Happy 100th Birthday Carroll Thomas

Big Pine artist Carroll Thomas turns 100 on April 29 (Photo courtesy Meta Cheryl White)

Local artist and gallery owner Carroll Thomas marked his 100th birthday on April 29, and to celebrate he’s having a party on May 1 and wants the public to attend.

Born in Clarinda, Iowa in 1910, Thomas has had a long and winding road of a life, according to his friend and author of his upcoming book, Meta Cheryl White. At age 9, he and his family moved to Manitou Springs, Colo., where he first began his painting career. There was much in Manitou Springs to impress a young artist, including stately Pikes Peak and the brilliant Garden of the Gods, which inspired his very first painting at age 9 (which he still has).

“Pikes Peak was his favorite,” White explained. Mt. Sill near Big Pine reminded Thomas of his childhood, which is why he decided to settle down and open a gallery in the Eastern Sierra at age 96. Mt. Sill is the view he has from his window.

Thomas Gallery is situated on US 395 and is the first gallery Thomas has owned that houses only his art.

“He owned a gallery in Tahoe in the 70s, but it had other people’s art in it too,” White said.

He had numerous close-calls over the years, including a dozen concussions, a Model T accident, several near drownings and a plane crash. Through it all, Thomas was painting beautiful watercolors of his experiences in the form of landscapes and wildlife. His art reflects his life of adventure.

According to White, he is known by many as the oldest living artist in America who still paints and runs a gallery, and he is quite proud of that title. He paints a little bit each day, only using tube watercolors, and is currently working on a depiction of a black bear.

A book by White, titled “The Adventures of the Oldest Living Artist,” is nearing publication and its pages recount Thomas’ colorful and daring life. His birthday party is being held on May 1 at the Thomas Gallery, the first building on the left in Big Pine as you head south from Bishop (look for the white picket fence). The general public is welcome to visit between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

“He’s very excited and thinks he’ll make it to 105,” White said.

For those interested in getting a copy of the upcoming book of Thomas’ life story, visit www.carrollthomasgallery.net and click on “upcoming book.”