Thomas Stiltz Biography
Thomas Stiltz
Born | 1948 |
Birthplace | Newark, Delaware |
Home | Baltimore |
Style | Realism |
Thomas Stiltz, now residing in suburban Baltimore, was born in Newark, Delaware in 1948. His artistic talent
became evident very early in his life. At the age of 5, Thomas was drawing cartoon characters. At 12, he was
attending special art classes at the Delaware Art Museum in Wilmington.
Stiltz received his Bachelor of Arts in painting and Master of Arts in photography and design from the
University of Delaware in 1969.
As a graduate student traveling through Europe in 1972, Thomas Stiltz developed his taste for fine
wine. Experiencing cuisine enhanced by just the right wine led to a life-long interest in the
world’s best varietals.
Stiltz has toured many vineyards, met the owners and winemakers and discovered the many parallels between
wine making and painting. As in painting, the layering of flavors in the winemaking process produces
complexity and sensual lushness. Neither process can be rushed and each wine or work or art is as
different as the personality who creates it.
The paintings of Thomas Stiltz are created with a devotion to old world techniques, using many layers to
build up the paint surface. Backgrounds are glazed with many layers of color for depth and richness.
Paul Cezanne, whose still life's show devotion to the solidity of objects and form revealed through color,
was the artist who most influenced Stiltz’ style