Artist Guest of Honor
Nene Thomas

Biography

Nene Thomas is our Artist Guest of Honor.   She comes to us from the mythical City of Oklahoma.   Nene resides in that magical place with her husband Steve and five Cats.

Nene's professional name comes from her family nickname.   Her sister called her Oneesan, which means "Big Sister" in Japanese.   It was eventually shortened to Nene.

Nene is well known for her fantasy art that includes artwork for Magic: The Gathering cards.   She has fond memories of creating those cards because of the freedom that the Wizards of the Coast gave her to create them.   She has also created artwork for other games such as Galactic Empires, Jyhad, Shadow Fist, Battle Lords of the 23rd Century, Tempest of the Gods, Dragon Storm and Wyrm Wars.

She asked Wizards of the Coast how they wanted the cards created.   She was handed the card title of "Sivitn' Scarzarn" and, since it was a person, to do a portrait piece.   The main colors were blue and black and she was told to do something vaguely evil as well as vaguely wet.   With those loose set of rules, she was able to come up with drawings she was proud of.

Her influences come from a multitude of places - such as classical art, Japanese animation and Manga, turn-of-the-century American illustrations, and, of course, those modern muses known as super models.

When Nene gets one of her many ideas, she quickly draws it on a small piece of tracing paper.   She may do a hundred of these before she comes up with one that she wants to turn into a finished painting.   If she likes her idea, she will enlarge it and refine it until she is happy with it.   Then comes the big test.   She shows it to Steve.   He will say something like - "This is great, but you know ... It would be better if you ..."   Nene will rework it until they are both happy with it.

Nene's art is seen at convention art shows around the world.   It is always popular in the auctions.   Much of the matting and framing of her art is created by her husband Steve.   They attend conventions together and are looking forward to LosCon.

Be Sure to Visit Nene Thomas' Website!