JESSE THOMAS
PORTLAND DIRECTOR
Being the Director of Spade and Archer Portland branch has come from a persistent interest in art, design, and adventure. I was raised in the Midwest to parents who were professional writers, poets, and editors that strongly encouraged encounters with art, music and writing, and ultimately influenced my interests in literature and the visual arts.
A Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art and Art History gave way to a Master’s of Fine Art in Painting and Drawing. I had the opportunity to study and live in New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Ohio, and internationally in Australia and Italy.
After graduating school I spent a few years teaching design, attending a rotation of artist in residencies, taught as an Adjunct Professor of Drawing and Painting at various universities, served as department head at a Magnet Arts high school, and was Founder and Director of a non-profit Art Academy giving middle and high school students the opportunity to experience college-level art instruction.
Although I focus and obsess over painting and drawing, I often extend my interest to interior design. When I applied for the job as a Jr. Design Manager with Spade And Archer, I had little to no idea what I was stepping into exactly, and little experience or knowledge of home staging, but hoped that these would build on that interest. It ended up becoming half a decade of designing, building and working among a team I genuinely enjoy and respect, and moving into the role of Director for our Portland office.
Being Director simply means that I oversee and support all aspects of home staging in our Portland office and bring calm to chaos. The day-to-day entails daily scheduling, overseeing clients, supporting staff and operations, being a designer, and aiding the team in any situation or need. Outside of work I am an avid rock climber, painter, husband and father.