Emmitt Thames Paintings & Artwork for Sale | Emmitt Thames Art Value Price Guide

Sep. 30, 2026
Emmitt Thames, American (b. 1933), Morning, gouache on paper, 14 1/2"H x 26 3/4"W (sight) 21 1/2"H x 33 1/2"W (frame)
Est: $300 - $500
Emmitt Thames American, (b. 1933) Morning gouache on paper Signed lower left. Biography from the Archives of askART: The following is from Steve Zimmerman who writes: I have known the artist for over 20 years. I have several of his paintings in my collection, helped him organize the retrospective of his work at the R.W. Norton Museum in Shreveport, LA back in 1984, and personally placed over 50 paintings in collections throughout the Midwest. Essentially a self-taught artist, Emmitt Thames, born October 28, 1933 in Brookhaven, Mississippi, progressed from a rural depression-era childhood into the ranks of the leading American realists. His youth spawned a hard working, somewhat reclusive man, who honed his innate skills for observation and composition into representational art that can accurately be described as "more feeling than formula". His early concerns were helping the family grow enough cotton and produce to pay for the necessities of life. Fine arts were not a part of his life then and certainly did not constitute latent ambition to be a "working" artist. Rather, drawing and whittling literally provided amusement for Emmitt in an otherwise mundane youth. However, Emmitt was never really discouraged from pursuing creativity in his idle hours, but the lack, albeit, the ignorance of fine brushes and paints and all of the other artist accessories were unknown to him in his youth. It was years later after entering the military and being asked to illustrate training manuals that Emmitt discovered some of the fine points of illustration and how better paints and brushes then available to him transformed his creativity into motives and thoughts of producing quality work. Formal art training, though, was simply not affordable when he needed it most; but his incessant drawing as a child on the blackboards and in even in his school books sharpened skills and provided a foundation upon which he could grow. Coupled with a very discerning eye and a willingness to study books and catalogues of the great artists and a penchant to actually observe firsthand some of the great artists past and present in museums and galleries, Emmitt Thames evolved into a highly skilled artist. His young wife, Linda, encouraged him to pursue a career in fine art despite living in an area almost devoid of art schools and talented artists, let alone galleries interested in nurturing a young artist. For subject matter, Emmitt Thames simply mined his mental diary of experiences and combined those with everyday objects and his local surroundings. Much as his idol Andrew Wyeth did, Emmitt observed and recorded without benefit of photographs his life as he has lived it. The everyday events, the commonplace things in the kitchen, in the barn, along a stream, or in the marshes have been assembled in a remarkable journey of where he has been and what he has seen. The presentation is always with feeling and sensitivity, never with formulas. The result is a harmony of composition and familiarity to the viewer, which undoubtedly accounts for the many admirers and collectors of his works. Represented through the years by galleries in Chicago, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Jackson, Mississippi, and West Point, Mississippi, Emmitt's watercolors, egg temperas, gouaches, and oils have found homes in virtually all of the 50 states. Mr. Thames has won many awards through the years and examples of his work are in museums, government, corporate and university collections as well as hundreds of private collections. He currently lives in Gulfport, Mississippi and maintains a studio attached to his home.
Ripley Auctions
Sep. 30, 2026
Emmitt Thames, American (b. 1933), Leftovers, watercolor on paper, 21 1/2"H x 29"W (sight) 34 1/2"H x 42"W (frame)
Est: $800 - $1,200
Emmitt Thames American, (b. 1933) Leftovers watercolor on paper Signed lower right. Biography from the Archives of askART: The following is from Steve Zimmerman who writes: I have known the artist for over 20 years. I have several of his paintings in my collection, helped him organize the retrospective of his work at the R.W. Norton Museum in Shreveport, LA back in 1984, and personally placed over 50 paintings in collections throughout the Midwest. Essentially a self-taught artist, Emmitt Thames, born October 28, 1933 in Brookhaven, Mississippi, progressed from a rural depression-era childhood into the ranks of the leading American realists. His youth spawned a hard working, somewhat reclusive man, who honed his innate skills for observation and composition into representational art that can accurately be described as "more feeling than formula". His early concerns were helping the family grow enough cotton and produce to pay for the necessities of life. Fine arts were not a part of his life then and certainly did not constitute latent ambition to be a "working" artist. Rather, drawing and whittling literally provided amusement for Emmitt in an otherwise mundane youth. However, Emmitt was never really discouraged from pursuing creativity in his idle hours, but the lack, albeit, the ignorance of fine brushes and paints and all of the other artist accessories were unknown to him in his youth. It was years later after entering the military and being asked to illustrate training manuals that Emmitt discovered some of the fine points of illustration and how better paints and brushes then available to him transformed his creativity into motives and thoughts of producing quality work. Formal art training, though, was simply not affordable when he needed it most; but his incessant drawing as a child on the blackboards and in even in his school books sharpened skills and provided a foundation upon which he could grow. Coupled with a very discerning eye and a willingness to study books and catalogues of the great artists and a penchant to actually observe firsthand some of the great artists past and present in museums and galleries, Emmitt Thames evolved into a highly skilled artist. His young wife, Linda, encouraged him to pursue a career in fine art despite living in an area almost devoid of art schools and talented artists, let alone galleries interested in nurturing a young artist. For subject matter, Emmitt Thames simply mined his mental diary of experiences and combined those with everyday objects and his local surroundings. Much as his idol Andrew Wyeth did, Emmitt observed and recorded without benefit of photographs his life as he has lived it. The everyday events, the commonplace things in the kitchen, in the barn, along a stream, or in the marshes have been assembled in a remarkable journey of where he has been and what he has seen. The presentation is always with feeling and sensitivity, never with formulas. The result is a harmony of composition and familiarity to the viewer, which undoubtedly accounts for the many admirers and collectors of his works. Represented through the years by galleries in Chicago, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Jackson, Mississippi, and West Point, Mississippi, Emmitt's watercolors, egg temperas, gouaches, and oils have found homes in virtually all of the 50 states. Mr. Thames has won many awards through the years and examples of his work are in museums, government, corporate and university collections as well as hundreds of private collections. He currently lives in Gulfport, Mississippi and maintains a studio attached to his home.
Ripley Auctions
Sep. 30, 2026
Emmitt Thames, American (b. 1933), interior scene with feed sacks, bucket, and window, watercolor on paper, 27 3/4"H x 19 3/4"W (sight) 38"H x 30"W (frame)
Est: $800 - $1,200
Emmitt Thames American, (b. 1933) interior scene with feed sacks, bucket, and window watercolor on paper Signed lower right. Biography from the Archives of askART: The following is from Steve Zimmerman who writes: I have known the artist for over 20 years. I have several of his paintings in my collection, helped him organize the retrospective of his work at the R.W. Norton Museum in Shreveport, LA back in 1984, and personally placed over 50 paintings in collections throughout the Midwest. Essentially a self-taught artist, Emmitt Thames, born October 28, 1933 in Brookhaven, Mississippi, progressed from a rural depression-era childhood into the ranks of the leading American realists. His youth spawned a hard working, somewhat reclusive man, who honed his innate skills for observation and composition into representational art that can accurately be described as "more feeling than formula". His early concerns were helping the family grow enough cotton and produce to pay for the necessities of life. Fine arts were not a part of his life then and certainly did not constitute latent ambition to be a "working" artist. Rather, drawing and whittling literally provided amusement for Emmitt in an otherwise mundane youth. However, Emmitt was never really discouraged from pursuing creativity in his idle hours, but the lack, albeit, the ignorance of fine brushes and paints and all of the other artist accessories were unknown to him in his youth. It was years later after entering the military and being asked to illustrate training manuals that Emmitt discovered some of the fine points of illustration and how better paints and brushes then available to him transformed his creativity into motives and thoughts of producing quality work. Formal art training, though, was simply not affordable when he needed it most; but his incessant drawing as a child on the blackboards and in even in his school books sharpened skills and provided a foundation upon which he could grow. Coupled with a very discerning eye and a willingness to study books and catalogues of the great artists and a penchant to actually observe firsthand some of the great artists past and present in museums and galleries, Emmitt Thames evolved into a highly skilled artist. His young wife, Linda, encouraged him to pursue a career in fine art despite living in an area almost devoid of art schools and talented artists, let alone galleries interested in nurturing a young artist. For subject matter, Emmitt Thames simply mined his mental diary of experiences and combined those with everyday objects and his local surroundings. Much as his idol Andrew Wyeth did, Emmitt observed and recorded without benefit of photographs his life as he has lived it. The everyday events, the commonplace things in the kitchen, in the barn, along a stream, or in the marshes have been assembled in a remarkable journey of where he has been and what he has seen. The presentation is always with feeling and sensitivity, never with formulas. The result is a harmony of composition and familiarity to the viewer, which undoubtedly accounts for the many admirers and collectors of his works. Represented through the years by galleries in Chicago, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Jackson, Mississippi, and West Point, Mississippi, Emmitt's watercolors, egg temperas, gouaches, and oils have found homes in virtually all of the 50 states. Mr. Thames has won many awards through the years and examples of his work are in museums, government, corporate and university collections as well as hundreds of private collections. He currently lives in Gulfport, Mississippi and maintains a studio attached to his home.
