Nicholas Thorp, 27 NORTH CAROLINA
Style & Inspirations: I’d describe my style as classical realism. I’m heavily influenced by artists from the late 19th century such as Solomon J. Solomon, Waterhouse, Bouguereau, Ilya Repin and Howard Pyle.
Art Education: I’m a third-generation artist so I grew up around drawing and painting.
I started taking it more seriously while a junior at St. John’s College…After graduating, I studied under Louis Carr at East Oaks, where I also learned a lot from Alex Venezia.
Best Art Advice Received: My first summer studying with Carr, he advised me to do a slow, highly rendered drawing of a skull, taking as much time as necessary to get it right. Slowing down marked a huge shift in the quality of my work as it held me to a higher standard and forced me to address elements of the work that I wasn’t satisfied with.
Favorite Studio Music: In the studio I mostly listen to podcasts, but when I do listen to music it tends to be 1970s country.
Favorite Work by Another Artist: It’s incredibly hard to choose one, but Solomon’s painting of Samson is incredible. The tension, drama, and motion created by the composition and subtly exaggerated anatomy is awe inspiring.
Artistic Goals: Beyond continuing with commissioned portraiture…I’d like to expand my range with more landscapes, still lifes and hopefully more complex historical/narrative pieces. There’s so much in history in both the U.S. and abroad from the 20th century that never was recorded in paintings because artistic taste had shifted away from representational art.
Other Passions: I have too many hobbies but in general I like to teach myself things. I’ve continued studying French and Ancient Greek after college and have been developing skills such as playing the banjo, fixing cars and directing my church’s choir. Additionally, I have two young daughters (1 and 3 years old) who are delightful to play with.
contact info: nickthorp.comprice range: $2,000-$11,000
Included in “21 Under 31 | Young Artists to Watch – 2025” from the August/September 2025 issue.
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