1. Portrait of Alma Thomas © Michael Fischer, 1976
Portrait of Alma Thomas © Michael Fischer, Courtesy of the National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.
The Eclipse, 1970, 62 x 49 3/4 in. (57.5 x cm.), acrylic on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum
Alma Thomas was an African American painter, art teacher, and pioneer in the art world.
She was an art teacher for most of her adult life, and didn’t really begin working on her art full time until she was in her 60’s.
Alma Thomas is most remembered for her abstract, brightly colored paintings depicting nature and space related themes.
What do you think you will be doing when you are 60 years old?
Alma Thomas

2. Grandfather's House, 1952, H-22.75 W-19 inches, Oil on Canvas, The Columbus Museum
Alma Thomas was born on September 22, 1891 in Columbus, Georgia
In 1906, her family moved to the Logan Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C where she lived until her death.
She attended Howard University in Washington, DC and was the first person to graduate from their art department.
After graduation she became an art teacher at Shaw Junior High School for many years.
Alma Thomas' early work is considered representational or realistic, but after taking classes at Howard her work became more abstract.
Abstract means art that does not look real, but resembles or reminds viewers of reality using shapes, forms, colors, and textures.
Let’s look at her artwork on the left first—Does this artwork seem realistic or abstract?
What about the one behind her in the photo?
What do you see that makes you think that?)
Do you prefer making art that is realistic or abstract? Why?
Grandfather’s House, 1952

3. Red Sunset, Old Pond Concerto, 1972
Alma Thomas in her studio (
Red Sunset, Old Pond Concerto, 1972, 68 1/2 x 52 1/4 in. (175.0 x cm.), acrylic on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum
Alma Thomas would not be recognized as a professional artist until she retired from teaching in 1960 at age 69.
At that time she enrolled in classes at American University in Washington, DC. There she learned about the Color Field movement. Alma Thomas was also influenced by Abstract Expressionists.
What type of art to you think color field artists make? What kind of art do you think abstract expressionists make? Why do you think that?
(After a few answers reveal the actual definitions)—The Colored Field Movement is a time when artists made art that primarily showed large shapes and lines filled with sold color. Abstract expressionists made art that is meant to show an emotional expression. The art is meant to remind viewer of movements, actions, and emotion.
After learning about these two styles, Alma Thomas develop of own style of painting. She used her paint brush to make specific marks of colors arranged in different shapes and patterns. Do you think this painting is more Color Field or Abstract Expressionist? What do you see that makes you think that?
Because of her unique style of painting, in 1972, Thomas was the first African-American woman to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American in New York City
Red Sunset, Old Pond Concerto, 1972

4. March on Washington, 1964, 31 x 39 inches, acrylic on canvas, Michael Rosenfeld Gallery
March on Washington, 1963, photograph
Alma Thomas lived and made art during the Civil Rights movement. During this time many African Americans did not have the same privileges as White Americans.
What important civil rights event do you think Alma is depicting in this painting?
Alma Thomas along with others who felt the treatment of African Americans was wrong, attended the March on Washington in Washington DC demonstrating for equal rights for African Americans and other minorities. This painting is meant to represent what she saw.
Do you think she captured the event successfully? Why?
Why do you think it was important for Alma Thomas to document this event in her artwork?
March on Washington, 1964

5. Azaleas in Spring, 1968, 20" x 24”, acrylic on canvas, Michael Rosenfeld Gallery
Photograph azaleas at the National Arboretum (photo by Keri Anderson)
Alma Thomas would continue to create art about the world around her. Most of Alma’s paintings are inspired by nature. Including her garden and other places she would visit in Washington, DC
Here’s one of her earlier ABSTRACT paintings. Remember Abstract art should remind you of something real. What does this artwork remind you of? (When student answers follow up with: What do you see that makes you think that?)
[After a few answers click to reveal the photo of Azaleas at the National Arboretum] This painting is called Azaleas in Spring. Do you think Alma capture the sense of azaleas successfully? Why?
Azaleas in Spring, 1968

6. Iris Tulip Jonquils Crocus
Iris, Tulips, Jonquils, and Crocuses, 1969; 60 x 50 in., Acrylic on canvas, National Museum of Women in the Arts
Gradually Alma’s paintings become even more abstract.
What part of nature do you think she is depicting in this painting?
What do you see that makes you think that?
This painting is called Iris, Tulips, Jonquils, and Crocuses. Do you see the flowers in her painting? Where do you see them? (Ask students to come and point to where they see the flowers)
Crocus

