:
98:
88:
65:
40:
21:
822:Brubeck, Chris and Dan and LaVergne, Andy (1978).
357:Art Department (1964-1965). He then taught at the
656:List of artists who painted Hawaii and its people
325:, Arizona; Marin Museum, San Rafael, California;
530:Close-up of Kamapua'a, the Hawaiian "hog-child"
395:Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts
883:Collaborator with Harvey Hess and Jerré Tanner
216:. He is buried at the Kona Veterans Cemetery.
597:Hawaii Island Artists and Friends of the Arts
8:
249:, Tempe (1963); Oklahoma Art Center at the
285:, Kansas (1957); Pacific Coast Biennial –
29:
18:
758:
756:
754:
682:
680:
678:
676:
377:Thomas received residence fellowships at
147:) was an American artist specializing in
740:
738:
698:
696:
672:
651:List of American artists 1900 and after
393:grant (1975), and commissions from the
779:Hess, Harvey and Thomas, John (1982).
724:
722:
720:
483:Even though Thomas has early roots in
447:(pig demigod) and the volcano goddess
353:, Iowa City (1962-1963) and taught at
309:Annual, New York; Annual Exhibitions,
835:Wilson, William (11 September 1974).
705:"Painter John Paul Thomas dead at 74"
568:; Malama Arts, Honolulu, Hawaii 1982
407:Hawaii State House of Representatives
7:
471:LP in 1980 and the complete work on
345:He began his teaching career at the
241:, Birmingham, Alabama (1954, 1964);
928:20th-century American male artists
418:and Hawaii State Governors, now a
311:San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
267:University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
14:
514:The Red Fence by John Paul Thomas
255:Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
184:. He spent a year (1954-1955) in
748:. Malama Arts, Honolulu, Hawaii.
389:, California (1957 and 1962), a
265:, Texas (1969); Foster Gallery,
176:and an M.A. degree in 1954 from
826:. BKH 51401. Blackhawk Records.
703:Hugh Clark (7 September 2001).
426:Significant series of paintings
391:National Endowment for the Arts
237:, Los Angeles (1958-1974); the
908:20th-century American painters
781:Orchid Art and the Orchid Isle
562:Orchid Art and the Orchid Isle
549:Contribution to Hawaiian Music
387:Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles
355:San Francisco State University
307:Whitney Museum of American Art
16:American painter (1927 - 2001)
1:
877:, University of Northern Iowa
544:; New York September 19, 1960
542:Fine Arts in the Market Place
363:University of Hawaii at Manoa
291:San Francisco Legion of Honor
204:(1963-1970). He moved to the
359:University of Hawaii at Hilo
333:; and the American Library,
319:Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
190:Italian Renaissance painting
744:John Thomas Résumé (2000).
556:John Thomas, Artist of Kona
493:University of Northern Iowa
457:Honolulu Symphony Orchestra
433:Orange County Museum of Art
329:, Los Angeles, California;
305:Annual, Lincoln, Nebraska;
287:Santa Barbara Museum of Art
279:East Hawaii Cultural Center
944:
923:New York University alumni
762:Jerré Tanner (Fall 2007).
420:National Historic Landmark
461:London Symphony Orchestra
347:Detroit Institute of Arts
28:
730:John Thomas: Kona Artist
367:University of Washington
331:Honolulu Academy of Arts
253:, Oklahoma City (1964);
239:Birmingham Museum of Art
710:The Honolulu Advertiser
443:(goddess of the moon),
369:, Seattle (1968-1969).
913:American male painters
837:… Hard Italian Sherbet
805:Tanner, Jerré (1974).
792:Roster, Laila (1976).
728:Howell, Betje (1978).
531:
523:
515:
507:
485:Abstract Expressionism
303:University of Nebraska
251:University of Oklahoma
180:where he studied with
125:Hawaiian Legend series
918:The New School alumni
589:Longman, Robin, ed.;
529:
521:
513:
505:
247:University of Arizona
615:; volume III (1997)
271:University of Hawaii
245:, Iowa City (1963);
235:La Cienega Boulevard
139:– 5 September 2001,
746:private compilation
688:An Artist's Odyssey
403:Hawaii State Senate
383:Huntington Hartford
295:Portland Art Museum
257:, Colorado (1964);
178:New York University
532:
524:
516:
508:
489:Frank Lloyd Wright
437:Hawaiian mythology
416:Queen Liliuokalani
351:University of Iowa
327:Occidental College
323:Phoenix Art Museum
299:Seattle Art Museum
283:Wichita Art Museum
275:Volcano Art Center
243:University of Iowa
196:(1956-1959), then
135:(4 February 1927,
841:Los Angeles Times
807:Boy with Goldfish