Ripley Auctions
Sep. 11, 2026
Emmitt Thames, The Study, oil on canvas
Est: $800 - $1,200
Emmitt Thames American/Mississippi, b. 1933 "The Study" oil on canvas signed lower right, framed.
Neal Auction Company
Jun. 24, 2026
Emmitt Thames, Mississippi (b. 1933), Two Grazing, watercolor on paper, 14 3/4"H x 10 1/2"W(sight), 23 1/4"H x 19 1/4"W(frame)
Est: $200 - $300
Emmitt Thames Mississippi, (b. 1933) Two Grazing watercolor on paper Signed lower right. Biography from the Archives of askART: The following is from Steve Zimmerman who writes: I have known the artist for over 20 years. I have several of his paintings in my collection, helped him organize the retrospective of his work at the R.W. Norton Museum in Shreveport, LA back in 1984, and personally placed over 50 paintings in collections throughout the Midwest. Essentially a self-taught artist, Emmitt Thames, born October 28, 1933 in Brookhaven, Mississippi, progressed from a rural depression-era childhood into the ranks of the leading American realists. His youth spawned a hard working, somewhat reclusive man, who honed his innate skills for observation and composition into representational art that can accurately be described as "more feeling than formula". His early concerns were helping the family grow enough cotton and produce to pay for the necessities of life. Fine arts were not a part of his life then and certainly did not constitute latent ambition to be a "working" artist. Rather, drawing and whittling literally provided amusement for Emmitt in an otherwise mundane youth. However, Emmitt was never really discouraged from pursuing creativity in his idle hours, but the lack, albeit, the ignorance of fine brushes and paints and all of the other artist accessories were unknown to him in his youth. It was years later after entering the military and being asked to illustrate training manuals that Emmitt discovered some of the fine points of illustration and how better paints and brushes then available to him transformed his creativity into motives and thoughts of producing quality work. Formal art training, though, was simply not affordable when he needed it most; but his incessant drawing as a child on the blackboards and in even in his school books sharpened skills and provided a foundation upon which he could grow. Coupled with a very discerning eye and a willingness to study books and catalogues of the great artists and a penchant to actually observe firsthand some of the great artists past and present in museums and galleries, Emmitt Thames evolved into a highly skilled artist. His young wife, Linda, encouraged him to pursue a career in fine art despite living in an area almost devoid of art schools and talented artists, let alone galleries interested in nurturing a young artist. For subject matter, Emmitt Thames simply mined his mental diary of experiences and combined those with everyday objects and his local surroundings. Much as his idol Andrew Wyeth did, Emmitt observed and recorded without benefit of photographs his life as he has lived it. The everyday events, the commonplace things in the kitchen, in the barn, along a stream, or in the marshes have been assembled in a remarkable journey of where he has been and what he has seen. The presentation is always with feeling and sensitivity, never with formulas. The result is a harmony of composition and familiarity to the viewer, which undoubtedly accounts for the many admirers and collectors of his works. Represented through the years by galleries in Chicago, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Jackson, Mississippi, and West Point, Mississippi, Emmitt's watercolors, egg temperas, gouaches, and oils have found homes in virtually all of the 50 states. Mr. Thames has won many awards through the years and examples of his work are in museums, government, corporate and university collections as well as hundreds of private collections. He currently lives in Gulfport, Mississippi and maintains a studio attached to his home.
Ripley Auctions
Jun. 24, 2026
Emmitt Thames, Mississippi (b. 1933), Still Life With Melons & Pears, gouache on paper, 21 1/4"H x 28 3/4"W(sight), 33 1/4"H x 40 1/2"W(frame)
Est: $300 - $500
Emmitt Thames Mississippi, (b. 1933) Still Life With Melons & Pears gouache on paper Signed lower right. Biography from the Archives of askART: The following is from Steve Zimmerman who writes: I have known the artist for over 20 years. I have several of his paintings in my collection, helped him organize the retrospective of his work at the R.W. Norton Museum in Shreveport, LA back in 1984, and personally placed over 50 paintings in collections throughout the Midwest. Essentially a self-taught artist, Emmitt Thames, born October 28, 1933 in Brookhaven, Mississippi, progressed from a rural depression-era childhood into the ranks of the leading American realists. His youth spawned a hard working, somewhat reclusive man, who honed his innate skills for observation and composition into representational art that can accurately be described as "more feeling than formula". His early concerns were helping the family grow enough cotton and produce to pay for the necessities of life. Fine arts were not a part of his life then and certainly did not constitute latent ambition to be a "working" artist. Rather, drawing and whittling literally provided amusement for Emmitt in an otherwise mundane youth. However, Emmitt was never really discouraged from pursuing creativity in his idle hours, but the lack, albeit, the ignorance of fine brushes and paints and all of the other artist accessories were unknown to him in his youth. It was years later after entering the military and being asked to illustrate training manuals that Emmitt discovered some of the fine points of illustration and how better paints and brushes then available to him transformed his creativity into motives and thoughts of producing quality work. Formal art training, though, was simply not affordable when he needed it most; but his incessant drawing as a child on the blackboards and in even in his school books sharpened skills and provided a foundation upon which he could grow. Coupled with a very discerning eye and a willingness to study books and catalogues of the great artists and a penchant to actually observe firsthand some of the great artists past and present in museums and galleries, Emmitt Thames evolved into a highly skilled artist. His young wife, Linda, encouraged him to pursue a career in fine art despite living in an area almost devoid of art schools and talented artists, let alone galleries interested in nurturing a young artist. For subject matter, Emmitt Thames simply mined his mental diary of experiences and combined those with everyday objects and his local surroundings. Much as his idol Andrew Wyeth did, Emmitt observed and recorded without benefit of photographs his life as he has lived it. The everyday events, the commonplace things in the kitchen, in the barn, along a stream, or in the marshes have been assembled in a remarkable journey of where he has been and what he has seen. The presentation is always with feeling and sensitivity, never with formulas. The result is a harmony of composition and familiarity to the viewer, which undoubtedly accounts for the many admirers and collectors of his works. Represented through the years by galleries in Chicago, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Jackson, Mississippi, and West Point, Mississippi, Emmitt's watercolors, egg temperas, gouaches, and oils have found homes in virtually all of the 50 states. Mr. Thames has won many awards through the years and examples of his work are in museums, government, corporate and university collections as well as hundreds of private collections. He currently lives in Gulfport, Mississippi and maintains a studio attached to his home.
