About Monte Thornton – Cayman Artist Monte Thornton and Portrait Photographer.

As An Artist

Born in Fort Worth, Texas he grew up drawing and photographing artistic perspectives of wildlife, landscapes and people. At the age of nine he learned the hobby of taxidermy of many birds and deer that he hunted and mounted for friends.this provided insight into the mussels and anatomy.

In 1974 he took his first art class and the teacher set him aside to peruse his artistic talents. The art teacher had a background of working with George O’Keeffe as an assistant and provided guidance in building frames, gesso of sheets, techniques in use of LiquidTex Heavy Body texture Acrylic paint and development of exploring creative perspectives of painting. There were a series of paintings that we completed in that last year of high school. This reflected the times and life durning that period. The painting of Stairway to heaven 1974 which was his first abstracted painting; A full size bed sheet was used to create the tiger; A poster board gessoed was used for the fishing reel, were several notable works that were presented in art exhibit in Summer of 1975 at Texas Commerce Bank.

1974 High school assignment using a limited pallet paint an object. I choose Large deep sea fishing reel. on poster board. Monte Thornton $900

After returning from Army service in Hawaii in 1979, his painting resumed more full time in creating memories of scuba diving with Humpback Whales, Sharks and the rainforest mountains of the north shore coast of Oahu and other locations amount Hawaii.

Perspective of seeing a Humpback Whale surface after a shore dive. 16×20 $600

Perspective of seeing a Humpback Whale surface after a shore dive. 16x20 $600 — Perspective of seeing a Humpback Whale surface after a shore dive. 16×20 $600

List paintings

Living in Padre Island from 1982, impacted the presentation of ocean, sand and ocean paintings. He took one memorable adventure of driving the Texas Mexico Gulf of Mexico coast to Cancun early development photographing the newly uncovered ruins of Plyainic, Tulum and traveled into the new country of elite that ahead just obtained independence from Britain in 1981. He went to remote villages of Sartaniha where an Icehouse had just been built by Red lobster to assist in shipment of lobster tails. This allowed a single light to be strung in each thatched hut. This was the first seeing inland seniotes and Mayian artifacts. Tulum provided fresh view of the rich color of paint used on the inside of the ruins.

In fall of 1982 to 1986 he lived in his childhood house and took the second floor as a bedroom and art studio.

Painting studies

part 2 of Painted church was decorated with the peoples on the inside of the church. Big Island Hawaii, two view of Expressionism of relegion. $2240 26x36 — Part 2 Painted church was decorated with the peoples on the inside of the church. Big Island Hawaii, two view of Expressionism of religion. $2240 26×36

Painted church was decorated with the peoples on the inside of the church. Big Island Hawaii, two view of Expressionism of relegion. $2240 26x36 — Part 2 Painted church was decorated with the peoples on the inside of the church. Big Island Hawaii, two view of Expressionism of religion. $2240 26×36

Move to Houston for opportunity was an act of listening to Godard getting back involved with scuba diving. He managed a dive store that lead back to travels to Cayman, Belize and Honduras.

Series of reef fish of Queen Angle and French Angle were his first series to be printed and were placed in Pure Art in 1989.

French Angelfish series 3 2 of 3. Painted in 1989 by Monte Thornton.

Queen Angelfish series 1 of 3. Painted in 1989 by Monte Thornton. Prints only — French Angelfish series 3 2 of 3. Painted in 1989 by Monte Thornton.

Stop of painting in 1994.

2011 Cayman Brac resume of painting after retirement.

2011 Sea Turtle Scott Dock Reef 26x36 Arches watercolor paper with Acrylic washes. $1400 by Monte Thornton — 2011 Sea Turtle Scott Dock Reef 26×36 Arches watercolor paper with Acrylic washes. $1400 by Monte Thornton

Yellow with rain. By Monte Thornton. 18″ x 24″ 2011.

2015 was a

2015 there were several houses on Cayman Brac that wanted a series of painting studies.

2015 wanted a Special Ceiling mural of the reef.

2015 was a year of ocean waves and then started the Smith Cove studies.

Smith Cove Grand Cayman, Monte Thornton Seascape – 2017-

2019 SmoothSailing-exhibit.com starts in November.

Smooth Sailing - Smooth Sailing Exhibit Schooners -30x40 -Acrylic- on canvas- $2880 — Smooth Sailing – Smooth Sailing Exhibit Schooners -30×40 -Acrylic- on canvas- $2880

Rounding the Bluff. - Smooth Sailing Exhibit Schooners -36x48 -Acrylic- on canvas- $5680 — Smooth Sailing – Smooth Sailing Exhibit Schooners -30×40 -Acrylic- on canvas- $2880

2016 to 2020 Drawings and acrylic wash paintings.

011 -A Schooner project drawings 2021 by Monte Thornton $100 for original 18×24 Archival paper.

021 -A Schooner project drawings 2021 by Monte Thornton $100 for original 18×24 Archival paper.

2021 exhibit of I is was a special project of eight educators to put together three hexagon paintings or more of expression of where they were in there art. Thus the I is exhibit for Cayman Artweek was developed.

A calm looking for Little Cayman, Cayman Schooner Series. by Monte Thornton 24×24′ $1200. i is for…

A calm looking for Little Cayman, Cayman Schooner Series. by Monte Thornton 24x24' $1200. i is for... — A calm looking for Little Cayman, Cayman Schooner Series. by Monte Thornton 24×24′ $1200. i is for…

2022

2023

2023 Christmas series of schooners cards.

2024 New directions of Sacramento and art paintings.

Monte works Part time for Blu Dot Studios in the Technical Production of printing and editing in the Queens court location next to World Gym. He has been an avid photographer since a kid and started underwater Photography and Travel when stationed in Hawaii. He moved to Cayman permanently in 2004 after the hurricane to help rebuild in the construction industry.

Sunsets and sunrise photography has been a daily activity since 2005 when he lived next to Grand Ole House,

Monte Lee Thornton currently lives and works in South Sound after a period of five years on Cayman Brac. He taught different art courses in drawing and painting for the National Gallery. He worked at Cayman Further Education Centre from 2016 to 2023 in the training of Students in Construction Industries, Hospitality and Architecture.

Current paintings of Smooth Sailing Exhibit is at the The Garden at Vine&Tap, seascapes are at LeVele Restruant Georgetown water front and the Ritz Carlton Gallery.

Education MEd Masters in Education in Curriculum for Teachers, MBA in Marketing and BFA in Visual Communication with Honor societies in Business, Technology and Marketing.
Born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas he joined the Army for guaranteed duty station in Hawaii. Stated Underwater Photography in 1977 in Hawaii with a Kodak 110 Instamatic Iklite camera system. Started photographing Sharks and Humpback Whales with Minolta XG1 in Ikelite Housing. From 1986 to 2004 he lead tours of students for scuba diving the reefs of Cayman as his favorite. Even his door welcome sign stated Thornton’s Home Away from the Cayman Islands. Is an Retired Master Instructor and taught 29 different courses.