Bold, authentic, and colorful are the words most used when describing Gary Jack Thornton's traditional paintings of cowboys and the country they live in.  His work captures an unique spirit of the action, romance and adventure of America's  Old West and is collected by individuals and corporations on a nationwide basis.

Gary Jack was born in Oklahoma City in 1941. He attended the University of Tulsa on an athletic scholarship and studied under Alexander Hogue, a famous western surrealist from the depression era.  Upon graduation, Gary Jack embarked on a career as a graphic designer, illustrator and marketer and produced a significant body of work over the next 37 years for regional, national, and international clients.

In 1996, Gary Jack retired to work on his second career in earnest.  "As much as I loved the advertising field, I knew I had another career on the backburner.  After painting weekends and evenings for a few years for my own enjoyment, I wanted to call myself a full-time painter.  Growing up in Montana, Oklahoma and Texas, I've always enjoyed the "Western' way of life, so it was no surprise I started painting cowboys.  I learned real fast that to be a western painter, I had to put those cowboys in some kind of environment.  Thus, I had to become a landscape painter also.  Wow... did I have a lot to learn."

Gary Jack's philosophy of painting is very simple.  He will quickly tell you he has no hidden message in his work nor is he trying to make some sort of political or social statement.  "I'm very old fashioned in my approach to each painting.  I believe in a compelling concept and composition, a well-defined drawing, strong use of light and an excellent use of color.  I figure if I can get these basic characteristics down in my lifetime, I will be successful as a painter."