Ripley Auctions
Jun. 24, 2026
Emmitt Thames, Mississippi (b. 1933), rural snowy winter landscape, watercolor on paper, 21 1/2"H x 29 1/2"W(sight), 33 1/2"H x 41"W(frame)
Est: $300 - $500
Emmitt Thames Mississippi, (b. 1933) rural snowy winter landscape watercolor on paper Signed lower right. Biography from the Archives of askART: The following is from Steve Zimmerman who writes: I have known the artist for over 20 years. I have several of his paintings in my collection, helped him organize the retrospective of his work at the R.W. Norton Museum in Shreveport, LA back in 1984, and personally placed over 50 paintings in collections throughout the Midwest. Essentially a self-taught artist, Emmitt Thames, born October 28, 1933 in Brookhaven, Mississippi, progressed from a rural depression-era childhood into the ranks of the leading American realists. His youth spawned a hard working, somewhat reclusive man, who honed his innate skills for observation and composition into representational art that can accurately be described as "more feeling than formula". His early concerns were helping the family grow enough cotton and produce to pay for the necessities of life. Fine arts were not a part of his life then and certainly did not constitute latent ambition to be a "working" artist. Rather, drawing and whittling literally provided amusement for Emmitt in an otherwise mundane youth. However, Emmitt was never really discouraged from pursuing creativity in his idle hours, but the lack, albeit, the ignorance of fine brushes and paints and all of the other artist accessories were unknown to him in his youth. It was years later after entering the military and being asked to illustrate training manuals that Emmitt discovered some of the fine points of illustration and how better paints and brushes then available to him transformed his creativity into motives and thoughts of producing quality work. Formal art training, though, was simply not affordable when he needed it most; but his incessant drawing as a child on the blackboards and in even in his school books sharpened skills and provided a foundation upon which he could grow. Coupled with a very discerning eye and a willingness to study books and catalogues of the great artists and a penchant to actually observe firsthand some of the great artists past and present in museums and galleries, Emmitt Thames evolved into a highly skilled artist. His young wife, Linda, encouraged him to pursue a career in fine art despite living in an area almost devoid of art schools and talented artists, let alone galleries interested in nurturing a young artist. For subject matter, Emmitt Thames simply mined his mental diary of experiences and combined those with everyday objects and his local surroundings. Much as his idol Andrew Wyeth did, Emmitt observed and recorded without benefit of photographs his life as he has lived it. The everyday events, the commonplace things in the kitchen, in the barn, along a stream, or in the marshes have been assembled in a remarkable journey of where he has been and what he has seen. The presentation is always with feeling and sensitivity, never with formulas. The result is a harmony of composition and familiarity to the viewer, which undoubtedly accounts for the many admirers and collectors of his works. Represented through the years by galleries in Chicago, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Jackson, Mississippi, and West Point, Mississippi, Emmitt's watercolors, egg temperas, gouaches, and oils have found homes in virtually all of the 50 states. Mr. Thames has won many awards through the years and examples of his work are in museums, government, corporate and university collections as well as hundreds of private collections. He currently lives in Gulfport, Mississippi and maintains a studio attached to his home.
Ripley Auctions
Jun. 24, 2026
Emmitt Thames, Mississippi (b. 1933), A View of the Barn through open window, watercolor on paper, 13 3/4"H x 19 1/2"W(sight), 24"H x 30"W(frame)
Est: $300 - $500
Emmitt Thames Mississippi, (b. 1933) A View of the Barn through open window watercolor on paper Signed lower right. Exhibited: Meridian Museum of Art, MS; Morris & Whiteside Galleries, SC Biography from the Archives of askART: The following is from Steve Zimmerman who writes: I have known the artist for over 20 years. I have several of his paintings in my collection, helped him organize the retrospective of his work at the R.W. Norton Museum in Shreveport, LA back in 1984, and personally placed over 50 paintings in collections throughout the Midwest. Essentially a self-taught artist, Emmitt Thames, born October 28, 1933 in Brookhaven, Mississippi, progressed from a rural depression-era childhood into the ranks of the leading American realists. His youth spawned a hard working, somewhat reclusive man, who honed his innate skills for observation and composition into representational art that can accurately be described as "more feeling than formula". His early concerns were helping the family grow enough cotton and produce to pay for the necessities of life. Fine arts were not a part of his life then and certainly did not constitute latent ambition to be a "working" artist. Rather, drawing and whittling literally provided amusement for Emmitt in an otherwise mundane youth. However, Emmitt was never really discouraged from pursuing creativity in his idle hours, but the lack, albeit, the ignorance of fine brushes and paints and all of the other artist accessories were unknown to him in his youth. It was years later after entering the military and being asked to illustrate training manuals that Emmitt discovered some of the fine points of illustration and how better paints and brushes then available to him transformed his creativity into motives and thoughts of producing quality work. Formal art training, though, was simply not affordable when he needed it most; but his incessant drawing as a child on the blackboards and in even in his school books sharpened skills and provided a foundation upon which he could grow. Coupled with a very discerning eye and a willingness to study books and catalogues of the great artists and a penchant to actually observe firsthand some of the great artists past and present in museums and galleries, Emmitt Thames evolved into a highly skilled artist. His young wife, Linda, encouraged him to pursue a career in fine art despite living in an area almost devoid of art schools and talented artists, let alone galleries interested in nurturing a young artist. For subject matter, Emmitt Thames simply mined his mental diary of experiences and combined those with everyday objects and his local surroundings. Much as his idol Andrew Wyeth did, Emmitt observed and recorded without benefit of photographs his life as he has lived it. The everyday events, the commonplace things in the kitchen, in the barn, along a stream, or in the marshes have been assembled in a remarkable journey of where he has been and what he has seen. The presentation is always with feeling and sensitivity, never with formulas. The result is a harmony of composition and familiarity to the viewer, which undoubtedly accounts for the many admirers and collectors of his works. Represented through the years by galleries in Chicago, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Jackson, Mississippi, and West Point, Mississippi, Emmitt's watercolors, egg temperas, gouaches, and oils have found homes in virtually all of the 50 states. Mr. Thames has won many awards through the years and examples of his work are in museums, government, corporate and university collections as well as hundreds of private collections. He currently lives in Gulfport, Mississippi and maintains a studio attached to his home.
Ripley Auctions
Jun. 24, 2026
Emmitt Thames, Mississippi (b. 1933), landscape with creek and barn in the distance, watercolor on paper, 22"H x 29 1/2"W(sight), 35 3/4"H x 43 1/4"W(frame)
Est: $300 - $500
Emmitt Thames Mississippi, (b. 1933) landscape with creek and barn in the distance watercolor on paper Signed lower right. Biography from the Archives of askART: The following is from Steve Zimmerman who writes: I have known the artist for over 20 years. I have several of his paintings in my collection, helped him organize the retrospective of his work at the R.W. Norton Museum in Shreveport, LA back in 1984, and personally placed over 50 paintings in collections throughout the Midwest. Essentially a self-taught artist, Emmitt Thames, born October 28, 1933 in Brookhaven, Mississippi, progressed from a rural depression-era childhood into the ranks of the leading American realists. His youth spawned a hard working, somewhat reclusive man, who honed his innate skills for observation and composition into representational art that can accurately be described as "more feeling than formula". His early concerns were helping the family grow enough cotton and produce to pay for the necessities of life. Fine arts were not a part of his life then and certainly did not constitute latent ambition to be a "working" artist. Rather, drawing and whittling literally provided amusement for Emmitt in an otherwise mundane youth. However, Emmitt was never really discouraged from pursuing creativity in his idle hours, but the lack, albeit, the ignorance of fine brushes and paints and all of the other artist accessories were unknown to him in his youth. It was years later after entering the military and being asked to illustrate training manuals that Emmitt discovered some of the fine points of illustration and how better paints and brushes then available to him transformed his creativity into motives and thoughts of producing quality work. Formal art training, though, was simply not affordable when he needed it most; but his incessant drawing as a child on the blackboards and in even in his school books sharpened skills and provided a foundation upon which he could grow. Coupled with a very discerning eye and a willingness to study books and catalogues of the great artists and a penchant to actually observe firsthand some of the great artists past and present in museums and galleries, Emmitt Thames evolved into a highly skilled artist. His young wife, Linda, encouraged him to pursue a career in fine art despite living in an area almost devoid of art schools and talented artists, let alone galleries interested in nurturing a young artist. For subject matter, Emmitt Thames simply mined his mental diary of experiences and combined those with everyday objects and his local surroundings. Much as his idol Andrew Wyeth did, Emmitt observed and recorded without benefit of photographs his life as he has lived it. The everyday events, the commonplace things in the kitchen, in the barn, along a stream, or in the marshes have been assembled in a remarkable journey of where he has been and what he has seen. The presentation is always with feeling and sensitivity, never with formulas. The result is a harmony of composition and familiarity to the viewer, which undoubtedly accounts for the many admirers and collectors of his works. Represented through the years by galleries in Chicago, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Jackson, Mississippi, and West Point, Mississippi, Emmitt's watercolors, egg temperas, gouaches, and oils have found homes in virtually all of the 50 states. Mr. Thames has won many awards through the years and examples of his work are in museums, government, corporate and university collections as well as hundreds of private collections. He currently lives in Gulfport, Mississippi and maintains a studio attached to his home.
