I paint The Art of Joy in vibrant poster-style art.
Although making paper dolls and trucks were the mode of expression when Thom Reaves discovered his love for creating early in his childhood, it was when Thom would go on long rides with his father, that he became fascinated with the graphics on gas station signs and road maps, which seeded the inspirations of his later artistic life. Signs, symbols and billboards birthed an interest in graphics and posters, which have become the signature style of his work.
Thom majored in graphic design, receiving his bachelor's degree in communications design from Pratt Institute in 1988. After working for a number of years as a neon sign designer in New York, he returned to his hometown of Trenton, NJ where he began to produce his art. Initially expressing himself through intricate pen & ink drawings, Thom began painting when a gallerist suggested the introduction of color into his work. A new focus on color reignited the love of vintage posters, a visual style which he then chose as the avenue of his self expression. Utilizing uplifting imagery, it became the framework of a long-running series of works based on play with words, locations and objects.
Thom has flourished in the continuation of his stylized poster-style images, which he has named Postyle; earning him the privilege of showing his work in numerous group and solo shows. His designs have graced the surfaces of fine writing instruments and luxury items for Acme Studios of Hawaii, being sold in boutiques around the world and he has licensed his work for art reproductions. Thom painted a room of an Art hotel in Miami Beach, FL. and collaborated with a trendy home design company, lending his images to fashion accessories. Thom creates works for numerous commissions and portraits, having produced artwork for homes and businesses in the US and Japan. In addition to his painting, Thom writes children's stories, has written and produced an episodic, web-based drama, and publishes the online, monthly Studio Tour Magazine.
ABOUT MY ART:
Postyle is the name I've coined to denote my style of painting in the poster style. Postyle aims to elevate the poster technique as an art form; presenting the poster as a work of art by fusing design and image in an original painted work and bringing it into the sphere of everyday life. I intertwine puns in word and design to create an oneness of conception and perception with warmth and appeal.
I reference the nature of the poster as a mode of communication in commerce and advertisement, yet I aim to influence the viewer not to buy something, but rather to buy-in to the message of play and fun with the imaginary.
I consider being grounded as an important part of my work. My grounding comes from my personal history and the place that has influenced me; the city. My Trento series is a quintessential hallmark of my main body of work. Though broader than merely the representation of a place, Trento has become an ubiquitous visual shorthand of my work, synonymous with my personal signature.
My roots fuel the flight of my imaginations, leading to unexpected, often humorous places; free, but grounded within the framework of my own life.
Expressed through the technique of Postyle, my works of art become a vehicle, meant to be positive, uplift one's mood and bring meaning to what I call, "Lighthearted Imagery of Joy".
I paint The Art of Joy in vibrant poster-style art. Although making paper dolls and trucks were the mode of expression when Thom Reaves discovered his love for creating early in his childhood, it was when Thom would go on long rides with his father, that he became fascinated with the graphics on gas station signs and road maps, which seeded the inspirations of his later artistic life. Signs, symbols and billboards birthed an interest in graphics and posters, which have become the signature style of his work. Thom majored in graphic design, receiving his bachelor's degree in communications design from Pratt Institute in 1988. After working for a number of years as a neon sign designer in New York, he returned to his hometown of Trenton, NJ where he began to produce his art. Initially expressing himself through intricate pen & ink drawings, Thom began painting when a gallerist suggested the introduction of color into his work. A new focus on color reignited the love of vintage posters, a visual style which he then chose as the avenue of his self expression. Utilizing uplifting imagery, it became the framework of a long-running series of works based on play with words, locations and objects. Thom has flourished in the continuation of his stylized poster-style images, which he has named Postyle; earning him the privilege of showing his work in numerous group and solo shows. His designs have graced the surfaces of fine writing instruments and luxury items for Acme Studios of Hawaii, being sold in boutiques around the world and he has licensed his work for art reproductions. Thom painted a room of an Art hotel in Miami Beach, FL. and collaborated with a trendy home design company, lending his images to fashion accessories. Thom creates works for numerous commissions and portraits, having produced artwork for homes and businesses in the US and Japan. In addition to his painting, Thom writes children's stories, has written and produced an episodic, web-based drama, and publishes the online, monthly Studio Tour Magazine. ABOUT MY ART: Postyle is the name I've coined to denote my style of painting in the poster style. Postyle aims to elevate the poster technique as an art form; presenting the poster as a work of art by fusing design and image in an original painted work and bringing it into the sphere of everyday life. I intertwine puns in word and design to create an oneness of conception and perception with warmth and appeal. I reference the nature of the poster as a mode of communication in commerce and advertisement, yet I aim to influence the viewer not to buy something, but rather to buy-in to the message of play and fun with the imaginary. I consider being grounded as an important part of my work. My grounding comes from my personal history and the place that has influenced me; the city. My Trento series is a quintessential hallmark of my main body of work. Though broader than merely the representation of a place, Trento has become an ubiquitous visual shorthand of my work, synonymous with my personal signature. My roots fuel the flight of my imaginations, leading to unexpected, often humorous places; free, but grounded within the framework of my own life. Expressed through the technique of Postyle, my works of art become a vehicle, meant to be positive, uplift one's mood and bring meaning to what I call, "Lighthearted Imagery of Joy".