Sunday, September 30, 2007

LAGUNA BEACH CALIFORNIA IMPRESSIONIST PLEIN AIR PAINTING




“LAGUNA BEACH” by Tom Brown
6x6 inch Original oil painting by Tom Brown
SOLD

If you enjoy my blog please leave a comment below. Tell your friends, too. As always, feel free to email me with any questions at tombrownart@gmail.com

Today’s thought to smile about:
Spending a relaxing day at the ocean

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Saturday, September 29, 2007

TONALIST PASTORAL IMPRESSIONIST LANDSCAPE


“MAGIC AT SUNSET” by Tom Brown
6x6 inch Original oil painting by Tom Brown
SOLD


If you enjoy my blog please leave a comment below. Tell your friends, too. As always, feel free to email me with any questions at tombrownart@gmail.com

Today’s thought to smile about:
Long goodbyes

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Friday, September 28, 2007

IMPRESSIONIST CITY LANDSCAPE, URBAN SCENE, No Reserve!


“CITY SIDEWALK” by Tom Brown
6x6 inch Original oil painting by Tom Brown
SOLD

If you enjoy my blog please leave a comment below. Tell your friends, too. As always, feel free to email me with any questions at tombrownart@gmail.com

Today’s thought to smile about:
Exploring a new part of the city

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Thursday, September 27, 2007

FULL MOON, CALIFORNIA IMPRESSIONIST PLEIN AIR LANDSCAPE




“MOONLIGHT MAGIC” by Tom Brown
6X6 inch original oil painting
SOLD

If you are interested in buying this painting for $55 before it is offered on eBay please email me at: tombrownart@gmail.com

Today’s thought to smile about:
A moonlight walk with someone special

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Tuesday, September 25, 2007

CALIFORNIA IMPRESSIONIST PLEIN AIR LANDSCAPE


“SHADY CANYON” by Tom Brown
Original oil painting
Approx. 7.5X4.5 inches

A long-time collector commissioned me to paint a scenic view of Shady Canyon in Southern California. This is one of several preliminary studies I did in preparation for the full sized painting. This study was done to capture the afternoon light on the golden rock formations of a cliff in the canyon.

If you are interested in buying this painting for $50 before it is offered on eBay please email me at: tombrownart@gmail.com

Today’s thought to smile about:
The unconditional love of a pet

Monday, September 24, 2007

IMPRESSIONIST LANDSCAPE, CITY SCENE


“THE ROAD TO LEARNING” by Tom Brown
Original oil painting
Click headline to bid on my other art on eBay
SOLD

If you enjoy my blog please leave a comment below. Tell your friends, too. As always, feel free to email me with any questions at tombrownart@gmail.com

Today’s thought to smile about:
Sleeping in

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Sunday, September 23, 2007

IMPRESSIONIST LANDSCAPE, SLEEPING CITY SIDEWALK


“SLEEPING CITY SIDEWALK” by Tom Brown
6x6 Original oil painting
SOLD

Kris Kristofferson’s song “Sunday Morning Coming Down” kept running through my head as I painted this early one Sunday morning on a city street. And so I named this painting with a line from that song.

If you are interested in buying this painting before it is offered on eBay please email an offer to me at: tombrownart@gmail.com

Today’s thought to smile about:
Kris Kristofferson songs

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Saturday, September 22, 2007

CALIFORNIA IMPRESSIONIST LANDSCAPE OIL PAINTING



“CALIFORNIA RANCH” by Tom Brown
DAILY PAINTING
10x5 inch original oil painting
SOLD

I took a photo of this scene as I painted it. I was especially interested in the morning light on the distant mountains and the stand of trees at the edge of the composition. Hope you like it.

If you enjoy my blog please leave a comment below. Tell your friends, too. As always, feel free to email me with any questions at tombrownart@gmail.com

Today’s thought to smile about:
Making a new friend

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Friday, September 21, 2007

IMPRESSIONIST LANDSCAPE, URBAN SCENE, FIGURATIVE


“WORK, WORK, WORK” by Tom Brown
DAILY PAINTING
8X10 inch original oil painting
SOLD

If you enjoy my blog or some of my recent demonstration paintings, let me know with a comment on my blog and I'll include more of them. Tell your friends about my work, too. As always, feel free to email me with any questions at tombrownart@gmail.com

Today’s thought to smile about:
Seeing a long lost friend again

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Thursday, September 20, 2007

RED TAILED HAWK, CALIFORNIA IMPRESSIONIST LANDSCAPE






“RED TAILED HAWK” by Tom Brown
DAILY PAINTING
6x6 inch original oil painting

SOLD

A red tailed hawk swooped into this scene and settled in the top of the tree as I was painting. I grabbed my camera and snapped photos of him, then added him to the composition as he sat majestically surveying his domain. I thought you would enjoy seeing the photos of him above.

