When Art & Music Collide: Meet Victor Thomason

Now if that painting doesn't make your heart race, you need to check your pulse to make sure you're still here with us.

Please meet Victor Thomason, our newest artist and the master behind Jazz Singer and other musically-inspired works in the gallery. Thomason is a Detroit native, so music - the really good stuff that spawned generations of modern musicians - is in his soul. We caught up with him and asked him about his process and inspiration:

You are a professional photographer as well as a painter. What inspires you to choose a subject to paint?
I let my gut and heart direct me.... Example: if I am looking through a magazine,or some photos that I have taken, or I am out and about, if I pause for that long moment, I know I have something...,with portraits its all most always, something in the eyes.

We are big music fans at the Mecca. What music do you love?
Live contemporary jazz, Motown ( I'm a Detroit native) Latin jazz, smooth jazz, Any jazz singer who can interpret a lyric. Nat and Natalie Cole , Frank, Sammy, Dean, Nancy Wilson. I'm very diverse, if the words have meaning and the musical arrangement flows, I'm in.

So are we! As a photographer what are you shooting these days?
I have done children and family portraits,weddings, models, however what moves me now, is finding natures moments in time, where everything seems to slow down. Light, shadow and perspective all come together for that almost perfect "Moment".

We like being nosy about the daily routines of artists. What's your day look like?
I start my day with translation and meditation usually something spiritual I am reading,...during that time, the answers on how to go about my day will come. As far as art and music in our society, I think Art and Music are those two invisible forces, manifesting themselves in the hearts of people,... that's when they often find a common ground. 

Stop in and see the rest of Victor's amazing, inspiring works.