794:Boy with Goldfish
625:Spirit of Aloha;
607:; volume II 1991
578:Western’s World;
497:Cedar Falls, Iowa
479:Scholarly studies
451:. His "Homage to
414:, former home of
373:Awards and honors
214:myasthenia gravis
188:, Italy studying
137:Bessemer, Alabama
130:
129:
121:Orchids of Hawaii
117:Boy with Goldfish
59:Bessemer, Alabama
935:
844:
833:
827:
824:See How It Feels
820:
814:
803:
797:
790:
784:
777:
771:
760:
749:
742:
733:
726:
715:
714:
700:
691:
684:
584:Western Airlines
469:Varèse Sarabande
412:Washington Place
379:Yaddo Foundation
361:(1965-1967) and
315:Speed Art Museum
231:Downtown Gallery
200:(1959-1963) and
182:William Baziotes
133:John Paul Thomas
109:
93:William Baziotes
72:
69:5 September 2001
54:
52:
45:John Paul Thomas
33:
19:
943:
942:
938:
937:
936:
934:
933:
932:
888:
887:
853:
848:
847:
834:
830:
821:
817:
804:
800:
791:
787:
778:
774:
761:
752:
743:
736:
727:
718:
702:
701:
694:
685:
674:
669:
647:
632:Tanner, Jerré;
540:LIFE magazine;
537:
481:
428:
399:Delta Air Lines
375:
343:
259:Rice University
222:
169:
107:
84:
74:
70:
61:
56:
55:4 February 1927
50:
48:
47:
46:
36:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
941:
939:
931:
930:
925:
920:
915:
910:
905:
900:
890:
889:
886:
885:
880:
870:
865:
859:
857:Albany Records
852:
851:External links
849:
846:
845:
828:
815:
811:Albany Records
798:
785:
772:
750:
734:
716:
692:
686:Thomas, John;
671:
670:
668:
665:
664:
663:
658:
653:
646:
643:
642:
641:
630:
623:
594:
587:
576:
559:
554:Hess, Harvey;
552:
547:Hood, Mantle;
545:
536:
533:
480:
477:
473:Albany Records
427:
424:
374:
371:
342:
339:
221:
218:
174:The New School
168:
165:
128:
127:
113:Homage to Gaea
110:
104:
103:
100:
99:Known for
96:
95:
90:
86:
85:
75:
73:(aged 74)
67:
63:
62:
57:
44:
42:
38:
37:
34:
26:
25:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
940:
929:
926:
924:
921:
919:
916:
914:
911:
909:
906:
904:
901:
899:
896:
895:
893:
884:
881:
878:
876:
871:
869:
866:
863:
860:
858:
855:
854:
850:
842:
838:
832:
829:
825:
819:
816:
812:
808:
802:
799:
795:
789:
786:
782:
776:
773:
769:
765:
759:
757:
755:
751:
747:
741:
739:
735:
731:
725:
723:
721:
717:
712:
711:
706:
699:
697:
693:
689:
683:
681:
679:
677:
673:
666:
662:
659:
657:
654:
652:
649:
648:
644:
639:
635:
631:
628:
624:
622:
621:0-931909-11-2
618:
614:
613:0-931909-07-4
610:
606:
605:0-931909-06-6
602:
598:
595:
592:
588:
585:
581:
577:
575:
574:0-931909-03-1
571:
567:
563:
560:
557:
553:
550:
546:
543:
539:
538:
534:
528:
520:
512:
504:
500:
498:
494:
490:
486:
478:
476:
474:
470:
466:
462:
458:
454:
450:
446:
442:
438:
434:
425:
423:
421:
417:
413:
408:
404:
400:
396:
392:
388:
384:
380:
372:
370:
368:
364:
360:
356:
352:
348:
340:
338:
336:
332:
328:
324:
320:
316:
312:
308:
304:
300:
296:
292:
288:
284:
280:
276:
272:
268:
264:
260:
256:
252:
248:
244:
240:
236:
232:
228:
227:Edith Halpert
219:
217:
215:
211:
210:Hawaii Island
207:
206:Kona District
203:
199:
198:San Francisco
195:
191:
187:
183:
179:
175:
166:
164:
162:
158:
154:
150:
146:
142:
138:
134:
126:
122:
118:
114:
111:
105:
101:
97:
94:
91:
87:
82:
78:
68:
64:
60:
43:
39:
32:
27:
20:
874:
862:Jerré Tanner
836:
831:
823:
818:
806:
801:
793:
788:
780:
775:
767:
763:
745:
729:
708:
687:
637:
633:
626:
596:
590:
579:
561:
555:
548:
541:
535:Bibliography
482:
429:
385:Foundation,
376:
344:
321:, Richmond;
223:
202:Marin County
170:
149:oil painting
132:
131:
124:
120:
116:
112:
108:Notable work
71:(2001-09-05)
903:2001 deaths
898:1927 births
809:. TROY053.
566:Harvey Hess
465:Soundstream
381:(1954) and
337:, Romania.
194:Los Angeles
23:John Thomas
892:Categories
667:References
439:including
277:, and the
153:watercolor
51:1927-02-04
445:Kamapua'a
335:Bucharest
89:Education
875:versitas
768:versitas
645:See also
638:versitas
341:Teaching
141:Honolulu
102:Painting
77:Honolulu
263:Houston
229:at the
161:scholar
157:drawing
619:
611:
603:
572:
463:using
401:. The
220:Career
145:Hawaii
81:Hawaii
766:. UNI
636:; UNI
627:cover
591:cover
580:cover
617:ISBN
609:ISBN
601:ISBN
570:ISBN
453:Gaea
449:Pele
441:Hina
397:and
186:Rome
167:Life
155:and
83:, US
66:Died
41:Born
873:UNI
208:of
894::
839:.
753:^
737:^
719:^
707:.
695:^
675:^
582:;
499:.
495:,
422:.
405:,
301:;
297:,
293:,
289:,
273:,
261:,
163:.
151:,
143:,
123:,
119:,
115:,
79:,
843:.
813:.
713:.
53:)
49:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