Ripley Auctions
Jun. 16, 2026
Emmitt Thames (American b. 1933), Winesaps in a Wooden Bucket, Watercolor, Signed l.r., Frame: 25 1/4 x 32 1/4 in. (64.1 x 81.9 cm.)
Est: $500 - $700
Emmitt Thames (American b. 1933), Winesaps in a Wooden Bucket, Watercolor, Signed l.r.,
Weschler's
Feb. 28, 2026
1976 Emmitt Thames Backyard Tree Watercolor In Paper Painting
Est: -
Watercolor on paper painting by listed Mississippi artist Emmitt Thames (Born 1933). The painting features a backyard tree. Signed and dated in the lower right. Sight measures approximately 21-1/2" across x 29" tall. Framed measures approximately 34-1/2" across x 42-1/2" tall. Framed and matted under glass.
Kraft Auction Service
Jan. 23, 2026
Emmitt Thames, American/Mississippi b. 1933, "Fishing", oil on canvas
Est: $1,000 - $1,500
Emmitt Thames American/Mississippi, b. 1933 "Fishing" oil on canvas signed lower right, framed. Provenance: "A Star Spangled Banner Evening," Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson, MS, 1998, item number 7.
Neal Auction Company
Nov. 21, 2025
Emmitt Thames, American/Mississippi b. 1933, "The Quiet of Winter", watercolor on paper
Est: $800 - $1,200
Emmitt Thames American/Mississippi, b. 1933 "The Quiet of Winter" watercolor on paper 1972, signed and dated lower left, "Gallery D'arts" label on backing paper, framed.
Neal Auction Company
Nov. 21, 2025
Emmitt Thames, American/Mississippi b. 1933, "Open Barn", watercolor on paper
Est: $800 - $1,200
Emmitt Thames American/Mississippi, b. 1933 "Open Barn" watercolor on paper 1971, signed and dated lower right, framed.
Neal Auction Company
Nov. 21, 2025
Emmitt Thames, American/Mississippi b. 1933, "Side Porch", watercolor on paper
Est: $800 - $1,200
Emmitt Thames American/Mississippi, b. 1933 "Side Porch" watercolor on paper 1969, signed and dated lower right, framed.
Neal Auction Company
Oct. 23, 2025
Emmitt Thames, American/Mississippi b. 1933, "Coastal Home", watercolor on Strathmore watercolor paper board
Est: $300 - $500
Emmitt Thames American/Mississippi, b. 1933 "Coastal Home" watercolor on Strathmore watercolor paper board 1972, signed and dated lower left, "Gallery D'Art, Houma, LA" label on backing paper, framed.
Neal Auction Company
Oct. 23, 2025
Emmitt Thames, American/Mississippi b. 1933, "Tree Stump in the Forest", watercolor on paper laid twice on board
Est: $700 - $1,000
Emmitt Thames American/Mississippi, b. 1933 "Tree Stump in the Forest" watercolor on paper laid twice on board 1968, signed and dated lower right, framed.
Neal Auction Company
Oct. 23, 2025
Emmitt Thames, American/Mississippi b. 1933, "Barn", watercolor on paper laid on board
Est: $300 - $500
Emmitt Thames American/Mississippi, b. 1933 "Barn" watercolor on paper laid on board 1972, signed and dated lower right, framed.
Neal Auction Company
Oct. 04, 2025
Emmitt Thames, Mississippi (b. 1933), Heavy Snow #203, 1972, watercolor on paper, 21 1/2"H x 29"W(sight), 32"H x 39 1/4"W(frame)
Est: $400 - $600
Emmitt Thames Mississippi, (b. 1933) Heavy Snow #203, 1972 watercolor on paper Certificate of Authenticity verso. Exhibited: The Folger Gallery, IN Biography from the Archives of askART: The following is from Steve Zimmerman who writes: I have known the artist for over 20 years. I have several of his paintings in my collection, helped him organize the retrospective of his work at the R.W. Norton Museum in Shreveport, LA back in 1984, and personally placed over 50 paintings in collections throughout the Midwest. Essentially a self-taught artist, Emmitt Thames, born October 28, 1933 in Brookhaven, Mississippi, progressed from a rural depression-era childhood into the ranks of the leading American realists. His youth spawned a hard working, somewhat reclusive man, who honed his innate skills for observation and composition into representational art that can accurately be described as "more feeling than formula". His early concerns were helping the family grow enough cotton and produce to pay for the necessities of life. Fine arts were not a part of his life then and certainly did not constitute latent ambition to be a "working" artist. Rather, drawing and whittling literally provided amusement for Emmitt in an otherwise mundane youth. However, Emmitt was never really discouraged from pursuing creativity in his idle hours, but the lack, albeit, the ignorance of fine brushes and paints and all of the other artist accessories were unknown to him in his youth. It was years later after entering the military and being asked to illustrate training manuals that Emmitt discovered some of the fine points of illustration and how better paints and brushes then available to him transformed his creativity into motives and thoughts of producing quality work. Formal art training, though, was simply not affordable when he needed it most; but his incessant drawing as a child on the blackboards and in even in his school books sharpened skills and provided a foundation upon which he could grow. Coupled with a very discerning eye and a willingness to study books and catalogues of the great artists and a penchant to actually observe firsthand some of the great artists past and present in museums and galleries, Emmitt Thames evolved into a highly skilled artist. His young wife, Linda, encouraged him to pursue a career in fine art despite living in an area almost devoid of art schools and talented artists, let alone galleries interested in nurturing a young artist. For subject matter, Emmitt Thames simply mined his mental diary of experiences and combined those with everyday objects and his local surroundings. Much as his idol Andrew Wyeth did, Emmitt observed and recorded without benefit of photographs his life as he has lived it. The everyday events, the commonplace things in the kitchen, in the barn, along a stream, or in the marshes have been assembled in a remarkable journey of where he has been and what he has seen. The presentation is always with feeling and sensitivity, never with formulas. The result is a harmony of composition and familiarity to the viewer, which undoubtedly accounts for the many admirers and collectors of his works. Represented through the years by galleries in Chicago, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Jackson, Mississippi, and West Point, Mississippi, Emmitt's watercolors, egg temperas, gouaches, and oils have found homes in virtually all of the 50 states. Mr. Thames has won many awards through the years and examples of his work are in museums, government, corporate and university collections as well as hundreds of private collections. He currently lives in Gulfport, Mississippi and maintains a studio attached to his home.
