The Artist
I am originally from Flintstone,
Georgia...a small town at the foot of Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga,
Tennessee. When I was a kid, my parents enrolled
me in a children's art class at Cadek Conservatory since they
noticed I was spending a lot of time drawing stick men, airplanes
and tanks etc...
Fast forward. Eventually I graduated with a BA from West Georgia
College which is now The State University of West Georgia.
During that time I changed my major from bio-chem (Yawn) to studio
art with an area of concentration in printmaking.
I studied painting under the instruction of Jennine Hough, Don
Cooper and printmaking under Derrill Maxwell.
Since I rarely exhibit and struggle
to find time to paint, here are a few random things worth mentioning
from the past.
Exhibits with Atlanta Artist Club in Buckhead and the Galleria,
Avery Gallery, Mable House in Mableton, Georgia,
Off The Square in Carrollton, Georgia, The American Painters in
Paris Exhibition at the C.I.P. in Paris, France.
Member of Atlanta Artist Club, Hunter Museum of Chattanooga, Carroll
County Arts Alliance, The High Museum in Atlanta...
Brief comments:
My most successful works are
the ones that don't get bogged down with too much structured planning.
With representational, non representational abstract
and impressionist styles, I try to allow the painting to develop
and evolve in a spontaneous fashion by getting the paint on the
canvas quickly.
I enjoy working with color relationships since each color is influenced
and somewhat altered by the surrounding colors. I like to paint
when it feels
right as opposed to forcing myself to produce some product to
sell. There are times when creativity flows and times it seems
distant. Some paintings
take on a whole different direction as they develop. Some paintings
I have put away for years and returned to with a totally new perspective.
Minor changes
or additions to a painting can yield maximum results so it's hard
to determine when a painting is finished. I don't like to think
that I have a particular
style because trying to conform to a style may limit possible
discoveries that otherwise might have been made.
My favorite artist is Claude
Monet not only because of his freedom of expression but because
he stuck with his belief in his painting style even though it
was
against everything that was acceptable in the art world at that
time. Through opposition and hardships he influenced and changed
art forever.
He was rejected by the art critics in France but was a peoples
favorite when his work was brought to the United States. He was
also a master landscaper
and gardener. Anyone interested in art should read about his life
and the contribution he made to the art world.
It is always interesting to
find out what someone sees in an abstract painting. Some of my
least favorite works that I have done, have been others favorites.
Everyone sees art differently. Abstract art can be like a mirror
to the observers feelings or a faint reflection of the observers
thoughts at that time.
Since I feel that any talent that I may have is God given I am
simply thankful for the enjoyment it gives me and hopefully it
gives to others.
Two of my goals are to appeal to those that don't ordinarily like
abstract art and inspire those that do.
This site involved much more
time and effort than I ever imagined. There are changes I will
eventually make and finished work that is not on the site
but for now here it is. I regret that I don't have closeup detailed
photos of most of the work but you can get an idea from the "Fresh
Paint, Hot Off The Easel" link.
Check back from time to time as I hope to find more time for painting.
Thanks for dropping by.
Reproduction of any images, artwork,
or material contained in this site is not allowed without the
written consent of the artist.
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Tommysmith.com
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