Wes Thomas is a native of New Orleans who continues to be attached to the culture in which he was raised. Thomas received his bachelor's degree in visual arts from Southeastern Louisiana University. Although he then left
Louisiana to live in Mexico and California, and is now a graduate student in Madison, Wisconsin, he maintains close ties with his hometown.
Thomas's philosophy on life appears to reflect his favorite quote from Dr. Seuss: “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.” Thomas has had many different
jobs, ranging from line cook to deli manager to offshore oil worker in the Gulf of Mexico. However, he has spent most of his time pursuing his passions as a printer and artist in the silk-screening industry.
As an artist, Thomas's favorite pastimes include drawing and etching. He also enjoys spending much of his time outside, particularly camping or fishing. Besides his love for Cajun culture, Thomas is also interested in learning about the lifestyle and history of Native Americans. In the time he has left over from pursuing his other interests, Thomas likes to watch football and listen to music from the eighties.
Thomas's first children's book, Down the Crawfish Hole, published by Pelican, describes the adventures of Maurice as he follows a little blue crawfish down its hole and travels through an enchanted and mysterious bayou land. Thomas chose to create this Cajun version of the classic Alice in Wonderland story because “the original Alice in
Wonderland was a wild, and unusual tale, so I decided that a Louisiana perspective would fit perfectly with our unique and unusual culture.” As writer and illustrator of this colorful and imaginative tale, Thomas is able to continue to explore his connection to his Louisiana background and his love for Cajun culture.