Thomas O’Brien is a professional artist that paints seascapes and landscapes characterized by strong use of saturated color and deliberate mark making techniques. His artistic direction is heavily influenced by the impressionist and modernist painters/writers of the 19th and 20th century, particularly Cézanne, Picasso, Faulkner and O’Connor. 

Thomas O’Brien went to the University of New Mexico where he graduated in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Technical Writing and minor in Art Studio. Having been an artist his entire life, his early pieces were entirely illustrative, using graphite, charcoal, pen and ink. His attempts at oil painting began in the autumn of 2008, where simultaneously his love of depicting landscapes began. 

Thomas O’Brien is also an Active Duty Marine Corps Officer, and has done several art projects for his military community, including: an Alaska Barrier mural in Kuwait City, a conference room historical project, and has designed multiple unit shirts, coins and other relatable content. He is currently painting and teaching at Grapes and Gallery/Columbia Library of Columbia SC, and is professionally represented by CityArt, Columbia’s premier Fine Art Gallery. He also is the host and creator of Columbia Art Group Meet-Up, which has close to 800 members now.