Southern Light

Early one Sunday morning my wife and I were driving near Bethel, TN, when we happened to see a guy riding his horse down a dusty country road. We were in the area looking for a creek that Anthony Scarlati (www.scarlati.net) had told us about. The horseman had a long pony tail tied back with a bandana-- the real salt-of-the-earth kind of guy. He seemed like a character out of "Lonesome Dove." I could hardly believe that we just happened upon this "Faulknerian" character while riding down the road. I asked him to ride his horse up and down a creek while I shot photos, and he was willing to do whatever we asked. The lighting was absolutely perfect and the model could not have been more cooperative. I knew that what I had witnessed offered great potential for an oil painting. I could hardly wait to finish this painting. I must say that my wife was just as excited about the prospect as I was since she knows what is required to create a good painting.

Fighting Joe Wheeler Clubhouse

One of my favorite places to paint "en plein air" is very near our home in Florence, Alabama. That place is the Fighting Joe Wheeler Golf Course, which is part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Early one morning my wife and I arrived just as the sun was rising to capture this view of the clubhouse. To see another painting that I have done of the course, see http://tommythompsonart.com/workszoom/179369

Garden View

A garden in Nashville, TN, in the Germantown neighborhood was the inspiration for this painting. The garden belongs to an executive of the Metro Nashville Arts Commission. The Germantown neighborhood is one of my favorite places to paint because of its historical significance, its interesting architecture, and interesting old buildings. We enjoy visiting there and discovering many unusual architectural elements, such as the ones found in this lovely garden.

Long-Horn Portrait

Often when we visit our daughter near Nashville, TN, we take early morning rides through the countryside to do some "exploring." Early one Saturday morning I found some long-horn cows near Franklin, TN, and was fascinated by their faces, hence this portrait resulted.

Foggy Sunday

I found this little church early one foggy morning near Mars Hill Road in Florence, Alabama. Something about this scene captured my attention, and I often return to it to paint.

Spring Morning in the Park

Tommy and Marie Thompson visited Spring Park in Tuscumbia, Alabama, the birthplace of Helen Keller, early one spring morning to capture this scene on canvas. Tuscumbia is just across the Tennessee River from Florence, Alabama, where they live. They enjoy visiting the park, especially during the summertime to observe the colorful lighted fountain display that is set to music.

Fishing on the Coosa

"Fishing on the Coosa" is an 9 x 12 oil original that can be purchased at this link.

Occasionally, I must resort to using digital photographs to produce my oil paintings. I prefer to paint en plein air, but sometimes our hectic schedule does not allow that luxury. I found this lone fisherman seated on a bench on a pier jutting out in the Coosa River. I have always found fishing to be a relaxing sport and am drawn to scenes such as this.

Hot Dog, Anyone?

This colorful hotdog vendor in Gadsden, Alabama, caught the eyes of my wife Marie and I, while we were visiting the city to do some preliminary research on possible painting sites. This vendor was quite animated and captured our attention for quite a while. She was very helpful to us in preserving her image digitally so that I could produce an oil painting after returning to my studio.

The 12 x 9 oil original can be purchased at this link.

Coosa River Gazebo

Sometimes in our hectic lives today, time does not permit the luxury of plein air painting. Such was the case for this painting. While visiting Gadsden, Alabama, to do research prior to the Southeastern Plein Air Festival, I shot photographs to use in later paintings after returning to my studio.

"Coosa River Gazebo" is an 8 x 10 oil original and can be purchased through Tommy Thompson Art at this link.

Peaceful Interlude

"Peaceful Interlude" is an 11 x 14 inch oil original that I painted while participating in the Southeastern Plein Air Festival, conducted by the Gadsden Museum of Art in Gadsden, Alabama.

I selected the site on the Coosa River for its quiet peacefulness. The only visitors that I saw were occasional fishermen or boaters drifting past. I was drawn to the colors of the natural surroundings and the solitude of the scene. Painting nearby was the talented young Russian painter, Dimitry Proshkin of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Noccalula Falls

I painted the oil original, "Noccalula Falls," while participating in the Southeastern Plein Air Festival conducted by the Gadsden Museum of Art in Gadsden, Alabama. According to a legend, a native Indian tribe lived in the area, and the tribe's chief, Noccalula, had a beautiful daughter. Her father turned down all of her suitors and decided to select a husband for her. Unfortunately, she had her heart set on another brave and begged her father to allow her to marry the true love of her life. When her father denied her petition, she escaped to the falls on the day of her scheduled wedding and took her own life. A statue of the maiden stands guard over the Falls today.

I selected a view of the Falls to paint that is different from that normally selected by most artists. I wanted to show a more unusual perspective of the Falls.

Afternoon Serenity

After a rather treacherous journey over many boulders and slipping over rocks down into a gorge next to Noccalula Falls, I selected a view of the Gorge to paint because of the unusual rock formations and the sounds created by the crashing of the water over boulders.

