If you’ve spent any time around the local live music scene, or been to any number of art shows and exhibitions, chances are you have seen this man, Thomas Little, quietly sketching away at the back of the bar.
You might not have noticed him at times, as Thomas tends to sit quietly as he quickly transcribes the visual dialogue of the night. These simple drawings of musicians, artists, people, and places are later given a smooth layer of water color, vibrantly illuminating the captured scene in a way that only Thomas can do.
Thomas Little is a trained artist, having obtained a Master’s of Fine Arts from the Arts Institute of Boston in 2011. He specializes in murals and likes to create three-dimensional works on flat surfaces, as well as his paintings. His work these days is mostly focused on life and culture around Shreveport, Little’s hometown.
“I tend to avoid the more trite symbols associated with our state (magnolias, swamps, fleur-de-lis, football, etc.) to create work that more accurately reflects our unique Southern culture,” says Little.
The result of those efforts is a series of raw and accurate images of life in Shreveport, snap shots of color that demonstrate the energy and vibe of the evening without words, sounds, or hashtags.
Little has captured almost every band in town at one point or another. Ask a musician around town about Thomas and they will most likely show you their own portrait captured some time back by the man with the sketch pad.
An arts community has many important components. From them, the artists themselves, to the patrons, the venue owners and your favorite bartender, there are many roles to be filled. Among the most underrated are those who show up and document these fleeting moments in time, whether it’s from behind a camera or in this case, from behind a sketch pad.
You can view more of Thomas’ work on his website. Photo of Little by Robert E. Trudeau.