Tommy's Granddaughter Enters the Painting Arena

Tommy Thompson's two daughters, Michelle and Melanie, have long been interested in art, but now his 11-year-old granddaughter, Sarah, is showing a strong interest in painting. Her first watercolor still life, "A Study in Fruit" is being offered here on a first-come, first-serve basis for $75.00. If anyone wishes to purchase this original watercolor by a budding artist before she becomes too expensive to afford, please email Tommy at tmt11@comcast.net.

Homefields: The Art of Lanford Monroe by R.E.C. (Chip) Thompson

Our very special long-time friend, Chip Thompson, recently published a book, Homefields: The Art of Lanford Monroe, about the life and art of his late wife, Lanford Monroe. For more information about Lanford and her work, you may read her artist biography at the web site of the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Lanford Monroe never had any doubt as to what she would do in life - create great paintings. And that's precisely what she did until she died suddenly, unexpectedly, of a heart attack on July 4, 2000. She was only 50.

This large-format book written by R. E. C. (Chip) Thompson, her loving and admiring husband, includes more than 130 paintings by this immensely talented woman who was destined to become one of the nation's greatest artists. The book displays her riveting portrayals of wildlife, her enchanting images of horses and foxhunting, her breathtaking landscapes of rural America and its most famous wilderness areas.

The author was born and reared in Athens, Alabama but has traveled extensively in the United States and abroad. He started writing, drawing, and making music from an early age. He met Lanford Monroe in 1989 and was her husband until her death in 2000. He writes, records, and performs his own music and sings, plays the guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, and drums with several bands. He currently makes his home in northern New Mexico in a 250-year-old adobe house. He is currently working on a new recording and a novel. The author is show here at a book signing at the Huntsville Museum of Art.

To order a signed copy of the book, Homefields: The Art of Lanford Monroe, call Rick Smith at The Brodsky Bookshop in Taos at 505.758.9468. Signed copies of the book are available at $60.00 each.

Christmas Gifts--Original Oil Paintings

If you are like most of our contacts, you are still doing your Christmas shopping. We urge you to check out Tommy Thompson Art for ideas for original oil paintings to purchase as Christmas gifts. Just a few ideas for you to consider: Backyard Neighbor, Purple Cottage, Anne's Favorite Place, Oakland House, and the list goes on and on.

Painting with Friends in Tuscaloosa

We met some wonderful artists and made good memories during the November Alabama Plein Air Painters' Paint-Out at Jack Warner's Garden. With the hospitality of the Warners, Amy Echols, and Becky Booker, we were treated to an unforgettable experience. Pictured here are Tana Thomas and Marie and Tommy Thompson.

Visiting Our Friend Jack Again

Over the past few years, we have enjoyed visiting with Jack Warner on our trips to the Westervelt-Warner Museum of American Art. In November 2007 we were privileged to again visit this veritable icon of American art collecting. Jack has amassed an almost unbelievable collection of American art at his museum in Tuscaloosa. He gladly shares his prized possessions with visitors from all over the world.

Painting Jack Warner's Garden

Meeting with other members of the Alabama Plein Air Painters, we painted Jack Warner's Garden in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on November 9 and 10. Jack has developed a one-of-a-kind flower garden at his home in the North River section of the city. At the age of 90, Jack still scales his hillside garden several times a day as he conducts personal tours of his "work in progress," which contains numerous plants, gazebos, arches, and other interesting structures. Jack entertains his guests with stories about how he erected dead trees in concrete to symbolize the mortality of man. As Jack says,"We will all be gone, but they will still be here." For paintings from Jack's garden see Tommy Thompson Art. For other paintings depicting historic Tuscaloosa, please see Tommy Thompson's Tuscaloosa Art Blog.

Demonstration for the Mountain Brook Art Association

On October 25, 2007, we presented an art talk/oil painting demonstration during the monthly meeting of the Mountain Brook Art Association at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. This was a very enjoyable experience for us. Afterwards, the President of the Association, Gayle Hurley, sent us this message: "You both were so dear to come and give such a wonderful program. I spoke to several people later that day and that evening who commented on how enjoyable it was. Marie, you were a great addition with the information on marketing, etc. I would highly recommend you to other groups like ours for an entertaining and informative program."

