Artist Adam Thomas’ “Red Tree” paintings are currently on display at Wheatberry Restaurant and Tavern,  15212 North Red Bud Trail in Buchanan until the beginning of April.

The paintings are in place as part of a cooperative program between Wheatberry and Buchanan Art Center, through which artwork is placed at the restaurant for a specified time period.

Thomas was born and raised in Battle Creek and moved to Arizona when he was 25. After 10 years working in corporate marketing, he pursed a career creating pet portraits while using his marketing background to land spots on television news morning shows with his clients and their pets.

After building a reputation as a respected artist while grabbing attention of a few local celebrities and one major rock star, Thomas migrated his pet art business into full sized oil paintings of nature.

He showed at his first gallery in Scottsdale, Ariz., where he sold consistently every month.

With that success, he started showing in more galleries in Arizona and Palm Springs Calif. and developed what is now known as the “Red Tree” series. He took the paintings to Atlanta galleries and was also represented in Asheville and Highlands, NC.

In the last two years, he has been collected by a few cast members of the “Real Housewives of New Jersey,” reality show on Bravo and his work appeared on an episode last season. In November 2010, Thomas moved to Buchanan, where he now calls home.

“In the last 15 years, I have enjoyed living in Arizona and Atlanta, but Michigan called me back,” he said. “I really love Buchanan and am enjoying getting to know my neighbors and the people of this town. Those neighbors include the staff and customers of Wheatberry. I am proud to be showing my work there.”

In addition to Wheatberry, Thomas is currently showing at the Leigh Gallery in Chicago and the Lansing Art Gallery.

The Red Tree series “evokes images of hope and promise and unwavering determination.”
To see or learn more, visit www.adam-thomas.com.

Wheatberry is open Tuesday through Friday from 4 to 10 p.m., Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Buchanan Art Center, a non-profit organization, is located at 117 West Front Street in Buchanan and features three galleries with rotating exhibits of regional artists’ work, a program of educational art classes for all ages and a gift shop featuring the work of local artists.