Today’s painting is available on eBay; click the headline to bid. If you enjoy my blog please leave a comment below. Tell your friends, too. As always, feel free to email me with any questions at tombrownart@gmail.com

Today’s thought to smile about:
Making someone’s day by sending them a card

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Wednesday, September 19, 2007

DAILY PAINTING - CITY TRAFFIC, IMPRESSIONIST OIL


“FOLLOW THE LEADER”
DAILY PAINTING by Tom Brown
8x10 inch original oil painting
SOLD

This painting is now sold, but if you like it please leave a comment on my blog. Tell your friends, too. As always, feel free to email me with any questions at tombrownart@gmail.com

Today’s thought to smile about:
Doing something nice for a total stranger

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Tuesday, September 18, 2007

HISTORIC BUILDING IMPRESSIONIST OIL PAINTING


“HISTORIC ADOBE” by Tom Brown
5X7 inch original oil painting


The Montanez Adobe is listed on the National Historic Register. This house is believed to be one of the original 40 adobes constructed by Indians in 1794 near the famous Mission San Juan Capistrano. It was used for religious services during a period when the mission was inoperative.

This original oil painting was created on location and it is available on eBay. To bid on this painting click the headline above the image. You can join the mailing list to receive my daily paintings in your email box each day when they are posted. Go to the upper right corner of this page to sign up. Thanks for looking.

Today’s thought to smile about:
Visiting historic buildings

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Monday, September 17, 2007

SMALL TOWN BARBER SHOP, IMPRESSIONIST PAINTING


“TOWN BARBER SHOP” by Tom Brown
6X8 inch original oil painting
SOLD


This is a charming little barber shop on the edge of the central square in the town of Orange. I painted this picture in the cool shade of a huge tree in the town plaza. This painting has a sense of small-town friendliness, and a nostalgic feeling of how things were in days of long ago.

This painting is available on eBay. To bid on this painting click the headline above the image. You can join the mailing list to receive my daily paintings in your email box each day when they are posted. Go to the upper right corner of this page to sign up. Thanks for looking.

Today’s thought to smile about:
Spending an afternoon browsing in a small town

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Sunday, September 16, 2007

URBAN IMPRESSIONIST ORIGINAL OIL PAINTING, FIGURATIVE


“A SLICE OF LIGHT” by Tom Brown
FIGURATIVE DAILY PAINTING
10X8 inch original oil painting
SOLD


Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. To an artist it can include pristine landscapes or a city crosswalk with skyscrapers forming canyon walls in the distance. I especially liked the shaft of sunlight streaking across the street in this urban scene. I hope you feel my inspiration.

This painting is available on eBay. To bid on this painting click the headline above the image. You can join the mailing list to receive my daily paintings in your email box each day when they are posted. Go to the upper right corner of this page to sign up. Thanks for looking.

Today’s thought to smile about:
Taking a day off to relax and recharge your batteries

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Saturday, September 15, 2007

CALIFORNIA IMPRESSIONIST PLEIN AIR PAINTING



“A DRIVE IN THE COUNTRY” by Tom Brown

THANK YOU to all my loyal friends and collectors who came last night for the opening of my new show. I was overwhelmed. What a huge turnout!

It was so nice to talk with many of you whom I hadn’t seen in a long time. I also enjoyed the opportunity to personally meet a number of my faithful collectors for the first time. Thank you for coming and thank you for your support. This meant more to me than you know.

About today’s painting: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. To an artist it can include pristine landscapes or cars in traffic, depending on what moves the artist emotionally. This scenic landscape is within a few miles of my home in Southern California, and I was inspired by the light raking across the roadway and the beautiful mountain range in the distance. I hope you feel my inspiration. (Click to headline to bid on eBay.)

If you like my blog please leave a comment and tell your friends.

As always, feel free to email me with any questions or comments at tombrownart@gmail.com

Today’s thought to smile about:
Opening night for a new art show

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Thursday, September 13, 2007

CITY LANDSCAPE, URBAN ART IMPRESSIONIST OIL PAINTING


“GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES”
12x16 inch original oil by Tom Brown


As these cars waited for a green light beside a popular Starbucks coffee shop I was reminded of the famous phrase that starts the Indy 500 race each year, “Gentlemen, start your engines!” The entire scene spoke to me from an artistic standpoint, and I especially enjoyed the geometric forms of the building contrasted with natural shapes of trees and mountains. The early morning light added the final touch of magic to this piece.

This painting is featured in my solo show which opens tomorrow in Irvine, California. The exhibit is on display until the end of October. Come have a look if you get the chance.

