Thomas is interested in the paradox of contemporary themes expressed through classical styles and characters. His paintings are metaphors for what he describes as the “emotional strivings each of us must juggle with daily.” For example, the kind of energy the couple expends in Tethered to maintain their pose, tied to a tree, seems like a metaphor for a struggling modern relationship. Using deep hues and strong lighting effects, Thomas conjures a spiritual or religious feeling in other works – which in turn is belied by their narratives. The Master of his Fate looks uncertain about his situation, while the woman in Looking Glass does not meet the eyes of her own reflection.Thomas’ figures and scenes are ambiguous, almost archetypal, like elements in our collective unconscious. He wishes to confront the introspective nature of humanity that can be trying, fearful or at a cross-roads. He does this by expressing a sense of “how the body feels when it moves in a dream”.