BIOGRAPHICAL
Priscilla Thomas captures the human touch within the setting of our reach for the stars. Her depictions of transformative and encouraging human moments both reassure and warm the spirit. A member of the International Association of Astronomical Artists, she has a reverence for the awe-inspiring capabilities of the explorers and adventurers of our future. Her activities include travel to NASA rocket launches, NASA open houses and, as media, to NASA media events. She also participates in crowd-sourced space image identification and classification of NASA images. The artist uses an alternating sequence of graphite sketching and digital sketching, followed occasionally by addition of color primarily through digital painting. This allows her to create denser and more highly detailed images with subtlety and rich accuracy. Several pieces of her art have been accepted for the juried Art of Planetary Science art show , frequented by astronauts and scientists in the Astronomical and Space fields. Priscilla's art and illustrations have been featured in publications by Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Times Publishing in Virginia, Feral Cat Publishing, and has frequently been featured in Trend & Tradition magazine. Her art education includes CalArts (California Institute of the Arts) graphic design certificate, Art Techniques & Appreciation through Saylor Academy, and independent classes such as Narrative Concept Art instructed by Jama Jurabaev, a major artist for the film industry. Priscilla's most recent 'highs' have been: - to participate in studio figure drawing session instructed by ROBERT LIBERACE!!!! - to act as docent for NASA's traveling “SOAR - NASA Art Program/NASAs 50th Anniversary” exhibit. She shared back-stories, history and artistic technical details about pieces by Rockwell, Wyeth, Warhol and many others who participated in NASA's art program. - to see, and actually stand in, the NASA Langley wind-tunnel depicted in "Hidden Figures" while it was operating (at low velocity) testing NASA's new Space Launch System. ARTIST'S STATEMENT OF INTENTION All my efforts go toward spreading a love for space exploration. Art is a universal language, speaking to people of all cultures, lifestyles, economic status. Art is a perfect way to share enthusiasm and effort, and how space exploration causes us to strive for our best efforts and test our boundaries as humanity; not as separate peoples. I create my art using multiple media, in steps. I begin with a sketch which I slowly build, then repeated rotations between adding detail with a Wacom tablet, and then printed back out for more hand sketching. I often then transfer the sketch to art board at that point. I add paint as appropriate for effect. The compositions incorporate a human element to the subject of space, in a traditional, realistic form. I want to make the human connection, the emotion REAL. I've found inspiration in space artists like Chesley Bonestell, James Vaughan and Ron Miller. I've started a Patreon page to help cover the cost of STEM/Space Outreach activities and art materials.
I know that for far too many folks any sort of financial commitment has to be very carefully weighed. Even a $1 donation is treasured by me, and I understand the hit "small" contributions take on many budgets. Contribute if you would like to help me spread inspiration, excitement and support for space exploration. Visit my Patreon page here: https://www.patreon.com/PercyThomas Some Space & NASA articles
I've written, or contributed to 
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Curriculum Vitae
Education / Certification Maine School of Art - scholarship CAL-ARTS (CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF THE ARTS) - Graphic Design Certificate 2015 – 2016 Other art courses: Art & Inquiry: Museum Teaching Strategies - MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) Art Techniques and Appreciation - Saylor Academy Narrative Concept Art - Jama Jurabaev instructor 2D to 3D Design - Jama Jurabaev instructor Other Certifications: Space Systems Engineering (NASA course through Saylor Academy) - Part 1 - Issuing authority: NASA (through Saylor Academy) Issued Apr 2013 Credential Identifier/Credential ID Accredible-10395221 NASA/ National Science Foundation - Certified Aerospace Technician - 2009 Works/Shows Art of Planetary Science 2020 and 2019 - juried show Design/Illustration: Graphic Design, multiple awards from Virginia Press Association, Times Publishing, Virginia Illustration: Magazine illustrations for opening spreads, illustrations for other foundation marketing materials, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Book Illustrations for Moon and Mars Society Outreach. Samples provided on request. Book Cover Illustration: "Pioneer's Guide to Living on the Moon", Moon Society; "Postcards From Mars", Mars Society Education & Outreach; "Bubble off Plumb", Feral Cat Publishers Logo Design: Many; including Busted Cage Cocktail Lounge among others. Space Art Activism NASA Art Program: 50 years Anniversary Exhibition - Docent -Peninsula Fine Arts Center Apr 2017 – Jun 2017; including 30 works of art: including paintings, photographs, drawings, and mixed media from the NASA art program. Artists included Robert McCall, Andy Warhol, Annie Leibovitz, Nam June Paik, William Wegman and Jaime Wyeth. acted as docent, giving background on pieces, answering questions Martian Surface Feature identification - Cosmic (Content-based Object Summarization to Monitor Infrequent Change) - Crowdsource Martian Terrain Images, surface feature Identification. Uses images from Mars HiRise. April 2019 Martian South Pole Image - terrain identification - Planet Four/Terrains - Crowdsource Martian South Pole Images, terrain Identification. Sep 2017 NASA/Space coverage LADEE Launch - Moon Launch - art/illustration/reporting Mars Curiosity Launch story for newspaper- art/illustration/reporting SME (Subject Matter Expert) Interviews and on-site coverage at NASA Langley for numerous events - art/illustration/reporting Cover Orion space capsule testing in splash basin at NASA Langley's historic gantry - art/illustration/reporting Antares rocket construction /launch coverage, NASA Wallops - art/illustration/reporting NASA Langley Open House, including historic wind-tunnels - art/illustration/reporting Space Related Courses: Intro to Solar System Astronomy - Arizona State University Intro to Aerospace Engineering: Astronautics & Human Spaceflight - MIT certification Issued Apr 2015 Space Mission: Process & Lifetime - Arizona State University Space Mission Design and Operations - Claude Nicollier, ESA astronaut, instructor, Ecole Polytechnique through EdX Astrobiology - University of Edinburgh, Charles Cockel instructor - University of Edinburgh, Issued Mar 2013 Galaxies and Cosmology - CalTech,- S. George Djorgovski Instructor, Issuing authority Coursera, Issued Mar 2013 Thermodynamics: Transferring Energy, Issuing authority Coursera Issued Jul 2013 CCAF - Community College of the Air Force - Aerospace Technician Thomas Nelson Community College - Courses: Materials and Processes of Aerospace Industry Intro to Aerospace Safety and Quality in Aerospace Industry |