As always I would love to hear from you. Email me with any questions or comments at tombrownart@gmail.com

Today’s thought to smile about:
Reaching out to someone when they need it

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Wednesday, September 12, 2007

CALIFORNIA IMPRESSIONIST PLEIN AIR PAINTING


“THREE GREAT WHITE HERONS” by Tom Brown
6x4 inch original oil, ready to frame
SOLD


This beautiful marshland is a wildlife refuge in Newport Back Bay, where great white herons are among the many protected species. I always enjoy painting at this location and seem to find a new and refreshing vantage point from which to paint every time I visit. In this scene I was particularly interested in the reflections of the snowy white birds in the water and the feeling of peacefulness and serenity.

Just a reminder that my solo show opens this Friday. Check my recent blog posts for details. Hope to see you there.

Today’s thought to smile about:
Making someone feel appreciated

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Tuesday, September 11, 2007

CITY LANDSCAPE, URBAN ART IMPRESSIONIST OIL PAINTING


This painting of traffic on Culver Avenue at the I-5 Freeway will be featured in my solo show which opens Friday this week. The reception is from 5:30 to 8 pm, at the Irvine Fine Arts Center, 14321 Yale Avenue, Irvine California 92604. I hope you can make it; I would like to meet you there.

Admission, parking and refreshments are free. I will be exhibiting approximately 100 new paintings of Irvine, including some surprising and unexpected vistas like rush hour traffic and freeway bridges as well as pristine landscapes. Come have a look.

A film documenting my painting techniques will be shown at the opening reception, and a full color book of my paintings will be available in limited quantities.

Email me with any questions at tombrownart@gmail.com

Today’s thought to smile about:
Watching an old couple holding hands

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Monday, September 10, 2007

CALIFORNIA IMPRESSIONIST PLEIN AIR PAINTING




“KEYHOLE ROCK” by Tom Brown
6x8 inch Original Oil Painting, ready to frame
SOLD

ALERT: This Friday (September 14) is the opening reception for my new show, from 5:30 to 8 pm, at the Irvine Fine Arts Center, 14321 Yale Avenue, Irvine California 92604. Admission, parking and refreshments are free. I will be exhibiting approximately 100 new paintings of Irvine, including some surprising and unexpected vistas like rush hour traffic, freeway bridges, historic architecture and other surprising scenes as well as pristine landscapes. Come have a look if you can make it. I’d love to meet you.

About today’s painting: Keyhole Rock is a natural cliff formation in South Laguna Beach, near Treasure Island. Erosion has caused an opening in the base of the cliff that resembles an old fashioned keyhole when observed from the right vantage point. It has a sort of mysterious feeling about it, reminiscent of old pirate novels and South Sea Adventures.

The past two days I have included step-by-step demonstrations of my daily paintings being created. Here is one more that was photographed in progress. I generally work on a white canvas surface but this painting was done on a toned panel, which changes my approach.

I don’t want to bore anyone so I’ll keep the explanation simple. In Step (1) I used thinned blue paint to sketch the basic shapes, then in step (2) I immediately established the darkest tones in the cliffs and the lightest tones in the water (the surf). The tone of the panel allowed the light color of the surf to show up well at this point, which would not happen on a white canvas. Next came the shadow of the cliff on the water (3) and the distant land mass (which is Dana Point, if you are interested). In step (4) the distant land was refined a bit, the sky was added, and basic color was established for the water and beach area. In step (5) the grass and trees on the cliff were painted, and the area of water in the cliff’s shadow was developed. Finally in step (6) I defined the rock formations within the cliff face and added a few details here and there throughout the painting. At that point I felt I had captured what I wanted and decided the painting was finished. It was a productive day on location, and I enjoyed myself. I hope you like it too.

Today’s thought to smile about:
Taking the time to stop and listen to street musicians, then leaving them something to show your appreciation

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Sunday, September 09, 2007

DAILY PAINTING, SUNSET IMPRESSIONIST LANDSCAPE OIL PAINTING



“SANTIAGO CANYON SUNSET”
5x7 oil on canvas, ready to frame
SOLD

Yesterday I invited you to look over my shoulder as I painted a sunrise. Today I’ll show you how I painted a sunset. The scene is Santiago Canyon, a beautiful location in Southern California not far from my home.

For this painting I used ultramarine blue to sketch the large shapes (1), making an effort to avoid details too early in the process. When I was satisfied with the composition I blocked in the darkest tonal masses for the foreground elements using a mixture of cadmium red and ultramarine blue. This gave me an indication of how pale the distant tones needed to be in order to contrast well with the foreground.

