Barbara McComb Thomas has been fabric painting, utilizing a variety of fibers, dyes and mixed media for over 30 years. A reception marking the exhibit of her work will be on held tonight from 5-7 p.m. at the Depot Gallery at 22 Depot St. in Tryon. The public is invited and refreshments will be served.

Coming from a family of artists meant there was no shortage of support for her passion. Drawn to the simplicity of oriental brush painting, she studied Sumi-E in the black and white Nanga or “boneless” style for seven years with Japanese artist Ann Kobayashi. The discipline and use of the brush greatly influenced her work.

Later, an art instructor encouraged Barbara to experiment with both natural and synthetic fiber dyeing. Deciding to try the techniques on silk created magic! The colors were so vibrant and she could make them flow across the silk in a way that wasn’t possible before. She began integrating her love of flowing color on fabric with brush painting techniques. Silk painting immediately became her most exciting and challenging medium. She also uses paints on silk, cotton or linen for different types of effects.

Fabric painting is the perfect medium for an organic, free-spirited and emotional style. She sometimes quilts the pieces and adds embellishments, such as natural stones and beads, creating a textural, sculptural effect. Her work is mostly abstract, since it seems to allow her the most freedom of expression. She creates hand- painted rice paper collage for a totally different result, using the rice paper collage on luminaries and bowls as well.

Since moving to North Carolina 14 years ago from New Jersey, Barbara states that inspirational force continually feeds her creativity.

Barbara McComb Thomas’ background includes Parsons School of Design, NYC; School of Visual Arts, NYC; N.Y. School of Interior Design; graphic design at several N.J. advertising agencies and Films for the Humanities and Sciences, Princeton, N.J.; owner of the Dancing Brush Gallery, Allentown, N.J.; assistant manager, Upstairs Artspace, Tryon, N.C.; and gift shop manager, Tryon Painters & Sculptors Gallery, Tryon, N.C.

The Depot Gallery is open daily Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The show can be seen until August 29.

– article submitted
by Michelle Deudne