Meet Thomas W Schaller

Today we’d like to introduce you to Thomas W Schaller.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
As a kid of seven in rural Ohio, I marched into the kitchen of our farmhouse and announced that I intended to grow up, become an artist, and move to New York City. My parents were dumbfounded.

And despite quite a few twists and turns, that’s just what I did. I always loved to draw; loved to invent worlds on a piece of paper that seemed bigger and better than the one I saw around me as a child. And I thought that the life of an artist would suit the hopelessly shy and awkward child I was since I could tell my stories without having to speak.

I have always been in the thrall of the power of non-verbal communication. And so I love the exploration of ideas; using dreams, memories, and imagination as much as real world observation.

In time my work has evolved from that of an architect, an architectural artist and concept designer, until today as a fine artist. I am also an instructor and the author of three books about my work and artistic process,

Please tell us about your art.
I am a painter who works primarily in watercolor. I see watercolor as a natural extension of my first love – drawing. But whereas in drawing with a pencil, we depict our visions with lines; in watercolor, we draw with shapes – shapes of light and dark, color and tone.

I am inspired primarily by the dualities – the clash of opposites – that I see in the world around me.

My work is an exploration of the tension between – and the resolution of – opposing forces: light and dark: vertical and horizontal: warm and cool tones: transparency and opacity; the manmade and natural world; and the past and the present. The compositions that result in this ongoing approach also are an exploration of movement, the passage of time, and the eventual atmospheres and emotional landscapes that can be created to best tell the stories I wish to tell.

In the end, my work is about connections; often the unexpected connections we can find in people and places that may seem the most unlikely.

Choosing a creative or artistic path comes with many financial challenges. Any advice for those struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns?
That is a great – but complex – question. At one point I had to make the difficult decision to turn away from a steady and lucrative career in commercial art to dedicate myself to becoming a fine artist.

Yes, there have been difficult times, but I will never regret that decision. For me, any hope I had to live a fully authentic life was to give all I had in an attempt to become a dedicated, and full-time professional artist.

But my only advice would be that if there is something in life that truly calls to you – whatever that may be – you have to listen. The call for me to become an artist only becomes louder and more clear every day I get up and stand in front of my easel. Any doubts gradually fade. A great artist once told me, “Just paint – all the rest will take care of itself”.

This may seem overly glib or simplistic, but it is about the truth. It may seem overwhelming, but once the decision has been made, bit by bit, you can arrange your life to make it happen. Dreams can become reality.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I exhibit constantly – all over the world. Like most artists, the bulk of my current work is most easy to find on the internet. My work is on almost all the usual Social Media sites: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.

But my website is the best place to find out about new work, news on upcoming classes, exhibitions, and presentations,

http://www.thomaswschaller.com

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.thomaswschaller.com
• Phone: 3107419879
• Email: thomaswschaller@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thomaswschaller
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thomaswschaller
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/twschaller
• Other: https://plus.google.com/+thomaswschaller

Image Credit:
Girl with Beads – TW Schaller / Watercolor / 2018
Bridge – China – TW Schaller / Watercolor / 2018
Winter Light, Moscow – TW Schaller / Watercolor / 2018
Nightfall – Venice – TW Schaller / Watercolor / 2018

Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.