Oil Paintings By Thomas Arvid

Thomas Arvid possesses an unerring ability to refine a moment. In doing so, he captures our wonder and has become an art world phenomenon. 

Art Business News in May 2003 credited him with "launching a major art trend…" with his oversized still life compositions of wine and the rituals surrounding its consumption. Arvid's images astound viewers with their intricate details and his mastery of light, depth and reflection.

The magic of Thomas’s art is his ability to visualize and chronicle an entire scene beyond the frame – to tell a story of enjoyment and the good life – using lush color and adroit composition. He is passionate about art and wine and collects both, and he strives to capture the pleasure of a life well lived on each canvas. 

An Atlanta resident and a father of two, the self-taught artist insists that wine should be approachable, and his paintings are an embodiment of the casual way that we enjoy wine today. He is an appealing role model for a lifestyle of easy elegance and unpretentious charm.

Thomas’s approach to wine and painting is not surprising, given his background. As a Detroit native, he was raised to parlay his inherent artistic talent into a secure job in the industrial complex. Instead, he made the leap into pursuing his art as a career. With the support of his art historian girlfriend and inspiration garnered during a backpacking trip through Europe, he began painting full time.

Drawn to wine by his focus on the color red, Thomas knew he had discovered something when his paintings featuring red wine were purchased before they were even finished. He has been awed by the response to his work.

"Wine is a great subject because people are familiar with it; they really connect to it,” Thomas said. “My paintings speak to the special moments that people share when they share wine. It's amazing that my collectors find a personal fulfillment in my work, especially when I'm just doing what I love."

The aura surroundinghiswork is palpable. His international appeal has created such demand that his work is represented by over 50 elite art galleries in the US, Canada, and Japan.Moreover,collectors are willing to wait years for one of his originals. Influential wineries such as Silver Oak Cellars and Diamond Creek Winery collectThomasArvids because he translates the craftsmanship of wine to canvas.

Doug Shafer, of Shafer Family Vineyards, likens Thomas’s skill to that of a winemaker: "Arvid's style is big and bold, with enough selected detail and softness to create a sense of balance. . . This blend of elements is precisely what winemakers hope to bring to their top vintages.”