7. Autumn Leaves Fluttering in the Breeze, 1973 Rainbow, 1978
Autumn Leaves Fluttering in the Breeze, 1973, 40 x 50 in. (101.5 x cm) , acrylic on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum
Rainbow, 1978, 18 x 24 inches, acrylic on canvasboard, Michael Rosenfeld Gallery
Although Alma Thomas lived in the same small house in Washington, D.C., for almost her entire life, she watched her garden change every day. She would try to capture these changes in her artwork.
How are the painting similar? What makes them different?
What does the paint on the right remind you of? What do you see that makes you think that?
What does the painting on the left remind you of? What do you see that makes you think that?
What would you title these artworks? (After a few answers reveal actual titles
Autumn Leaves Fluttering in the Breeze, 1973
Rainbow, 1978

8. Snoopy--Early Sun Display on Earth, 1970
Snoopy--Early Sun Display on Earth, 1970, 49 7/8 x 48 1/8 in. (126.8 x cm), acrylic on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum
AS Earth during TLC showing western USA and Mexico. 80-mm. (Photograph from Apollo 10 “Snoopy” Mission)
In the late 1960’s and 1970’s NASA and the Space Program started sending space crafts to learn more about outer space. She was excited about these new discoveries in science and technology. She was especially interested in the space program. She created a series of paintings based on photographs taken from satellites. These photographs gave her new ways to see the world.
The Apollo 10 mission had a space module they called Snoopy. This painting is based on a photo taken by Snoopy. What do you think Alma is trying to depict? What do you see that makes think that? (After a few answer revels the photo it is based on)
How is Alma’s painting the same? How is it different? Do you think this painting is realistic or abstract? Why?
Snoopy--Early Sun Display on Earth, 1970

9. Starry Night and the Astronauts, 1972
The Eclipse, 1970, 62 x 49 3/4 in. (57.5 x cm.), acrylic on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum
Starry Night and the Astronauts, 1972, x cm (60 x 53 in.), Acrylic on canvas, The Art Institute of Chicago
Alma would continue to make more painting about themes related to space. The painting on the left depicts a solar eclipse.
What do you think happens during a solar eclipse?
What do you see in the painting that makes you think that? [Answer: A solar eclipse is when the moon moves into the shadow of the sun.)
What does the painting of the right remind you of? What would you call this artwork?
The Eclipse, 1970
Starry Night and the Astronauts, 1972

10. White Roses Sing and Sing, 1976 Untitled (Music Series), 1978
White Roses Sing and Sing, 1976, 72 1/2 x 52 3/8 in. (184.1 x cm), acrylic on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum
Untitled (Music Series), 1978, 71 5/8 x 52in. (182.0 x cm) , acrylic on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum
When you look outside do the trees play music? Do you think the flowers can sing and dance? Sometimes when Alma Thomas looked at nature, she imagined that they did.
When the wind blew through the trees in her yard, she heard the leaves hum. When the sun was bright, she watched the flowers turn to face the sky. She tried to capture what she say and heard and saw in her some of her paintings.
Look carefully at her use of color, shapes and patterns. How does she create repetition or movement in her artwork?
The painting on the left is called White Roses Sing and Sing, and the one on the right is part of a Music series.
Do you think the song or music is loud or soft? Do you think it’s fast or slow? Why? What do you see that makes you think that?
White Roses Sing and Sing, 1976
Untitled (Music Series), 1978

11. “The use of color in my paintings is of paramount importance to me
“The use of color in my paintings is of paramount importance to me. Through color I have sought to concentrate on beauty and happiness, rather than on man’s inhumanity to man.”
— Interview in the art gallery (April 1970)
“The use of color in my paintings is of paramount importance to me. Through color I have sought to concentrate on beauty and happiness, rather than on man’s inhumanity to man.”
— Interview in the art gallery (April 1970)
Alma Thomas died on February 24, 1978 (aged 86) in Washington, D.C.
She made many paintings and left behind a legacy of artwork. Many of her paintings can be seen in museums in Washington DC, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Museum of Women in the Arts.
Her artwork in even on display in President Obama’s private residence in the White House.
Let’s read this quote by Alma Thomas about her artwork. First read it to yourself silently. (lets students read silently for about 1 minute)
What words jump out at you? [Read quote aloud to the group)
Why do you think it was important for Alma to concentrate on beauty and happiness, rather than on man’s inhumanity to man?
(Remind students that she was an African American who lived in the South before the Civil Rights movement).