BIOGRAPY
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Kaonis is an African American fine artist. Destined to be a visual artist, he spent most of his childhood developing his skills as a portrait and still life artist. During high school, Kaonis graduated with a commercial art certificate from Art Instruction Schools, a correspondence art program based in Minneapolis, MN. Also, during high school, he attended the Saint Louis Public Schools Honors Art program which introduced him to ceramics, photography and more drawing and painting.
Kaonis earned a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree in illustration and a Master’s of Arts Degree in Studio Arts of drawing and painting. His artistic ability of portraying realism led to a subcontractor opportunity as a billboard pictorial artist for outdoor advertising. Pursuing a part-time organizational affiliation, he joined the Missouri Army National Guard. As a Missouri Guardsman, he fulfilled his goal of learning new skill sets and serving in numerous leadership positions. His military education, training and deployments led to participation in numerous military operations in many countries.
Kaonis created art as a fine artist. He researched and painted images of various African American realities and histories. He denotes his art style and movement as Social Conceptualism which means he is dedicated to creating conceptual art that depicts social themes of culture and history. In social conceptualism, the concept or revelation that motivates artistic production and the conceptual connection to history are more important than the appearance of the image. In social conceptualism, the creative production of imagery, the meanings manifested in the title of the image, and a connection to psychological impulse are of utmost importance.
In 2024, Kaonis began creating Pet Portraits & Human Portraits as a focus area, in support of, KAONISFINEARTS.
RESUME
KAONIS THOMAS
314-960-2963
WORK EXPERIENCE:
2024-PRESENT, KAONISFINEARTS, Kaonis Jeffery Thomas Sr., Veteran Owned Small Business, (VetCert @ SBA, Certified SDVOSB) https://www.veterans.certify.sba.gov
UEI: FA24YNNPCCN9
CAGE CODE: 9P3A7
PRIMARY NAICS CODE: 711510
2023-PRESENT, KAONISFINEARTS,
Pet & Human Portraiture, Conceptual Fine Artist,
Custom Corporate Imagery
EIN: 93-2387742
MO CHARTER: x001771941
1999-2022, Federal Technician, Vehicular Maintenance Management and Logistics
· Equal Employment Opportunity Counselor
· Transportation Management
· Logistics Supervision
· Maintenance Management
1986-2022, MOARNG, Advisor, Leader, Trainer, Soldier
· Brigade Equal Opportunity Advisor
· Senior Truckmaster
· Company First Sergeant
· Resilience Operations NCOIC
1987-1999, Billboard Pictorial Artist, 3M/National Advertising Company
· Pictorial Artist
· Sign Painter
· Independent Subcontractor
· Kaonis Thomas Illustration (dba)
EDUCATION:
1995, M.A., Studio Painting, Fontbonne University, St. Louis, MO
1985, Post Graduate Independent Studio Arts, Teaching Assistant, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
1983, B.F.A., Illustration and Design, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT / AFFILIATIONS:
2024: Better Business Bureau, (Accredited 2024)
2024: Missouri Citizens for the ARTS
2024: West Saint Louis County Chamber of Commerce
2024: St. Charles Chamber of Commerce, Basic Membership
2024: Artist Advocacy Project, Barney Davey
2024: Empowering Encore Entrepreneurs, (SLCL)
2024: The Working Artist, Crista Cloutier
2024: Galaxy of Stars, Basic Membership
2024: Mid-America Arts Alliance, Grant Reviewer
2023: National Small Business Association, Leadership Council Member, Economic Development Committee
2023: Artist INC, LIVE Saint Louis, Fellow
2023: Arts and Culture Network, Full Member
LIFE MEMBERSHIPS, Inactive:
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS
ENLISTED ASSOCIATION OF THE NATIONAL GUARD OF THE U.S.
MISSOURI ARMY NATIONAL GUARD ASSOCIATION
PHI BETA SIGMA, INCORPORATED, non-life member
CV
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