Father's Day Gifts

Father's Day is a wonderful opportunity to show love and gratitude for those we call "Dad." A gift is symbolic; it's a message filled with love.

As many women know so well, Dad has diverse interests. While he appreciates the thoughtfulness of a tie or shirt, or being treated to dinner at a favorite restaurant, he just might enjoy something more permanent, something that glows with beauty.

"Over the years," said Georgia folk artist Olivia Thomason, "I've sold many, many paintings to men. Flowers, childhood memories, church picnics, Little League baseball, barbecues and much more." She added that men "so often love gardening, outdoor events and things of beauty that a painting can preserve for a lifetime."

Olivia Thomason, a native of Hendersonville, NC, has spent many years in Georgia, producing acclaimed paintings of the Atlanta Braves, the Fabulous Fox Theater, Stone Mountain Village, the Decatur Arts Festival, and many more. Her Decatur gallery, The Primitive Eye, was selected as "Gallery of the Year," by Creative Loafing for several years and was a center of creative activity for over a decade, earning praise from many observers like Atlanta historian Dr. Richard Funderburke who praised her as "Georgia's Queen of Folk Art."

"If your man loves flowers, grilling, baseball, bluegrass music, family and church," Olivia said, "I've got a painting for him that will bring him many years of special memories."

Surprise Dad on Father's Day: Contact Olivia Thomason at bigoarts1@gmail.com or Facebook.