Who's on First

While we were at Lake Louise, Canada, attending Kevin Macpherson's "En Plein Air Masters Chateau des Arts Mentoring Session" we met the painting Groessers from North Carolina and Nebraska. One night during the session, John and his brother Don entertained everyone with their version of "Who's on First?"--the famous baseball comedy act, made famous by Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. We enjoyed getting to know all of the Groessers and hope to one day paint with them again.

Painting Friends in Rhode Island

It is always fun to visit with our good friends, Mimi Sammis and George Walker. Our latest visit was no exception; since we all love art, we enjoyed painting together and discussing our favorite subject. While in Newport, we had lunch with some of Mimi's friends who were visiting from Jacksonville, Florida.

Painting October Scenes in Narragansett and Newport, RI

Our latest trip to the Northeast was, as usual, a very pleasant experience. We enjoyed spending time with painting friends, Mimi Sammis and George Walker. While Tommy painted in Newport, RI, Marie toured the Trinity Church, the oldest Episcopal church in Rhode Island. The congregation was founded in 1698; the present church was built in 1726. Some of the people who have worshipped there include George Washington, Queen Elizabeth II, and many others.

Appalachian Experience

On our way to Rhode Island in October, we stopped to paint the Appalachians at the Hungry Mother State Park near Marion, VA. At the park we were welcomed by a friendly park ranger, Dixie Sheets. We were intrigued by the story of the legend of hungry mother. Legend has it that when Indians raided several settlements along the New River, south of the park, Molly Marley and her small child were among the survivors taken to the raiders' camp. Molly and her child eventually escaped, wandering through the wilderness eating berries. Molly finally collapsed and her child wandered down the creek until she found help. The only words the child could utter were "Hungry Mother." When the search party arrived at the foot of the mountain where she had collapsed, they found Molly dead. Today that mountain is Molly's Knob, and the stream, Hungry Mother Creek. When the park was developed in the 1930s, the creek was dammed to form Hungry Mother Lake.

Kevin Macpherson, Mentor Extraordinaire

Some of the nicest people that we meet are artists, and one of best art teachers is an exceptionally personable guy. We had met Kevin Macpherson in 2003 in Connecticut and later at a demo in Tuscaloosa, AL, but we became much better acquainted with the artist, the mentor, and the genuinely nice person during the "En Plein Air Masters Chateau des Arts Mentoring Seminar" in Lake Louise, Canada, during August/September. It was a pleasure to watch Kevin work his magic with paint at several locations in Canada--Lake Louise, Lake O'Hara, Canmore--Three Sisters, Emerald Lake. His great personality shone through each night at dinner when he enlivened the discussion with his genuine good humor. We noticed that Kevin always started his critiques of the participants' artwork on a positive note before advancing to the suggested revisions in a painting. It is no wonder that all of his workshops are filled within a few hours of their announcement. This very likable guy is one of the most sought-after workshop teachers and mentors. His work reminds us of that of the French impressionists. We will never forget our time with Kevin and Wanda Macpherson. One day at Canmore--Three Sisters, Kevin amazed all of the artists with his painting of his wife Wanda as she was also painting.

Coraly Hanson, California Painter

At the "En Plein Air Masters Chateau des Arts Mentoring Program" in Lake Louise, Canada, we met some very fine artists. One of our favorites was Coraly Hanson. She is not only an excellent painter but also a very genuine human being. Coraly sells paintings on the spot on many occasions and we can see why--she has a special touch with a paint brush. Her creations are spectacular to behold. To see more of her work check out her web site at Coraly Fine Art.

Emerald Lake

Tommy Thompson painted "Emerald Lake" in British Columbia, while attending the "En Plein Air Masters Chateau des Arts Mentoring Seminar" in Lake Louise, near Calgary, Alberta, Canada. This one-week seminar took the six artists in Kevin Macpherson's session to several locations in the Canadian Rockies to paint onsite in the open air. The artists had to work quickly to get their images on the canvas before the light changed.

Meeting Mississippi in Canada

On the first day of "En Plein Air Masters Chateau des Arts Mentoring Program" with Kevin Macpherson, we met a former Mississippi couple, who now live in the Washington, DC area. They watched Tommy Thompson while he painted a scene overlooking Lake Louise. Ruth's family is originally from Jackson, Mississippi (also our birth state). Her father was a well-known physician from Jackson.

