Thomas Labandz

use of light, color and texture his compositions transport you into the wilderness. You feel the cool crystal waters of his mountain streams; the crisp pine-needle air and in the distance, you hear the solitary call of the hawk. The affect is serenity -- pure and simple as nature itself. His work achieves a balance of opposites: Thunderous rapids run through the stillness of a pine forest; a majestic mountain looks down upon a fishing fly landing softly upon the water. Light competes with shadow, and a solitary man stands surrounded by nature. The western landscapes created by artist Thomas Labandz are fixtures in leading galleries in Aspen, Denver, Jackson and Cody. Two of his oils are currently in the Governors reception area in the Colorado Capital. As an inveterate fly fisherman and skier (he is a former United States Ski Association coach and ski instructor in Aspen, Colorado),Thomas retains a child-like awe of the natural beauty he brings to his canvas. Despite losing much of the function of his painting hand and arm in a ski accident, Thomas: landscape continue to evolve. If anything, the slower pace of work resulting from the injury has brought a heightened sense of detail and subtlety to his art. Drawing inspiration from the Hudson River- using the same materials and techniques-his paintings are infused with a passion for conservation and preservation. Throughout his work,there is balance of opposites: thunderous rapids run through the stillness of a pine forest;a majestic mountain looks down upon a fishing fly landing softly upon the water. Light competes with shadow, and a solitary man stands surrounded by an endless display of autumn color. The affect is serenity-pure and simple as nature itself. Thomas holds a degree in Art History and Fine Arts from the Unversity of Minnesota. He also studied illustration at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.