It is incredible to see what God created here--it seems that an invisible hand placed individual rocks in carefully constructed layers to create a beautiful setting for all to see, to capture on canvas and appreciate. The solitude of the scene is only interrupted by the rhythm of the ripples and crashes of the water falling constantly downstream. An occasional bird entertained me and my wife Marie with its own favorite tune.

I painted this oil original while participating in the Southeastern Plein Air Festival, conducted by the Gadsden Museum of Art in Gadsden, Alabama.

Peaceful Images in Oil: Most Recent Work of Hometown Artist, Tommy Thompson, Featured in Solo Exhibit

The Greater Starkville (MS) Development Partnership is planning to conduct a one-man exhibition of Tommy Thompson's latest work at their offices during June 22-28, 2009. The title of the exhibition is "Peaceful Images in Oil: Most Recent Work of Hometown Artist, Tommy Thompson, Featured in Solo Exhibit." The exhibit will be displayed at the Partnership offices located at 200 E. Main Street in Starkville (home of Mississippi State University).The occasion of the exhibit is the 50th reunion of the 1959 class of Starkville High School during June 26-28, 2009 (Thompson was a 1959 graduate of the school).

Remembering Autumn

Tommy Thompson painted this landscape while visiting at the pastoral farm of Andy and Judith Anderson in Franklin, TN. He was painting en plein air with his daughter, Michelle Rideout, and friends, George Walker and Mimi Sammis. To add life to the landscape, the painter added a figure raking leaves. This scene was captured one fine autumn day. Making it even more pleasurable was the opportunity to paint with fine friends, who enjoy working in watercolor and oil. Ms. Sammis serves the art community by passing on her love of art and her painting skills through her PBS television program, "Mimi's Art Studio."

Tommy Thompson Named A Featured Artist for Gadsden (AL) Museum of Art's Plein Air Festival

Oil painter Tommy Thompson has been named one of ten featured artists at the Gadsden (AL) Museum of Art's Southeastern Plein Air Festival during April 27-May 1, 2009. Other artists from throughout the southeast will also be participating in this open air painting event at scenic Gadsen, the Queen City of the Coosa River, located in northeastern Alabama.

During the week-long outdoor painting festival, artists from Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Texas, and elsewhere will capture on canvas such sights as the mountaintop waterfall, Noccalula Falls; views of the Coosa River; downtown street scenes; cotton fields; log cabins; elegant historic homes; scenic overlooks; and private and public botanical gardens. The festival will conclude with a wet paint auction and month-long exhibition in galleries and online (http://www.gadsdenmuseum.com/).

The artists will be treated to a variety of picnics, dinners, entertainment, and parties sponsored by the Gadsden Museum of Art Foundation, the Gadsden Art Association, Gadsden Parks and Recreation Department, Gadsden Chamber of Commerce, and others. The Alabama State Council on the Arts will also provide funding for the week-long festival.

Because the Festival will announce the painting locations each day via the Museum's web site and the local media, interested art appreciators and collectors will be able to watch the Festival artists in action as they create their works of art. The Museum will conduct tours of the painting sites for the interested public. Every day the plein air paintings will be posted on the Museum's web site in an online auction. The public will vote for the People's Choice Award online and in person at the auction. The Foundation Board will select the recipient of a Museum Purchase Award.

For more information, please log onto the Gadsden Museum of Art's web site at http://www.gadsdenmuseum.com/. To learn more about Tommy Thompson and his artwork, check out his web site at http://www.tommythompsonart.com/.

Tommy Thompson Art Featured on Front Cover of Hills and Hamlets Magazine

"Cold Ride," 20" x 24" Oil on Canvas

The January 2009 cover of the Hills and Hamlets magazine features a painting by Tommy Thompson. Thompson's painting, "Cold Ride," a 20" x 24" oil on canvas, was purchased by a Vanderbilt University professor in 2008. On New Year's Day, 2008, Thompson and his wife Marie were invited to the farm of George and Beverly Greenup of Pulaski, Tennessee, for a trail ride with a large group of horse enthusiasts that the artist photographed. The subject of the painting, Arnold Warmels, said, "It is amazing how Tommy caught the feel of 'Cold Ride' and the crisp winter calmness of a lonesome get-together with a horse. I am honored that both my horse Rambler and myself could inspire Tommy for this beautiful painting." To see the cover and subscribe to the magazine, click here: http://www.hillsnhamlets.com/ To see more of Thompson's paintings, check out his web site at http://www.tommythompsonart.com/ Another new web site that Thompson is establishing offers reference photos to his fellow artists; that web site is http://www.aphototopaint.com/

A Photo to Paint

Tommy Thompson paints the Canadian Rockies at Lake Louise.



