Tom Thordarson's work takes your imagination on a journey unlike
any other. His life as an artist began when he was old enough to
hold a pencil. With his mother being an artist, she would hand him
a piece of typing paper and a pencil to keep him out of mischief.
In his own words he describes his life there after; "Creating my
own entertainment and building my own toys was an activity I was
highly encouraged to do as a kid. I learned to believe in the real
magic of my imagination and that If I could draw something with
enough believability... then I could certainly build it!"
"My
entire childhood was full of creating, drawing and adventure. I
loved building tree houses and forts from scrap wood and things
I could find. The experiences that would lead me to what I paint
today were inspired by my family's vacations every summer to Hawaii
beginning at age 6. I also have two sets of cousins on the Big Island
who encouraged me to become a certified diver when I lived with
them for many summers. So, between those two sources, Hawaii was
my second home. I love the sea. I spent endless hours on Maui and
Hawaii combing the beaches and climbing trees in the nearby jungles
pretending I was a pirate or some ingenious castaway living off
the land in some high seas adventure."
Thordarson has had varied experience in the creative arts. Paying
for college as an actor, Tom appeared in numerous television commercials
and walk on parts on local soap opera's including the part of "Jerry"
on the Young and the Restless. Pursuing his formal education in
art, He attended the Pasadena Art Center College of Design where
he graduated with honors and a BA in Illustration.
Before he had fully graduated, Tom was immediately discovered by
the entertainment, theme park industry. His imagination and talents
have lead him to draw and paint concepts for new rides and attractions
with many major entertainment companies. With strong skills in both
leadership and his art, Tom served as the Director of Attraction
Development at MCA Universal Studios, Hollywood and then as a full
fledged Disney Imagineer with his role as a Director/Sr. Concept
Designer.
Among his many assignments was the task of designing one of the
main "E-ticket" rides for the new Tokyo Disney Sea theme park in
Japan called, "Journey to the Center of the Earth", a top rated
thrill ride currently in operation.
Presently, Thordarson has put aside the Entertainment design world
except as an independent consultant. His focus now is to return
to those early inspirations of Hawaii and the adventures that shaped
his art and imagination. He relates his dream as follows, "I am
painting the fantasies and stories now that I imagined all these
years sitting on those beaches, diving in the sea or building hideaways
in the lush Island jungles. You'll notice I don't put people in
my pictures because I want the viewer to insert that themselves.
I want them to imagine who lives in these exotic places and ponder
their motivations and personas. Maybe they see themselves living
in the painting...or someone they know.
I am hoping that everyone finds these enchanted dwellings I am painting
now as much fun to look at, as they are to paint. Please feel free
to step into them.... I will see you on the Lanai."
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"My
entire childhood was full of creating, drawing and adventure. I
loved building tree houses and forts from scrap wood and things
I could find. The experiences that would lead me to what I paint
today were inspired by my family's vacations every summer to Hawaii
beginning at age 6. I also have two sets of cousins on the Big Island
who encouraged me to become a certified diver when I lived with
them for many summers. So, between those two sources, Hawaii was
my second home. I love the sea. I spent endless hours on Maui and
Hawaii combing the beaches and climbing trees in the nearby jungles
pretending I was a pirate or some ingenious castaway living off
the land in some high seas adventure." 