Tom Stiltz was born in 1948 in Newark, Delaware. His love for art was apparent from an early age. At the age of 5, he was already drawing his favorite cartoon characters. When he was 12 he was selected to attend art classes at the Delaware Art Museum in Wilmington, Delaware. It was there where he learned painting and drawing techniques and was exposed the museum's collection. In 1965, Stiltz attended the University of Delaware majoring in art. While in school he also discovered photography, ceramics, and steel sculpture. For the majority of his professional career as an artist, Thomas Stiltz has worked as an art director, photographer and painter. His experience with photography has enhanced his ability to bring sensitive light to his works. His understanding of depth perception along with his "flair for the dramatic" has made led the way for him to paint stunning paintings.