Thomas Monaghan was born in Chicago and currently lives in the Sonoma Valley. He holds a B.A. in Visual Communications and an M.F.A. in Fine Arts from the University of Northern Illinois. He works in a mixture of media, though primarily in oils. He incorporates a rich blending of colors to capture the peaceful moodiness of the landscape. He paints the lakes, the hills and the creeks of Northern California, evoking a sense of place and a feeling of tranquility.