Carry Your Own Joy: The Abstract Paintings and Life of Hari E. Thomas, A San Francisco Artist

This book is a biography about a San Francisco artist and offers a retrospective of his abstract paintings. It is also a book about friendship, describing a remarkable person.

Beloved for his free spirit, humor and incredible counseling skills, Hari E. Thomas (1938-2011) was a gifted and prolific abstract painter who left a legacy of truly beautiful, colorful, mixed media works, mostly on paper. Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Hari moved to San Francisco in 1969, the Summer of Love, and he remained a resident there for over 40 years. Always wary of egotism and intent on subduing his own ego, Hari rarely showed his paintings in the later half of his life, hence he is unknown as a painter except with close friends and family. Presented here are 108 painting reproductions, together with Hari’s life story based on interviews with his closest friends and family, and on the author’s memories of him.

Harry’s paintings add significantly to the art heritage of global abstract painters and to the art legacy of Americans, especially African Americans and Native Americans, since he was a blend of those two ethnicities. His story exudes with love and brotherhood and describes friendships crossing all lines of race, culture and creed. His story therefore contributes to a world yearning for peace.