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Featured Artist: Johnathan M. Thomas.
Paintings. Poetry/Manual Typewriter Interactive.
Without Spell Check, Cut and Paste, or AI prompts; experience the effort and sensory perception of putting your thoughts down on paper using an old manual typewriter.
Artist Statement:
My art journey began as far back as I can remember. My first painting was a helicopter. Most people didn’t know what it was until I told them — I guess I’ve always lived in an abstract world.
Later in life, I was drawn to photography. I worked with several non-profits and NGOs, sharing the stories of children and families around the world. That time taught me how powerful images can be, even when words fall short.
In 2013, I asked myself what was missing in our community. Wenatchee is an incredible arts town, but I noticed there were very few free opportunities for kids to explore art. That’s when All of Creation was born — a free art program for children to explore, create, and exhibit their work. Over ten years later, it’s still going strong.
In 2020, I lost two close friends — both artists. Every space that had once been a place of healing for me was suddenly closed. In grief and solitude, I turned to painting — something my friends had loved. But with studios shut down and no materials at hand, all I had was an iPad. I started drawing. At first, I hated it. The tools felt foreign, and I couldn’t seem to create digitally what I saw in my friends’ abstract work.
But I kept going. I kept learning. I kept making mistakes. I kept experimenting. And slowly, something began to take shape. I started to create work that I felt proud of — work I believe would’ve made my friends smile. They were always so encouraging.
Sharing my digital art publicly was another challenge. Some told me it wasn’t “real” or “original” — that because it could be mass reproduced, it “didn’t count as real art.” That was discouraging. But I kept coming back to the truth: this artwork is mine. It comes from my head, my heart, and my soul. It’s shaped by relationships, by loss, by persistence, and by the belief that art is expansive — not confined to tradition, as many contemporary artist would tell you.
I now create to offer unique, high-quality abstract works to people who are tired of mass-produced, soulless prints. My pieces live in multiple spaces — sometimes digital, sometimes printed, always personal.
The beauty of art is that it touches something deep in the human spirit. My work might make you think, ask questions, feel connected — or maybe just smile. It’s part of a journey — a movement — an invitation into all of creation.