Ripley Auctions
Oct. 04, 2025
Emmitt Thames, Mississippi (b. 1933), Early Morning, watercolor on paper, 10 3/4"H x 14 1/2"W (sight), 19 3/4" H x 24" W (frame)
Est: $300 - $500
Emmitt Thames Mississippi, (b. 1933) Early Morning watercolor on paper Signed lower right. Exhibited William's Gallery, MS Biography from the Archives of askART: The following is from Steve Zimmerman who writes: I have known the artist for over 20 years. I have several of his paintings in my collection, helped him organize the retrospective of his work at the R.W. Norton Museum in Shreveport, LA back in 1984, and personally placed over 50 paintings in collections throughout the Midwest. Essentially a self-taught artist, Emmitt Thames, born October 28, 1933 in Brookhaven, Mississippi, progressed from a rural depression-era childhood into the ranks of the leading American realists. His youth spawned a hard working, somewhat reclusive man, who honed his innate skills for observation and composition into representational art that can accurately be described as "more feeling than formula". His early concerns were helping the family grow enough cotton and produce to pay for the necessities of life. Fine arts were not a part of his life then and certainly did not constitute latent ambition to be a "working" artist. Rather, drawing and whittling literally provided amusement for Emmitt in an otherwise mundane youth. However, Emmitt was never really discouraged from pursuing creativity in his idle hours, but the lack, albeit, the ignorance of fine brushes and paints and all of the other artist accessories were unknown to him in his youth. It was years later after entering the military and being asked to illustrate training manuals that Emmitt discovered some of the fine points of illustration and how better paints and brushes then available to him transformed his creativity into motives and thoughts of producing quality work. Formal art training, though, was simply not affordable when he needed it most; but his incessant drawing as a child on the blackboards and in even in his school books sharpened skills and provided a foundation upon which he could grow. Coupled with a very discerning eye and a willingness to study books and catalogues of the great artists and a penchant to actually observe firsthand some of the great artists past and present in museums and galleries, Emmitt Thames evolved into a highly skilled artist. His young wife, Linda, encouraged him to pursue a career in fine art despite living in an area almost devoid of art schools and talented artists, let alone galleries interested in nurturing a young artist. For subject matter, Emmitt Thames simply mined his mental diary of experiences and combined those with everyday objects and his local surroundings. Much as his idol Andrew Wyeth did, Emmitt observed and recorded without benefit of photographs his life as he has lived it. The everyday events, the commonplace things in the kitchen, in the barn, along a stream, or in the marshes have been assembled in a remarkable journey of where he has been and what he has seen. The presentation is always with feeling and sensitivity, never with formulas. The result is a harmony of composition and familiarity to the viewer, which undoubtedly accounts for the many admirers and collectors of his works. Represented through the years by galleries in Chicago, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Jackson, Mississippi, and West Point, Mississippi, Emmitt's watercolors, egg temperas, gouaches, and oils have found homes in virtually all of the 50 states. Mr. Thames has won many awards through the years and examples of his work are in museums, government, corporate and university collections as well as hundreds of private collections. He currently lives in Gulfport, Mississippi and maintains a studio attached to his home.
Ripley Auctions
Sep. 12, 2025
Emmitt Thames, American/Mississippi b. 1933, "Approaching a Farm", watercolor on Strathmore watercolor board
Est: $700 - $1,000
Emmitt Thames American/Mississippi, b. 1933 "Approaching a Farm" watercolor on Strathmore watercolor board 1975, signed and dated lower right, signed, titled, dated and artist stamp en verso, framed.
Neal Auction Company
Sep. 12, 2025
Emmitt Thames, American/Mississippi b. 1933, "A Modern Ruin", watercolor on paper
Est: $800 - $1,200
Emmitt Thames American/Mississippi, b. 1933 "A Modern Ruin" watercolor on paper 1975, signed and dated lower left, titled, dated and artist stamp en verso, framed.
Neal Auction Company
Jul. 26, 2025
Emmitt Thames, Mississippi (b. 1933), watercolor on paper, 22"H x 29 1/2"W(sight), 35 3/4"H x 43 1/4"W(frame)
Est: $600 - $800
Emmitt Thames Mississippi, (b. 1933) watercolor on paper Signed lower right. Biography from the Archives of askART: The following is from Steve Zimmerman who writes: I have known the artist for over 20 years. I have several of his paintings in my collection, helped him organize the retrospective of his work at the R.W. Norton Museum in Shreveport, LA back in 1984, and personally placed over 50 paintings in collections throughout the Midwest. Essentially a self-taught artist, Emmitt Thames, born October 28, 1933 in Brookhaven, Mississippi, progressed from a rural depression-era childhood into the ranks of the leading American realists. His youth spawned a hard working, somewhat reclusive man, who honed his innate skills for observation and composition into representational art that can accurately be described as "more feeling than formula". His early concerns were helping the family grow enough cotton and produce to pay for the necessities of life. Fine arts were not a part of his life then and certainly did not constitute latent ambition to be a "working" artist. Rather, drawing and whittling literally provided amusement for Emmitt in an otherwise mundane youth. However, Emmitt was never really discouraged from pursuing creativity in his idle hours, but the lack, albeit, the ignorance of fine brushes and paints and all of the other artist accessories were unknown to him in his youth. It was years later after entering the military and being asked to illustrate training manuals that Emmitt discovered some of the fine points of illustration and how better paints and brushes then available to him transformed his creativity into motives and thoughts of producing quality work. Formal art training, though, was simply not affordable when he needed it most; but his incessant drawing as a child on the blackboards and in even in his school books sharpened skills and provided a foundation upon which he could grow. Coupled with a very discerning eye and a willingness to study books and catalogues of the great artists and a penchant to actually observe firsthand some of the great artists past and present in museums and galleries, Emmitt Thames evolved into a highly skilled artist. His young wife, Linda, encouraged him to pursue a career in fine art despite living in an area almost devoid of art schools and talented artists, let alone galleries interested in nurturing a young artist. For subject matter, Emmitt Thames simply mined his mental diary of experiences and combined those with everyday objects and his local surroundings. Much as his idol Andrew Wyeth did, Emmitt observed and recorded without benefit of photographs his life as he has lived it. The everyday events, the commonplace things in the kitchen, in the barn, along a stream, or in the marshes have been assembled in a remarkable journey of where he has been and what he has seen. The presentation is always with feeling and sensitivity, never with formulas. The result is a harmony of composition and familiarity to the viewer, which undoubtedly accounts for the many admirers and collectors of his works. Represented through the years by galleries in Chicago, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Jackson, Mississippi, and West Point, Mississippi, Emmitt's watercolors, egg temperas, gouaches, and oils have found homes in virtually all of the 50 states. Mr. Thames has won many awards through the years and examples of his work are in museums, government, corporate and university collections as well as hundreds of private collections. He currently lives in Gulfport, Mississippi and maintains a studio attached to his home.
Ripley Auctions
Jul. 26, 2025
Emmitt Thames, Mississippi (b. 1933), rural snowy winter landscape, watercolor on paper, 21 1/2"H x 29 1/2"W(sight), 33 1/2"H x 41"W(frame)
Est: $600 - $800
Emmitt Thames Mississippi, (b. 1933) rural snowy winter landscape watercolor on paper Signed lower right. Biography from the Archives of askART: The following is from Steve Zimmerman who writes: I have known the artist for over 20 years. I have several of his paintings in my collection, helped him organize the retrospective of his work at the R.W. Norton Museum in Shreveport, LA back in 1984, and personally placed over 50 paintings in collections throughout the Midwest. Essentially a self-taught artist, Emmitt Thames, born October 28, 1933 in Brookhaven, Mississippi, progressed from a rural depression-era childhood into the ranks of the leading American realists. His youth spawned a hard working, somewhat reclusive man, who honed his innate skills for observation and composition into representational art that can accurately be described as "more feeling than formula". His early concerns were helping the family grow enough cotton and produce to pay for the necessities of life. Fine arts were not a part of his life then and certainly did not constitute latent ambition to be a "working" artist. Rather, drawing and whittling literally provided amusement for Emmitt in an otherwise mundane youth. However, Emmitt was never really discouraged from pursuing creativity in his idle hours, but the lack, albeit, the ignorance of fine brushes and paints and all of the other artist accessories were unknown to him in his youth. It was years later after entering the military and being asked to illustrate training manuals that Emmitt discovered some of the fine points of illustration and how better paints and brushes then available to him transformed his creativity into motives and thoughts of producing quality work. Formal art training, though, was simply not affordable when he needed it most; but his incessant drawing as a child on the blackboards and in even in his school books sharpened skills and provided a foundation upon which he could grow. Coupled with a very discerning eye and a willingness to study books and catalogues of the great artists and a penchant to actually observe firsthand some of the great artists past and present in museums and galleries, Emmitt Thames evolved into a highly skilled artist. His young wife, Linda, encouraged him to pursue a career in fine art despite living in an area almost devoid of art schools and talented artists, let alone galleries interested in nurturing a young artist. For subject matter, Emmitt Thames simply mined his mental diary of experiences and combined those with everyday objects and his local surroundings. Much as his idol Andrew Wyeth did, Emmitt observed and recorded without benefit of photographs his life as he has lived it. The everyday events, the commonplace things in the kitchen, in the barn, along a stream, or in the marshes have been assembled in a remarkable journey of where he has been and what he has seen. The presentation is always with feeling and sensitivity, never with formulas. The result is a harmony of composition and familiarity to the viewer, which undoubtedly accounts for the many admirers and collectors of his works. Represented through the years by galleries in Chicago, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Jackson, Mississippi, and West Point, Mississippi, Emmitt's watercolors, egg temperas, gouaches, and oils have found homes in virtually all of the 50 states. Mr. Thames has won many awards through the years and examples of his work are in museums, government, corporate and university collections as well as hundreds of private collections. He currently lives in Gulfport, Mississippi and maintains a studio attached to his home.
