Thomas Hardcastle was born in Boston and raised in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. He has been a longtime resident of Ojai, California, where he paints and takes an active role in the local visual arts community. In addition to his work as an artist, Hardcastle owns and works as a hair stylist at his salon in the heart of downtown Ojai.

Over the course of 35 years, Hardcastle has studied under a range of accomplished artists within a community rich in talent, including Gerd Koch, Carlos Grasso, Mariana Peirano, Bert Collins, Jennifer Moses, and Hiroko Yoshimoto.

Notable exhibitions include solo shows at the Ojai Art Center and the Ventura County Museum of Art, as well as juried group exhibitions at institutions such as the New Orleans Academy of Fine Art, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, the St. Augustine Art Association, and the Santa Paula Art Museum. Hardcastle’s pastel work has been featured in numerous national and international exhibitions, including the Oglethorpe Museum (Atlanta, 2011); the Degas Society Biennial (New Orleans, 2012, 2016, 2021, and 2023);
the Pastel Society of the West Coast National Exhibition (2018); the Pikes Peak Pastel National (2020, award); and the Pastel Guild of Europe International Exhibition (2020, award). Most recently, his work was accepted into the 2024 Anti‑War Exhibition at Exhibizone International.

He is an exhibiting member of the Degas Society, the Santa Barbara Art Association, and the Pastel Society of America, and a Signature Member of Artists for Conservation. His work was included in Artists for Conservation’s 2024 international exhibition in British Columbia.