Silas Thompson was raised in Idaho where his passion for drawing and painting was instilled at an early age. Encouraged by his parents and manifest by the filling of countless sketchbooks and refrigerator magnets. His inspiration for what he paints today was instilled in him at a young age also during annual backpacking trips with his father. It was being in the remote wilderness that Silas began to treasure the distinct birthmarks and icons of beautiful rivers, valleys, and mountains that carve through the high desert and vast farmlands of the West. His desire to create work that evokes a memory continues to be a driving force pushing Silas to be innovative and to look for new ways to create the illusion of solidity, time, and emotion. Silas earned an Associate’s Degree in art, credits his career to largely being propelled by apprenticeships with two professional artists who were incredibly giving and supportive. Silas believes, while not uniquely of him, that persistence and determination are some of the most important aspects of his artistic process; more so than skill, education, or genius. After college he continued his education by strengthening his fundamentals and work ethic in painting through five years of apprenticeships. He would be remiss to not to give credit to his beautiful wife and friend, Bianca, from whom he receives his greatest support. Museum ExhibitionsThe Rockwell Museum, Corning, NYMattituck Museum, Waterbury, CTBone Creek Museum of Agrarian Art David City, NESt George City Art Museum, Saint George, UTMuseum of the Big Bend, Alpine, TX Select ExhibitionsCharlie Russell Art Auction, Great Falls, MT, 2015, 2017Missoula Art Museum Auction, Missoula, MT, 2016 Select Publications"10 Artists to Watch for 2018," Southwest Art, January 2018"Ones To Watch," Western Art and Architecture, August/September, 2015"21 under 31," Southwest Art, September, 2015"Why This Works," Plein Air Magazine, June, 2015"Painting Structures and Cityscapes," Plein Air Magazine, November, 2015"Planes, Trains, and Cars," Plein Air Magazine, June, 2016 Check out this blog post to learn more about Silas