Tim T. Thornton was born and raised in Eagle Rock, California, a small suburb of Los Angeles. The last born to a family of five, his interest in art began at an early age. He was an unruly child, and he relates the story of being given pencil and paper during a church service – a desperate effort by his parents to keep him preoccupied. This preoccupation extended into grade school, where his constant doodling landed him in trouble with the Catholic nuns. His scribbling later bore fruit, when, in high school, his efforts were rewarded, and he was given the position as the cartoonist for the school newspaper. His teachers encouraged him to pursue his passion for the arts, and in 1984, he received his Bachelor’s degree from the California College of the Arts, in Oakland.
Upon leaving art school, he found full time employment as a scenic artist in Hollywood, painting sets for film, television, and theater. He was later hired by the University of California at Berkeley, as the charge scenic artist for the Performing Arts Program. In 2005, he relocated to Montana, with his wife, Patricia, where they have made a home in the supportive and lively community that is Missoula.
His large-scale paintings are in several collections, and have been included in both the Missoula, and the Yellowstone Art Museum’s annual auctions.
Tim’s work has also been featured in various community fundraisers for the Zootown Arts Community Center, as well as the annual Potsketch event for the Clay Studio of Missoula.