Ripley Auctions
Jul. 26, 2025
Emmitt Thames, American (b. 1933), Back Road, winter thaw rural landscape, egg tempera on board, 14 1/2"H x 23 1/2"W(sight), 21 3/4"H x 30 3/4"W(frame)
Est: $700 - $900
Emmitt Thames American, (b. 1933) Back Road, winter thaw rural landscape egg tempera on board Signed lower right. Biography from the Archives of askART: The following is from Steve Zimmerman who writes: I have known the artist for over 20 years. I have several of his paintings in my collection, helped him organize the retrospective of his work at the R.W. Norton Museum in Shreveport, LA back in 1984, and personally placed over 50 paintings in collections throughout the Midwest. Essentially a self-taught artist, Emmitt Thames, born October 28, 1933 in Brookhaven, Mississippi, progressed from a rural depression-era childhood into the ranks of the leading American realists. His youth spawned a hard working, somewhat reclusive man, who honed his innate skills for observation and composition into representational art that can accurately be described as "more feeling than formula". His early concerns were helping the family grow enough cotton and produce to pay for the necessities of life. Fine arts were not a part of his life then and certainly did not constitute latent ambition to be a "working" artist. Rather, drawing and whittling literally provided amusement for Emmitt in an otherwise mundane youth. However, Emmitt was never really discouraged from pursuing creativity in his idle hours, but the lack, albeit, the ignorance of fine brushes and paints and all of the other artist accessories were unknown to him in his youth. It was years later after entering the military and being asked to illustrate training manuals that Emmitt discovered some of the fine points of illustration and how better paints and brushes then available to him transformed his creativity into motives and thoughts of producing quality work. Formal art training, though, was simply not affordable when he needed it most; but his incessant drawing as a child on the blackboards and in even in his school books sharpened skills and provided a foundation upon which he could grow. Coupled with a very discerning eye and a willingness to study books and catalogues of the great artists and a penchant to actually observe firsthand some of the great artists past and present in museums and galleries, Emmitt Thames evolved into a highly skilled artist. His young wife, Linda, encouraged him to pursue a career in fine art despite living in an area almost devoid of art schools and talented artists, let alone galleries interested in nurturing a young artist. For subject matter, Emmitt Thames simply mined his mental diary of experiences and combined those with everyday objects and his local surroundings. Much as his idol Andrew Wyeth did, Emmitt observed and recorded without benefit of photographs his life as he has lived it. The everyday events, the commonplace things in the kitchen, in the barn, along a stream, or in the marshes have been assembled in a remarkable journey of where he has been and what he has seen. The presentation is always with feeling and sensitivity, never with formulas. The result is a harmony of composition and familiarity to the viewer, which undoubtedly accounts for the many admirers and collectors of his works. Represented through the years by galleries in Chicago, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Jackson, Mississippi, and West Point, Mississippi, Emmitt's watercolors, egg temperas, gouaches, and oils have found homes in virtually all of the 50 states. Mr. Thames has won many awards through the years and examples of his work are in museums, government, corporate and university collections as well as hundreds of private collections. He currently lives in Gulfport, Mississippi and maintains a studio attached to his home.
Ripley Auctions
Jul. 26, 2025
Emmitt Thames, Mississippi (b. 1933), A View of the Barn through open window, watercolor on paper, 13 3/4"H x 19 1/2"W(sight), 24"H x 30"W(frame)
Est: $500 - $700
Emmitt Thames Mississippi, (b. 1933) A View of the Barn through open window watercolor on paper Signed lower right. Exhibited: Meridian Museum of Art, MS; Morris & Whiteside Galleries, SC Biography from the Archives of askART: The following is from Steve Zimmerman who writes: I have known the artist for over 20 years. I have several of his paintings in my collection, helped him organize the retrospective of his work at the R.W. Norton Museum in Shreveport, LA back in 1984, and personally placed over 50 paintings in collections throughout the Midwest. Essentially a self-taught artist, Emmitt Thames, born October 28, 1933 in Brookhaven, Mississippi, progressed from a rural depression-era childhood into the ranks of the leading American realists. His youth spawned a hard working, somewhat reclusive man, who honed his innate skills for observation and composition into representational art that can accurately be described as "more feeling than formula". His early concerns were helping the family grow enough cotton and produce to pay for the necessities of life. Fine arts were not a part of his life then and certainly did not constitute latent ambition to be a "working" artist. Rather, drawing and whittling literally provided amusement for Emmitt in an otherwise mundane youth. However, Emmitt was never really discouraged from pursuing creativity in his idle hours, but the lack, albeit, the ignorance of fine brushes and paints and all of the other artist accessories were unknown to him in his youth. It was years later after entering the military and being asked to illustrate training manuals that Emmitt discovered some of the fine points of illustration and how better paints and brushes then available to him transformed his creativity into motives and thoughts of producing quality work. Formal art training, though, was simply not affordable when he needed it most; but his incessant drawing as a child on the blackboards and in even in his school books sharpened skills and provided a foundation upon which he could grow. Coupled with a very discerning eye and a willingness to study books and catalogues of the great artists and a penchant to actually observe firsthand some of the great artists past and present in museums and galleries, Emmitt Thames evolved into a highly skilled artist. His young wife, Linda, encouraged him to pursue a career in fine art despite living in an area almost devoid of art schools and talented artists, let alone galleries interested in nurturing a young artist. For subject matter, Emmitt Thames simply mined his mental diary of experiences and combined those with everyday objects and his local surroundings. Much as his idol Andrew Wyeth did, Emmitt observed and recorded without benefit of photographs his life as he has lived it. The everyday events, the commonplace things in the kitchen, in the barn, along a stream, or in the marshes have been assembled in a remarkable journey of where he has been and what he has seen. The presentation is always with feeling and sensitivity, never with formulas. The result is a harmony of composition and familiarity to the viewer, which undoubtedly accounts for the many admirers and collectors of his works. Represented through the years by galleries in Chicago, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Jackson, Mississippi, and West Point, Mississippi, Emmitt's watercolors, egg temperas, gouaches, and oils have found homes in virtually all of the 50 states. Mr. Thames has won many awards through the years and examples of his work are in museums, government, corporate and university collections as well as hundreds of private collections. He currently lives in Gulfport, Mississippi and maintains a studio attached to his home.
