John Thomas is a born artist; one of those breeds who took to drawing and studying forms at an early age. His subjects were things that surrounded him in his childhood - trucks, plans, cars, boats, and heavy machinery. Objects that all young boys fascinate over, Thomas studied for hours, seeking and perfecting their forms and nuances on paper. Even then, Thomas looked to his everyday surroundings for inspiration. Growing up on a ranch in Texas, he began using found objects to create abstract assemblages and collages.

Thomas' early penchant for art and natural talent lead him to San Francisco State University, where he obtained a B.F.A. in Fine Art. While pursuing his degree, he spent a year abroad, in Aix-en-Provence, France. Rich in history, with its unique light that influenced so many artists that came before him, Thomas experienced the ethereal and pensive aura of this region, which still influences his work today.

The work of John Thomas is both abstract and representational. Common shapes, symbols, and objects float in and out of the picture plane, working against and with abstract elements such as color fields, paint drips, and scribbled lines. Rendered instinctually, the composition works itself out as he goes, in hopes that the image will provoke thought and conjure sensation for the observer.