I'm a self-taught acrylic painter based in Dublin, California. Since teaching myself to paint in 2019, my work has grown from nostalgic scenes of weathered barns and vintage trucks into vibrant autumn landscapes — and, always, the animals: horses, cows, sheep, and the beloved pets of the families who write to me.
“Mystery in the Trees” earned second place at the county art fair, but the real reward is the same every time — bringing a warm subject to life so the people who love it recognize it instantly.
“I'm not really painting a horse or a dog. I'm painting the way someone feels about them.”
Every painting is built slowly — thin layers of acrylic worked up over days until the light feels right and the eyes come alive. Nothing is rushed and nothing is printed; each original is made entirely by hand.
It's patient work, but that patience is the point. It's what lets a portrait carry the real presence of one specific animal, rather than a generic likeness.
Most commissions come from people marking something tender — a new companion, a good horse retired, or the memory of an animal who's no longer here. It's a privilege to be trusted with that.
T. Thompson paints directly from your photos and works closely with every client — sharing a progress photo along the way — so the finished painting feels exactly like the animal you know by heart.
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