Ripley Auctions
Jul. 26, 2025
Emmitt Thames, Mississippi (b. 1933), Still Life With Melons & Pears, gouache on paper, 21 1/4"H x 28 3/4"W(sight), 33 1/4"H x 40 1/2"W(frame)
Est: $500 - $700
Emmitt Thames Mississippi, (b. 1933) Still Life With Melons & Pears gouache on paper Signed lower right. Biography from the Archives of askART: The following is from Steve Zimmerman who writes: I have known the artist for over 20 years. I have several of his paintings in my collection, helped him organize the retrospective of his work at the R.W. Norton Museum in Shreveport, LA back in 1984, and personally placed over 50 paintings in collections throughout the Midwest. Essentially a self-taught artist, Emmitt Thames, born October 28, 1933 in Brookhaven, Mississippi, progressed from a rural depression-era childhood into the ranks of the leading American realists. His youth spawned a hard working, somewhat reclusive man, who honed his innate skills for observation and composition into representational art that can accurately be described as "more feeling than formula". His early concerns were helping the family grow enough cotton and produce to pay for the necessities of life. Fine arts were not a part of his life then and certainly did not constitute latent ambition to be a "working" artist. Rather, drawing and whittling literally provided amusement for Emmitt in an otherwise mundane youth. However, Emmitt was never really discouraged from pursuing creativity in his idle hours, but the lack, albeit, the ignorance of fine brushes and paints and all of the other artist accessories were unknown to him in his youth. It was years later after entering the military and being asked to illustrate training manuals that Emmitt discovered some of the fine points of illustration and how better paints and brushes then available to him transformed his creativity into motives and thoughts of producing quality work. Formal art training, though, was simply not affordable when he needed it most; but his incessant drawing as a child on the blackboards and in even in his school books sharpened skills and provided a foundation upon which he could grow. Coupled with a very discerning eye and a willingness to study books and catalogues of the great artists and a penchant to actually observe firsthand some of the great artists past and present in museums and galleries, Emmitt Thames evolved into a highly skilled artist. His young wife, Linda, encouraged him to pursue a career in fine art despite living in an area almost devoid of art schools and talented artists, let alone galleries interested in nurturing a young artist. For subject matter, Emmitt Thames simply mined his mental diary of experiences and combined those with everyday objects and his local surroundings. Much as his idol Andrew Wyeth did, Emmitt observed and recorded without benefit of photographs his life as he has lived it. The everyday events, the commonplace things in the kitchen, in the barn, along a stream, or in the marshes have been assembled in a remarkable journey of where he has been and what he has seen. The presentation is always with feeling and sensitivity, never with formulas. The result is a harmony of composition and familiarity to the viewer, which undoubtedly accounts for the many admirers and collectors of his works. Represented through the years by galleries in Chicago, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Jackson, Mississippi, and West Point, Mississippi, Emmitt's watercolors, egg temperas, gouaches, and oils have found homes in virtually all of the 50 states. Mr. Thames has won many awards through the years and examples of his work are in museums, government, corporate and university collections as well as hundreds of private collections. He currently lives in Gulfport, Mississippi and maintains a studio attached to his home.
Ripley Auctions
Jul. 26, 2025
Emmitt Thames, American (b. 1933), Along The Pearl River; view of boats on still water through trees, watercolor on paper, 10 3/4"H x 14 1/2"W(sight), 21 3/4"H x 25 1/2"W(frame)
Est: $300 - $500
Emmitt Thames American, (b. 1933) Along The Pearl River; view of boats on still water through trees watercolor on paper Signed lower right. Biography from the Archives of askART: The following is from Steve Zimmerman who writes: I have known the artist for over 20 years. I have several of his paintings in my collection, helped him organize the retrospective of his work at the R.W. Norton Museum in Shreveport, LA back in 1984, and personally placed over 50 paintings in collections throughout the Midwest. Essentially a self-taught artist, Emmitt Thames, born October 28, 1933 in Brookhaven, Mississippi, progressed from a rural depression-era childhood into the ranks of the leading American realists. His youth spawned a hard working, somewhat reclusive man, who honed his innate skills for observation and composition into representational art that can accurately be described as "more feeling than formula". His early concerns were helping the family grow enough cotton and produce to pay for the necessities of life. Fine arts were not a part of his life then and certainly did not constitute latent ambition to be a "working" artist. Rather, drawing and whittling literally provided amusement for Emmitt in an otherwise mundane youth. However, Emmitt was never really discouraged from pursuing creativity in his idle hours, but the lack, albeit, the ignorance of fine brushes and paints and all of the other artist accessories were unknown to him in his youth. It was years later after entering the military and being asked to illustrate training manuals that Emmitt discovered some of the fine points of illustration and how better paints and brushes then available to him transformed his creativity into motives and thoughts of producing quality work. Formal art training, though, was simply not affordable when he needed it most; but his incessant drawing as a child on the blackboards and in even in his school books sharpened skills and provided a foundation upon which he could grow. Coupled with a very discerning eye and a willingness to study books and catalogues of the great artists and a penchant to actually observe firsthand some of the great artists past and present in museums and galleries, Emmitt Thames evolved into a highly skilled artist. His young wife, Linda, encouraged him to pursue a career in fine art despite living in an area almost devoid of art schools and talented artists, let alone galleries interested in nurturing a young artist. For subject matter, Emmitt Thames simply mined his mental diary of experiences and combined those with everyday objects and his local surroundings. Much as his idol Andrew Wyeth did, Emmitt observed and recorded without benefit of photographs his life as he has lived it. The everyday events, the commonplace things in the kitchen, in the barn, along a stream, or in the marshes have been assembled in a remarkable journey of where he has been and what he has seen. The presentation is always with feeling and sensitivity, never with formulas. The result is a harmony of composition and familiarity to the viewer, which undoubtedly accounts for the many admirers and collectors of his works. Represented through the years by galleries in Chicago, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Jackson, Mississippi, and West Point, Mississippi, Emmitt's watercolors, egg temperas, gouaches, and oils have found homes in virtually all of the 50 states. Mr. Thames has won many awards through the years and examples of his work are in museums, government, corporate and university collections as well as hundreds of private collections. He currently lives in Gulfport, Mississippi and maintains a studio attached to his home.
Ripley Auctions
Jul. 26, 2025
Emmitt Thames, American (b. 1933), Two Grazing, watercolor on paper, 14 3/4"H x 10 1/2"W(sight), 23 1/4"H x 19 1/4"W(frame)
Est: $400 - $600
Emmitt Thames American, (b. 1933) Two Grazing watercolor on paper Signed lower right. Biography from the Archives of askART: The following is from Steve Zimmerman who writes: I have known the artist for over 20 years. I have several of his paintings in my collection, helped him organize the retrospective of his work at the R.W. Norton Museum in Shreveport, LA back in 1984, and personally placed over 50 paintings in collections throughout the Midwest. Essentially a self-taught artist, Emmitt Thames, born October 28, 1933 in Brookhaven, Mississippi, progressed from a rural depression-era childhood into the ranks of the leading American realists. His youth spawned a hard working, somewhat reclusive man, who honed his innate skills for observation and composition into representational art that can accurately be described as "more feeling than formula". His early concerns were helping the family grow enough cotton and produce to pay for the necessities of life. Fine arts were not a part of his life then and certainly did not constitute latent ambition to be a "working" artist. Rather, drawing and whittling literally provided amusement for Emmitt in an otherwise mundane youth. However, Emmitt was never really discouraged from pursuing creativity in his idle hours, but the lack, albeit, the ignorance of fine brushes and paints and all of the other artist accessories were unknown to him in his youth. It was years later after entering the military and being asked to illustrate training manuals that Emmitt discovered some of the fine points of illustration and how better paints and brushes then available to him transformed his creativity into motives and thoughts of producing quality work. Formal art training, though, was simply not affordable when he needed it most; but his incessant drawing as a child on the blackboards and in even in his school books sharpened skills and provided a foundation upon which he could grow. Coupled with a very discerning eye and a willingness to study books and catalogues of the great artists and a penchant to actually observe firsthand some of the great artists past and present in museums and galleries, Emmitt Thames evolved into a highly skilled artist. His young wife, Linda, encouraged him to pursue a career in fine art despite living in an area almost devoid of art schools and talented artists, let alone galleries interested in nurturing a young artist. For subject matter, Emmitt Thames simply mined his mental diary of experiences and combined those with everyday objects and his local surroundings. Much as his idol Andrew Wyeth did, Emmitt observed and recorded without benefit of photographs his life as he has lived it. The everyday events, the commonplace things in the kitchen, in the barn, along a stream, or in the marshes have been assembled in a remarkable journey of where he has been and what he has seen. The presentation is always with feeling and sensitivity, never with formulas. The result is a harmony of composition and familiarity to the viewer, which undoubtedly accounts for the many admirers and collectors of his works. Represented through the years by galleries in Chicago, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Jackson, Mississippi, and West Point, Mississippi, Emmitt's watercolors, egg temperas, gouaches, and oils have found homes in virtually all of the 50 states. Mr. Thames has won many awards through the years and examples of his work are in museums, government, corporate and university collections as well as hundreds of private collections. He currently lives in Gulfport, Mississippi and maintains a studio attached to his home.
