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By Melissa Epps Watts
With a dash of yellow, a hint of purple and delicate strokes of green, Marcus Thomas can turn a blank piece of canvas into a beautiful field covered with wild flowers and grass complete with a house in the background, almost hidden by the trees in this uniquely created painting.
What makes his paintings so unique? Is it the paint he uses to create his works of art? No. It is the way he, a native of Hopewell, paints. Severely injured in a skiing accident, he must paint by mouth, using a special brush.
 Becoming an artist was never Marcus’ intentions. As a star basketball player and a natural athlete, he enjoyed the outdoors and participation in various sports. After graduating from Mars College in North Carolina, he says his goal was to become an activities director at a resort. He was never to reach that goal, but instead discovered a gift he never knew he had.
On March 3, 1986, just three months after graduating, he fell while skiing, sliding head first into a tree. The accident left him paralyzed from his shoulders down. Through the many months of treatment and rehabilitation, Marcus was never alone; his future wife Anne was beside him every step of the way.
Though Marcus and Anne could have easily given up, instead they kept moving forward with a positive attitude. While he could no longer ski, he found a new talent he never knew he possessed. A gift of watercolors for Christmas in 1986 started Marcus’ toward his new career of painting and helped him gain the respect of many collectors and artists alike. His paintings feature beautiful, vibrant wildlife, landscapes and architecture.
The amount of time it takes Marcus to complete a painting depends on the final size of the piece of art. Smaller pieces can take as little as a few weeks to complete while larger selections can take several months. He usually tries to paint between six to eight hours and is partial to using watercolor and oil in his paintings. Marcus completes about 10 paintings a year and releases two to three as prints.
Today Marcus and Anne spend most of their time traveling to various arts and crafts shows throughout the states, giving others a chance to see his works of art. Richmond Metro area residents will have a chance to view some of Marcus’ work at the Carolina Craftsman’s Fall Classic November 7 through November 9 at the Richmond Racetrack Complex.
For more information on the work of Marcus Thomas, visit his website at www.marcusthomas.com.
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