Painter. Born in London. Ontario, Canada on February 11, 1882, the son of artist, John Powell Hunt. The younger Hunt studied art under his father, with Hugh H. Breckenridge, and in various American and European art centers. Much of his early life was spent in Cleveland, OH where he was in the construction business and, when not building homes, painted in his leisure. In 1924 he moved to Southern California and continued the same activities in Hollywood and San Bernardino.

Three years after his arrival he built a studio in Laguna Beach where he taught classes, exhibited locally, and was instrumental in establishing the Laguna Art Museum in 1929. Hunt often painted near the working harbors around the Los Angeles area creating bold, modernist works. He used vivid, strong colors and form to explore the subject matter, creating paintings that vibrate with brilliant light effects. His perspective and treatment of subject matter is highly distinctive.

A "Los Angeles Times" critic in 1931 summed up, "One is impressed, in fact, by the poetry of nature he has felt." Thomas Lorraine Hunt died in Santa Ana, California on April 17, 1938.

Member: San Diego Art Guild; California Art Club; Painters & Sculpters of Los Angeles, Laguna Beach Art Association.

Exhibited: State Fair, 1923; first prizes, Laguna Beach Art Association, 1927, 1935; Thomas award, Pasadena Art Institute, 1933; prize, San Diego Fine Art Guild, 1933.

Works held; Bowers Museum, Santa Ana, Kansas City Museum; Laguna Museum of Art

(Source: Hughes, Edan Milton, "Artists in California: 1786-1940," San Francisco: Hughes Publishing Company, 1989.)