Ripley Auctions
Jun. 27, 2025
Emmitt Thames (Born 1933)
Est: $400 - $800
Emmitt Thames, American (Born 1933) Watercolor on Paper "Landscape Scene" Signed Lower Right. Sight measures 11" x 14-3/4". Frame measures 18-1/2" x 22-1/4". Condition: Good condition. Estimate 400 - 800 Domestic shipping Third party
Orion Antiques
Jun. 08, 2025
Emmitt Thames, Mississippi River View with Skiff
Est: $550 - $750
Emmitt Thames (Mississippi artist, b.1933), Mississippi river view with skiff, watercolor, signed and dated L/L, 21" x 29", framed 30" x 38".
Kaminski Auctions
Feb. 09, 2025
Emmitt Thames, Mississippi River View with Skiff
Est: $1,000 - $1,500
Emmitt Thames (Mississippi artist, b.1933), Mississippi river view with skiff, watercolor, signed and dated L/L, 21" x 29", framed 30" x 38". Provenance: Jupiter, Florida collection.
Kaminski Auctions
Sep. 07, 2024
"Spilled Apples", Watercolor by Emmitt Thames.
Est: $300 - $600
Artist: Emmitt Thames (America, b. 1933) Medium: Watercolor on wove paper Signature: "Emmitt Thames, '76", lower right, and en verso. Damage: the fabric matting is separating, but the lot is otherwise in very good condition. Measurements: sight area measures 21 1/2" x 29 1/2", frame measures 31" x 38". Third-party shipping or personal pickup is required. Please see our website for our shipping recommendations.
Direct Auction Galleries, Inc.
Apr. 19, 2024
Emmitt Thames (American/Mississippi, b. 1933)
Est: $400 - $600
Emmitt Thames (American/Mississippi, b. 1933), "Hauling in the Nets", watercolor on paper, signed lower right, sight 10 3/4 in. x 14 3/4 in., framed, overall 19 1/2 in. x 23 3/8 in. x 1 3/4 in.
Neal Auction Company
Apr. 19, 2024
Emmitt Thames (American/Mississippi, b. 1933)
Est: $400 - $600
Emmitt Thames (American/Mississippi, b. 1933), "Omega Gold", gouache and watercolor on paper, signed lower right, 21 3/4 in. x 29 1/2 in., framed, overall 34 1/2 in. x 42 1/8 in. x 2 in. Provenance: Brown's Framing & Fine Arts, Inc., Jackson, MS, Oct. 5, 1987.
Neal Auction Company
Mar. 20, 2024
Emmitt Thames (b. 1933) Mississippi
Est: $300 - $600
GEAR, 1973, watercolor on paper laid down on board, signed and dated lower left, 30 x 22”, board 37 x 29”, frame 38 x 30” with glass.
Clark's Fine Art & Auctioneers Inc.
Feb. 18, 2024
Emmitt Thames (American, b.1953) Watercolor
Est: $200 - $400
Emmitt Thames (American, b.1953) Watercolor (6) total items including 1976 Thames watercolor, pencil signed and dated lower right, depicting a pond in a rural landscape, matted behind glass in a gold-tone wood frame having Merrill-Chase COA and artist biography attached verso; together with a pastel landscape signed 'Juan Ricardo' lower right, a watercolor and gouache depiction of a woman holding a fan attributed to 'Ben Stahl' on label verso, a color etching of the Cotswolds, England pencil signed 'Michael Bond' and #111/200 lower right, an unsigned mixed media collage (all matted behind acrylic or glass in wood or metal frames) and an oil on Masonite landscape signed 'Konatsu' lower left in a linen lined wood frame Property from: an Estate, Medinah, Illinois Category: Fine Art > Paintings Estimated Sale Time: 11:37 am CST Shipping Status: Leonard Auction, Inc. will provide direct shipping for this lot. Please visit our website for a shipping estimate. Last modified: January 31, 2024, 2:48 pm
Leonard Auction
Jan. 26, 2024
Emmitt Thames (American/Mississippi, b. 1933)
Est: $500 - $700
Emmitt Thames (American/Mississippi, b. 1933), "Fallen Apples", 1972, watercolor on paper, signed and dated lower right, signed, titled, dated and inscribed en verso, 22 1/4 in. x 30 1/2 in., framed, overall 30 1/2 in. x 38 1/2 in. x 1 in.
Neal Auction Company
Jan. 26, 2024
Emmitt Thames (American/Mississippi, b. 1933)
Est: $400 - $600
Emmitt Thames (American/Mississippi, b. 1933), "A Pail of Blueberries", 1977, watercolor on paper, signed lower right, signed, titled, dated and artist stamp en verso, 22 1/2 in. x 30 3/8 in., framed, overall 34 in. x 41 1/2 in. x 1 1/2 in.
Neal Auction Company
Jan. 21, 2023
†Emmitt Thames (Mississippi, 1933-), "Still Life with Fruit and Chinoisserie," 20th c., oil on canvas, signed lower right, presented...
Est: $500 - $700
Emmitt Thames (Mississippi, 1933-), "Still Life with Fruit and Chinoisserie," 20th c., oil on canvas, signed lower right, presented in an antique style silvered frame, H.- 23 1/2 in., W.- 29 1/2 in., Framed H.- 32 1/2 in., W.- 38 3/4 in.
Crescent City Auction Gallery
Nov. 19, 2022
Emmitt Thames (American/Mississippi, b. 1933)
Est: $300 - $500
Emmitt Thames (American/Mississippi, b. 1933) , "Summer Morning", 1977, watercolor on paper, signed lower right, signed, titled, dated and artist stamp en verso, 22 1/2 in. x 14 7/8 in., framed.
Neal Auction Company
Nov. 05, 2022
Emmitt Thames. "Late Autumn," watercolor
Est: $500 - $700
(American, b. 1933). Watercolor on paper, signed "Emmitt Thames"lr, titled on verso, sight size: 14 1/2 x 10 3/4 in., framed.
Alex Cooper
Aug. 11, 2022
Emmitt Thames (American/Mississippi, b. 1933)
Est: $50 - $100
Emmitt Thames (American/Mississippi, b. 1933), "Still Life with Basket of Peaches by a Window", lithograph, signed and inscribed "21/50 AP" lower right, signed in plate, 18 in. x 24 in., framed. Condition: Overall good condition. Ex. Frame: 21 in. x 27 in. x 1 1/2 in.
Neal Auction Company
Aug. 11, 2022
Emmitt Thames (American/Mississippi, b. 1933)
Est: $700 - $1,000
Emmitt Thames (American/Mississippi, b. 1933), "Harbor Entrance", 1971, watercolor on paper, signed and dated lower right, 22 1/4 in. x 28 1/2 in., framed. Condition: Overall good condition. Ext. Frame: 29 1/4 in. x 35 1/4 in. x 1 5/8 in.
Neal Auction Company
Jul. 01, 2022
EMMITT THAMES, AMERICAN/MISSISSIPPI (B. 1933)
Est: $300 - $500
Large watercolor, signed lower right. Titled "Pettway's Garden Shed." Dimensions: (Frame) H 35.25" x W 43.25" (Sight) H 22" x W 30" Condition: Unexamined out of frame.
Westport Auction
Jul. 01, 2022
EMMITT THAMES, AMERICAN/MISSISSIPPI (B. 1933)
Est: $300 - $500
Watercolor. Signed lower right. Titled "Dead Pine." Dimensions: (Frame) H 26.25" x W 33.75" (Sight) H 14.5" x W 22.25" Condition: Unexamined out of frame.
Westport Auction
Jul. 01, 2022
EMMITT THAMES, AMERICAN/MISSISSIPPI (B. 1933)
Est: $300 - $500
Watercolor, signed lower right. Titled "The Farm Bridge." Dimensions: (Frame) H 26" x W 33.5" (Sight) H 15" x W 22" Condition: Some acidification to matting. Frame with a few marks.
Westport Auction
Jul. 01, 2022
EMMITT THAMES, AMERICAN/MISSISSIPPI (B. 1933)
Est: $400 - $600
Large watercolor, signed lower right. Titled "Out to Dry." Dimensions: (Frame) H 41.5" x W 33.25" (Sight) H 30.5" x W 22.25" Condition: Some acidification to matting, marks to frame.
Westport Auction

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