By: Jessica O’Connor
As luck would have it, I stumbled upon the work of local painter, Thomas Fulton, on Facebook. A scene depicting a tobacco barn, complete with a Walker hound out front, stopped me mid-scroll.
Like many of Mr. Fulton’s paintings, the piece evoked feelings of nostalgia and whimsy in equal parts. The colors contained in the pastel piece were vivid, and some were almost unexpected. However, all came together perfectly to freeze a moment in time exactly as one might remember it from bygone days.
Immediately my interest was piqued, and I set out to browse a number of other paintings Mr. Fulton had shared in the local Facebook group. Scenes from downtown Walterboro, various native wildlife, shoreline and swamp sunsets, glimpses of farm life, and more all rose up to greet me. At that point I knew I wanted to learn more about this artist that seemed to be incredibly inspired by the people and places of the Lowcountry.
When Mr. Fulton and his wife showed me into his studio for our chat, I was awestruck by the sheer number of paintings that were both proudly displayed and carefully tucked away for safekeeping within the paneled walls of the room. An inviting leather sofa and recliner were situated beneath a sizeable multi-paned window that the artist explained to me was positioned in such a way that the room received constant northern light. Indeed, Mr. Fulton had designed this room in his home expressly to be conducive to his craft.
A St. George area native, Thomas Fulton remembers spending recess in grade school ensconsed in the classroom as he filled the blackboards with drawings. Around 1970 he took his interest to the next level when he began to study at the Gibbes School of Art in Charleston under Ray Goodbred.
Mr. Fulton’s paintings have been sold and displayed internationally, as well as included in exhibits at the Colleton County Museum and Mt. Albany Art Museum. He noted that his passion for creating art that showcases Colleton County and the Lowcountry does in part stem from his memories of the area growing up. However, the beauty of the region lends itself well to his unique style of painting. “I think Colleton County and the ACE Basin is one of the prettiest areas in the country,” Fulton mentioned. “There’s a lot of history here too. We’ve lost a lot of that, but I try to bring it back.”
The artist shared that his paintings of scenes around Walterboro are some of his most popular. The slightly abstract feel of the artwork adds to the nostalgic quality of the pieces without totally abandoning realism.
“You can work on a painting and get it almost like a photograph, but then it’s just not a painting,” Fulton says.
Mr. Fulton is also frequently commissioned for portrait work. These beloved pieces serve to preserve the memories of loved ones long after they’re gone, and are some of the artist’s favorite paintings to render.
To view and purchase Mr. Fulton’s original artwork, visit Thomas Fulton Art Studio on Facebook or https://kylaefloyd.wixsite.com/thomasfultonart/gallery on the web.