After traveling to paint for more than 6 years, I now have a treasure trove of thousands of photographs. I composed my photos with future paintings in mind. I am now offering these photos for purchase by other artists. I have categorized these photos according to such subjects as landscapes, barns, figures, hay bales, gardens, architecture, etc. I shot the digital photos in Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, New Mexico, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Wyoming, plus Canada. I invite all artists to check out my new web site at http://www.aphototopaint.com/

Just in Time Year-End Savings on Original Oil Paintings

"Monteagle Meadow," 8 x 10, Oil on Canvas Panel

Just in case you have more stockings to fill, why not fill them with "stock" that will not suffer the repercussions of a "bear market." Fine art is setting new records in art auctions across the country with some auctions bringing in total sales of more than $35 million.

Many people are buying paintings as an investment rather than stocks. The positive aspect of this is that art collectors' investments are not controlled by banks and other companies. Most of all, they have wonderful pieces of art to enjoy as their investment grows.





"Cafe on Main" 9 x 12, Oil on Canvas










To help would-be collectors begin their collections and to assist our collectors to add to theirs, Tommy Thompson Art has reduced its prices by 20%, effective through December 31, 2008. Please check out http://www.tommythompsonart.com to find that special gift. If you receive cash for Christmas; you may locate a painting to purchase before the end of the year.





"Leiper's Fork Refuge," 6 x 8, Oil on Canvas Panel










For example, you may wish to consider Tommy Thompson's painting, "Monteagle Meadow" or "Cafe on Main" or "Leiper's Fork Refuge."

Tommy Thompson Featured in Horses in Art Magazine

(from Winter 2008 Issue of Horses in Art, Published 2008, Jamul, California; www.horsesinart.com)

Peaceful Images in Oil
Staff Writer

Photo by Anthony Scarlati (http://www.scarlati.net/)

"Your paintings make me feel so peaceful," is a remark that painter Tommy Thompson hears from many viewers of his artwork. Thompson feels blessed to do what he enjoys the most--painting in oil. This pleasure follows more than 30 years of work as an architectural and commercial illustrator.

Thompson now concentrates on painting pastoral landscapes that include horses. His paintings are impressionistic in style and evoke a sense of peace.

"I grew up riding a horse named 'Liz,' on my family's farm, and this love of horses is obvious in many of my oil paintings today," the painter says. "Traveling through the countryside, my minivan often screeches to a halt at the sight of beautiful horses. Out from the van come my paints, easel, and digital camera as I set about capturing the pastoral scene on canvas. All of my paintings today are done using a limited palette of cadmium red light, cadmium yellow light, ultramarine blue, transparent oxide red, alizarin crimson, and titanium white. Using a palette knife and brushes, I paint wet-into-wet."

"I've always been the kind who wanted to see what was around the next curve, over the next hill, or at the end of an interesting lane," Thompson says. "Now I want to capture on canvas what I find on my journeys. I ride the roads less traveled looking for the play of light and shadows on tranquil pastoral landscapes and beautiful horses."




One of Thompson's favorite places to paint is Jackson Hole, Wyoming, in the Tetons. His painting, "Horses of the Tetons," was inspired when the painter climbed High School Butte in Jackson every day while visiting there. After photographing some beautiful horses in the area, Thompson combined a digital landscape photo and the horse photo to create an image from which to paint this studio piece.

Another of Thompson's favorite horse paintings is "Cold Ride," in which he captured the likeness of the Dutch horse trainer, Arnold Warmels of Leiper's Fork, Tennessee (fryslanvalley.com). Warmels had this to say about the painting, "It is amazing how Tommy caught the feel of 'Cold Ride' and the crisp winter calmness of a lonesome get-together with a horse. I am honored that both my horse Rambler and myself could inspire Tommy for this beautiful painting."

One of Thompson's collectors, who purchased his painting, "Grazing at Dawn," has a special appreciation of the artist's talent and skills, as expressed in his testimonial: "Our second acquisition, 'Grazing at Dawn,' depicting a horse grazing, a bale of hay, a river bend in the background with the mist rising off it in the dawn, and those shimmering first rays of sunlight comprise one of the quietest pastoral scenes I've ever seen. 'Grazing at Dawn' hangs over our bed and welcomes us each morning as we awake."

Thompson is a member of the Oil Painters of America, Portrait Society of America, Alabama Plein Air Painters, and the Chestnut Group, a nonprofit alliance of landscape artists of Nashville, Tennessee. The artist's childhood near Starkville, Mississippi, instilled in him a love of nature. Now living near the Tennessee River in Florence, Alabama, Thompson receives inspiration for his paintings from the natural surroundings. To view more of Tommy Thompson's work and to commission a painting, check out http://www.tommythompsonart.com/.

Tommy Thompson's Artwork Featured in October 2008 Issue of American Art Collector

The October 2008 issue of American Art Collector features the artwork of Tommy Thompson. The article entitled "Oil Painters of America: The Pursuit of Excellence," on pages 122-125, contains Thompson's paintings, "Horses of the Tetons"and "Got One." The article quotes Thompson's view of the Oil Painters of America: "My goal is to create representational paintings that add a sense of peace to the lives of my collectors. During the past six years, the Oil Painters of America's network of experienced artists has inspired the advancement of my painting skills through the challenge of participating in its regular competitions."