Barbara A. Thomason

I am a Los Angeles-based visual artist whose paintings, drawings, and prints have been shown in exhibitions at many galleries, museums and universities. I received a masters in printmaking from California State University, Long Beach and worked as a master printer in lithography at renowned artist workshop Gemini G.E.L., where I printed for Robert Rauschenberg, Claes Oldenberg, Jasper Johns, Frank Stella, Ed Ruscha, Ellsworh Kelly and many others. I have been on the art faculty at California Polytechnic University, Pomona, the University of California, Santa Cruz, University of Redlands, Otis College of Art and Design, and other fine institutions. I am currently teaching printmaking, sculpture and drawing at Cal Poly Pomona

The book "100 Not So Famous Views of L.A. began as purely as a painting project. I had been working on a very personal series called "the Cabinet of Curiosities" and wanted to do something less personal. The 100 views came about quite by accident. I gave my self a goal and set parameters for the project. I had no idea that I would actually finish the 100 views, however it took on a life of its own and I completed 107. I began in 2007 and finished in 2011. The writing was the result of a back injury. I could not paint so I wrote about each piece. The series was meant to be a homage to the 19th century Ukiyo-e printmaker Hiroshige and a meditation on Los Angeles.

The book came about as the result of a show at Los Angeles City Hall.