Girl in the Courtyard

Tommy Thompson painted "Girl in the Courtyard" after visiting the Bluff View Art District in Chattanooga, TN. The District is very reminiscent of an Italian village, with its ornate iron gates, endless courtyards, balconies, archways, and art galleries. Visitors to the District are treated to a variety of foods, including Italian, American, etc. At the River Gallery shoppers discover an enchanting cacophony of bronze sculptures, majestic paintings, beautiful jewelry, intricate glasswork and countless other artistic creations.

Bluff View Courtyard

Tommy Thompson and his wife Marie enjoy visiting the Bluff View Art District in Chattanooga, TN. The District is located across the street from the Hunter Museum of American Art and the Houston Museum of Decorative Arts. The District offers a variety of opportunities to shop for original art, enjoy great food in a variety of cafes, or just relax with a cup of fresh brewed gourmet coffee in Rembrandt's Coffeehouse. The architecture of the district reminds one of an Italian village. There are numerous balconies, archways, ornate iron gates, and courtyards in the area. It is truly a memorable place.

"Nashville Skyline"

"Nashville Skyline," an impressionistic landscape painted by Tommy Thompson, captures the majestic beauty of the jewel of a city called Nashville. Thompson created the painting for an exhibition called "Seeing Nashville Through Different Eyes," at the Tennessee Art League during April 2007. Before Tommy Thompson painted this oil landscape, he and his wife captured this scene digitally early one morning while most of Nashville slept. The couple traveled over the city looking for just the right perch to capture the view they wanted. They found the perfect spot on a little knoll near an elementary school.

"Sidewalk Cafe"

This "Sidewalk Cafe" was very inviting to Tommy Thompson and his wife Marie when they visited Nashville as part of the Tennessee Art League's paintout and exhibition called "Seeing Nashville Through Different Eyes" during April 2007. Who says that Europe has cornered the market on sidewalk cafes? This one in downtown Nashville inspired the artist to paint a lovely impressionistic oil landscape, which proved to be one of his favorites.

"Sing With the King"

"Sing with the King" captures a scene in downtown Nashville. A replica of Elvis Presley beckons passersby to "sing with the king." Although artist Tommy Thompson and his wife Marie didn't accept the invitation, they did enjoy the King's music. This part of Nashville has a special attraction for the Thompsons since they grew up during Presley's generation and very near where the King was born. "Sing with the King" was part of the Tennessee Art League's exhibition, "Seeing Nashville Through Different Eyes."

"Beer Sellar"

"Beer Sellar" represents a little nook in downtown Nashville that caught the artist eye of Tommy Thompson. His wife Marie at first could not see what the artist saw in this almost nondescript building until she remembered a statement from Ned Mueller, whom they had met in Old Lyme, Connecticut, at a Scottsdale Artist School Workshop, conducted by the Plein Air Painters of America. Mueller cautioned the artists not to dismiss any seemingly insignficant object or part of an object as the subject of a painting. He said that they should consider painting a portion of a building or a window or doorway. The famed artist John Singer Sargent once said that everywhere he looked he could see a painting. "Beer Sellar" was one of Thompson's contributions to the Tennessee Art League's exhibition, "Seeing Nashville Through Different Eyes."