Existing comment:
Red Bull Energy
Rob Thomas, 49, Artist/Writer
Hebron, IL
Rob Thomas turns the cliché "a picture is worth a thousand words" on its head. For this self-taught artist, a picture IS a thousand words. Or more. Thomas painstakingly selects and recycles thousands of printed words to serve as the colors and shadings – the medium, if you will – of mosaic- and collage-style images. "I've been doing this for over 30 years," notes the 49-year-old, explaining that his works include landscapes, abstracts, faces, and still life. To date, Thomas has more than 200 commissions to his credit.
Thomas's favorite saying is rhetorical: "What is the first rule of art? There are no rules." Nonetheless, one rule he does seem to lay down for himself is that the words he chooses must not only suit a graphic purpose – their meaning must also pertain to the theme of the work. He intends to challenge the eye, the mind, and the soul, and he hopes that the words he incorporates resonate with viewers as deeply as his images. Thomas's artistic process requires countless visits to recycling centers and endless amounts of patience. "Red Bull Energy," for example, took six months to produce. "I tried to create something different," he declares. "Not only is it cool to look at; you can read it too!" |