Wedding Painting

Paintings by Rae Thomas

I grew up in Starhill, Louisiana, a small rural community north of Baton Rouge, where I still live today with my husband, Doug, and our three children, Olivia, Davis, and Avery. I was always exposed to art as my mother, Patsy W. Dreher, was a fabulous artist, wonderful cook, and talented seamstress. She could make anything out of items she had around the house. Through watching her I learned that I could do the same. I had taken art classes in high school and in college but didn’t begin to get into painting until I had taken painting classes as an adult in my 40s. Since starting to paint I look at everything through an artist’s perspective. I am constantly looking at perspective, color, forms, shadowing, etc. in everything, every day. I was first introduced to “live event” painting in 2014 and have been fascinated with it ever since. I absolutely love being able to capture the people and essence that the day brings.

I was a middle school teacher for seventeen years teaching mostly sciences and art. In 2016 I decided to start new career paths of being a hairstylist and an artist. I follow other Louisiana artists who made art as their sole career and from them I learned that I could do the same. I encourage everyone, young or old, to pursue those things that you love to do.