Growing up in rural Ohio, as a kid Thomas Schaller dreamed of little else except to one day grow up, live in the city, and become a professional artist. And after a few twists and turns, years later, his dreams have actually come true. As a very young person, Thomas had many interests – art and architecture being the primary ones. But he says he  “made the mistake of assuming that I had to choose one path or the other.” He lived in New York City for many years working as a concept designer and architectural artist. “While I loved this work, there was always something missing.  I painted the dreams and visions of others, but I still longed to paint my own.” So in 2010, he made the decision to redesign his life and learn how to become the artist he was meant to be.

“I love watercolor for many reasons, but primarily because of its unique capacity to be at the same time poetic and literal, gentle and strong, quiet and loud. Images in a watercolor seamlessly morph into something else new and unexpected. It can be both very specific and completely ephemeral. And so I have come to better understand my lifelong love of the built environment. Cities speak less about buildings themselves and more about the dialog between substance and void. And primarily cities are about the  endless narrative of the humans who over the years live and work there.  One of the joys of painting in watercolor is its immediacy and directness. And since there are so few materials required, each must be selected carefully to be certain that they best portray your unique artistic vision. That’s why I choose DANIEL SMITH pigments. They are unsurpassed in quality, clarity, and luminosity. And they are a perfect partner in my ongoing exploration of light, contrast, expression, and the narrative potential of watercolor.”

Thomas’ recent credentials include developing a DANIEL SMITH Master Artist Watercolor Set, a Signature Series of Master Artist brushes, publishing a book called Architecture of Light, recognition as Master Artist by the International Masters of Watercolor Alliance, and creating a Master Artist Curriculum, Design and the Power of Imagination, hosted by Terracotta.