Meet the Artists of Mane Street Studio
Background
Jeffery Foster Thomas developed a love for drawing as a small child. His favorite subject being horses, this became his main artistic focus growing up. Then in high school, he branched out into the world of portraits. From there, to his current mediums of pencil, color pencil, pastel, and hand-etched black granite, the latter which he spent 4 years apprenticing in Ohio to learn. Thomas loves portraits because of the wonderful stories that go with each piece. "Learning about the cat, dog, horse, or person that I will be drawing really helps me to capture their special qualities that makes them unique." Thomas also works with a monument company where he hand-etches scenes from the lives of clients and their families onto the headstones to create beautiful and artistic memorials for them. As Thomas puts it, "Epitaphs are rare these days, so when you view one of the hand-etched stones, you come away knowing something about the person; what they loved, their hobbies, passions, it's a wonderful way to remember someone." Commissions are always welcome.
Interests
Becky Thomas says that gardening is good therapy. Working in the flower beds that border their Tennessee home, Becky finds inspiration in the wildflowers and the wildlife. She often is heard to say that bunnies are her favorite, but she finds inspiration in many places with various settings and themes. Other interests that keep her inspired are: restoring old furniture and giving it a new lease on life, the occasional horseback ride, painting floors in faux brick and stone and many other creative adventures. "The things with which an artist surrounds him or herself will reflect in their work." says Becky, "So if you love to paint flowers or birds, or horses, surround yourself with those things and let them become part of who you are. This love for your subject will come through in a way that will make your paintings alive and other people will notice it, too."
Jeffrey Foster Thomas, as a child, was often found down in the field trying to catch the neighbor's wild pony. When he succeeded, the experience changed him forever. Becoming an accomplished horseman seemed to perfectly blend with being an artist, since "Horses are living art." says Thomas. So, for years, Thomas was involved with breeding and training Arabian horses. These days he pursues it as more of a hobby, as the art work takes up the majority of his work time.
In 1990, Thomas was "discovered" while working as a grocery bagger in Ohio. He had sold a drawing to a fellow worker and one of the managers saw it. He made a phone call and secured an interview for Thomas with a monument company. The next four years were spent apprenticing under the careful tutelage of Cathy Presson, an accomplished artist and master in the field of diamond etching. Thomas learned etching and design during that time and is currently employed at one of the oldest and most respected monument companies in the east, Tusculum Monument Company in Greeneville, TN. Diamond etching is a medium that enables clients to have beautiful scenes hand etched on their monuments for a lasting memorial to their loved ones. See examples on this website.