Fellow Artists at "En Plein Air Masters Chateau des Arts Mentoring Program"

Tommy Thompson recently participated in the "En Plein Air Masters Chateau des Arts Mentoring Program," with Kevin Macpherson in the Canadian Rockies. During this program we had the pleasure of working with five other fine artists. They were: Dena Kirk of Loveland, Colorado; Sandra Delong of Colfax, California; Coraly Hanson of Santa Cruz, California; Silva Segrist of LaQuinta, California; and Millie Tsai of San Marino, California. Dena's work is featured in the September/October 2007 issue of Art of the West magazine. Sandy Delong works four months of the year as a tax professional and the remainder of the year as an oil painter. Not only is she a good artist, Sandy is also a storehouse of information on the business side of painting. Coraly Hanson is a veritable storehouse of ideas on marketing art. We enjoyed seeing her paint her breathtakingly beautiful colorful landscapes. Not only is Coraly a great artist but such a personable, pleasant person. We all enjoyed the company of Coraly and Lee Hanson. Silva Segrist is getting back into the groove of painting after moving to the California desert, and her love of painting showed in her work. Millie Tsai is a fine impressionistic landscape painter with a flair for the abstract. We enjoyed getting to know Millie and David Tsai.

Lake Louise, Canada

Tommy Thompson has literally "been to the mountaintop" in more ways than one. The artist just completed a one-week mentoring session in the Canadian Rockies painting alongside one of America's premier plein air painters, Kevin Macpherson. When Macpherson critiqued Thompson's work at the conclusion of the session, he deemed Thompson's paintings, "spectacular" and worthy of a toast to the artist during the concluding dinner party.

Some of the most beautiful natural gems of the Canadian Rockies were destinations for the painting excursion in which Thompson participated. "Because I approached this experience with a willingness to depart from my comfort zone as far as painting is concerned, I learned from almost every artist that I met, especially Kevin," Thompson says. "This was one of the best learning experiences of my life, and it all occurred in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Another of the pluses of this trip was that I became more familiar with the work of the most beloved Canadian artist, Tom Thomson, although I cannot claim kin with him."

Beginning with the breathtaking vistas on the grounds of Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and guided by Macpherson, the group of six artists strived to capture the region's beauty on canvas. Next, the oil artists ventured to Whitehorn Mountain via the Lake Louise Gondola. Other focal points for the week-long intensive painting experience included: Moraine Lake, Emerald Lake, Lake O'Hara, Canmore--Three Sisters, and Vermillion Lakes. At Lake O'Hara, Thompson painted the same scene that was painted by the renowned American painter, John Singer Sargent, in 1916. Each night the artists were treated to not only gourmet dinners but also discussions on painting techniques and marketing, led by some of the best known U.S. artists. Individual and group critiques helped to guide the artists in advancing and promoting their careers.

"A Summer Place in Maine"

Tommy Thompson painted "A Summer Place in Maine," the largest of his paintings, measuring 48 inches by 60 inches, after visiting North Haven Island, Maine. North Haven Island holds many treasured memories for the artist after having visited there on three occasions. The plein air painter has enjoyed painting on North Haven with his good artist friends, George Walker and Mimi Sammis.

"Above the Rocks II"

"Above the Rocks II" is another of the North Haven Island-inspired paintings by Tommy Thompson. The Island off the coast of Maine is replete with so many subjects to paint that it is difficult to zero-in on one particular one. The quaint island remains almost untouched by commercialism. The artist and his wife have enjoyed exploring the island and discussing its history at the island museum of their good friend Lewis Haskell, who grew up on the island during the early 1900s. Lew has compiled a collection of stories about his life on the island, entitled "Cold Milk and Apple Pie."

"Bales at Dawn II"

In "Bales at Dawn II" Tommy Thompson painted a pastoral scene, which is very familiar in the Alabama countryside. This original oil depicts a scene that he found near his home in Florence, Alabama. He and his wife Marie were traveling along Cox Creek Parkway in Florence late one day when she discovered these hay bales along the highway. Immediately the artist began planning his next day's painting expedition. At dawn the next day, he was onsite armed with his backpack filled with the necessary paints and brushes to capture this beautiful scene in a field study. Back in his studio the painter created this oversize painting using the field study and digital photographs captured that morning.