BIOGRAPHY

Kathy Thomas

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

 P.O. BOX 71   QUEENSTON  

 ONTARIO  CANADA  L0S 1L0       

 kathythomas@tracinghistory.ca       

 289-271-7787

 Artist statement. 

As an artist, I found inspiration in the most unexpected place- under the paws of my curious canine companion. It was during these meandering walks, often interrupted by the dog's insistence on investigating every historic plaque, that 

I began to see the world through a different lens. The dog may have been more interested in marking its territory, but I was marking the beginning of a creative odyssey, one tangled leash at a time. Who knew that history lessons and dog walks could lead to artistic enlightenment? 

As I walked the dog along the streets of old towns and parks, I also began sketching the contours of landscapes and historic homes with my pencil. I became one with the local lore and history these structures embody. My collection of sketches and love for maps inspired me to craft panoramic maps. Created with a bird's-eye view, the fusion of artistry and cartography transforms ordinary maps into extraordinary visual stories. They reveal the intricate patterns of streets, landmarks, and historic sites, inviting us to explore and appreciate our surroundings from a fresh perspective. For me, mapping is more than a craft; it's a personal art form that pays tribute to the places that shape my creative journey. Through my work, I aspire to share my findings with a visual narrative that echoes the tales of yesteryears. I've come to realize that history is not confined within museum walls—it's all around us, waiting to be discovered and appreciated. An invitation to walk the dog, explore and recognize the history that permeates our everyday landscapes.


~ SHADES OF GREY ~

    My fervour for pencil sketches and pen and ink drawings has only begun. Before being rescued by art and golf, We retired our upholstery workroom of 33 years. 

I have always been an artist (self-taught) and never without a sketchbook. Art maps began as a way to blend my lifelong passion for historic buildings, walking trails and my sketch journal.



ARTIST PROCESS 

    To create these illustrated maps, I sit at a drafting table with reference materials, pencils, ink and tracing paper to sketch the concepts and reference points. A footprint is created of the essential area, then sections are detailed and assembled with electronic art software. The results harmonize the original pen & ink artwork with electronic techniques, to produce these old map styled illustrations that trace our modern streets and cultural heritage.


Niagara River 1801

WHY MAPS


  As an artist, I love the way cartographers created old maps. The proportion size of the geography in relation to the decorative objects are often artistically exaggerated. For example, a ship on the ocean might be drawn at twice the size of a mountain on the coastline.


WHY BIRD'S-EYE VIEW MAP

 

    Bird’s eye views, also known as panoramic maps, were popular ways of depicting towns and cities in during the late nineteenth century. They were usually prepared for local businesses, chambers of commerce, as a way to boost civic pride and to encourage commercial growth. Currently you can find most anything on an electronic device with a map app. So, my objective was to create non-commercial map to encourage everyone to recognize the resourceful and cultural value of what is just outside our doors and down our streets. That history is not only found in a museum, it’s all around us waiting to be rediscovered.



Thank you to my husband Greg, who has to put up with the many sketches cluttering the dining room table, and picking me up on some trail a long way from home while doing research.

 Every time we trace the past we give more meaning to the present.       

Kathy Thomas