I was born in small town Johnston, South Carolina. I spent most of my adolescence growing up
in Cincinnati, Ohio. Thanks to my father's genetic influence, my artistic talents began to bloom in
third grade. As an innercity kid, my resources were finite; but my curiosity was infinite!
I received my first commission during my junior year in high school, which ignited my future
destiny and purpose in life...I could be an artist and make a living as one. Prior to that
commission, I had always worked in pencil. But with a little imagination and motivation, my
creative juices started to flow toward oils, acrylics, and other mixed mediums.
After attending Central State University and later on, Northern Kentucky University, I continued to
pursue a career as a fine artist. I began displaying my work throughout the Midwest and
changed my focus to portrait art and other figurative drawing styles. That's when I discovered my
passion for painting people from diverse cultures. I have always been fascinated in the cultural
differences of people and cultures from around the world, especially those of vanishing cultures.
Years later, I relocated to Chicago where I was exposed to commercial illustration, advertising,
publishing, and graphic design. After attending the American Academy of Art, I became a
freelance artist and designer. Over thirty-six (36) images of my work have been published and
nationally distributed (in open and limited editions) between 3 major art publishers.
When my aging parents became ill, I returned to Cincinnati from Chicago. I set-up shop, initially,
in the Essex Art Complex, in Walnut Hills, Ohio before opening my own studio. Now I conduct
photo shoots and paint portraits from my personal space, Joel Thompson Studio
in Cincinnati, Ohio. Thanks to my father's genetic influence, my artistic talents began to bloom in
third grade. As an innercity kid, my resources were finite; but my curiosity was infinite!
I received my first commission during my junior year in high school, which ignited my future
destiny and purpose in life...I could be an artist and make a living as one. Prior to that
commission, I had always worked in pencil. But with a little imagination and motivation, my
creative juices started to flow toward oils, acrylics, and other mixed mediums.
After attending Central State University and later on, Northern Kentucky University, I continued to
pursue a career as a fine artist. I began displaying my work throughout the Midwest and
changed my focus to portrait art and other figurative drawing styles. That's when I discovered my
passion for painting people from diverse cultures. I have always been fascinated in the cultural
differences of people and cultures from around the world, especially those of vanishing cultures.
Years later, I relocated to Chicago where I was exposed to commercial illustration, advertising,
publishing, and graphic design. After attending the American Academy of Art, I became a
freelance artist and designer. Over thirty-six (36) images of my work have been published and
nationally distributed (in open and limited editions) between 3 major art publishers.
When my aging parents became ill, I returned to Cincinnati from Chicago. I set-up shop, initially,
in the Essex Art Complex, in Walnut Hills, Ohio before opening my own studio. Now I conduct
photo shoots and paint portraits from my personal space, Joel Thompson Studio
| J O E L T H O M P S O N |