With the foreground tones for comparison I then started blocking in the background (2), establishing key spots of color everywhere without completing any single area yet.

Continuing to work the entire canvas equally I blocked in the sky, middle distance and initial colors for the nearby trees (3). Note that the sky actually has three separate sections. The far left was cool blue, the center was warmer blue and the right side was a peachy color. Each part was stated as a flat color at this point.

Finally it was time to bring it to completion (4). I added detail to the foreground plane, refined the trees, blended the sky and included more detail in the mountains. At that point I felt I had captured everything I wanted to say in this painting, and decided it was finished. On eBay you can see a photo of me as I paint this picture on location in this beautiful canyon.

Doesn’t that make you want to get outside and try this yourself? If you live near Orange County, California come join me for one of my plein air workshops and I’ll show you how YOU can do it too. I guarantee you’ll enjoy it.

You can email me at tombrownart@gmail.com or check out details on the WORKSHOPS page of my website at http://www.tombrownstudio.com/. You might be surprised at how easy it is!

Today’s thought to smile about:
Doing something that would make your Mom proud

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Saturday, September 08, 2007

DAILY PAINTING, SUNRISE IMPRESSIONIST LANDSCAPE OIL PAINTING



SOLD
Today I invite you to look over my shoulder as I paint a sunrise on a quiet neighborhood street. In this painting I wanted to capture the effects of honey-colored sunlight as it began to wash across the homes in the early morning. I was after the big effects of the light and color in this scene rather than small details, so I kept this painting quite loose.

I began by using ochre to loosely sketch the big shapes of the composition (1). Ochre is a transparent color, easy to wipe off while it’s still wet if I make a mistake or change my mind in these initial stages. This sketch was my “safety net,” to make sure the scene fit well on the canvas before I began to use stronger colors.

Once I was satisfied with the general layout, I used a mixture of cadmium red and ultramarine blue (2) to place the darks and establish the form of the homes. This also served as an underpainting color for some areas of the canvas that would remain visible in the final picture.

In step (3) I began placing big spots of color in the sky and roofs of the houses. I like to nail down the big color spots early so that I can better evaluate how other colors will compare as I work on the rest of the picture. In step (4) I defined the sunlight pattern on the trees, being careful to note that the tops of the trees are in sunlight while the lower portions are in shadow. The areas in light are much more golden than the shadowy areas.

The same shadow that hit the lower parts of the trees also engulfed the lower part of the homes and the street. So in step (5) I established these shadow areas using broad strokes that could be refined later if needed.

Next I moved to the finishing steps (6). I painted the warm glow of color on the sunlit tops of the houses, included just enough information to identify cars parked along the street, added some form to the street itself, etc. After a few more adjustments it was finished.

Doesn’t that make you want to get outside and give it a try yourself? I’ll bet you would enjoy it. If you live within driving distance of Orange County, California come join me for one of my plein air workshops and try your hand at it!

You can email me at tombrownart@gmail.com or check out details on my website at http://www.tombrownstudio.com/. You might be surprised at how easy it is!

Today’s thought to smile about:
Enjoying real Maple syrup

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Friday, September 07, 2007

CITY LANDSCAPE, FREEWAY BRIDGE IMPRESSIONIST OIL PAINTING


I paint what moves my spirit. A subject can be as simple as light itself, or as involved as depicting the contrast between man-made shapes and the organic forms of billowing clouds. Freeway structures and street signs are as worthy to be painted as a pristine landscape of scenic grandeur. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Today’s painting will be exhibited in my new show which opens next week. The opening reception is Friday, September 14, 5:30 to 8 pm, at the Irvine Fine Arts Center, 14321 Yale Avenue, Irvine California 92604. I hope to meet you there.

Admission, parking and refreshments are free. I will be exhibiting approximately 100 new paintings of Irvine, including some surprising and unexpected vistas like rush hour traffic, freeway bridges, historic architecture and other surprising scenes as well as pristine landscapes. Come have a look.

A film documenting my painting techniques will be shown at the opening reception, and a full color book of my paintings will be available in limited quantities. Email me with any questions at tombrownart@gmail.com

Today’s thought to smile about:
The happiness you find by looking for the good qualities in people

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Thursday, September 06, 2007

DAILY PAINTING, SUNSET IMPRESSIONIST LANDSCAPE OIL PAINTING


“A MAGIC MOMENT” by Tom Brown
5x7 inch original oil painting (Plus FREE ART BOOK, see below)
SOLD

You will receive a FREE full color book of my art with this painting if you are the winning bidder. Tell a friend, too. You’ll EACH receive an autographed copy of the book if you each bid and one of you wins the auction (up to 3 books maximum). The book is scheduled to be released at the opening of my upcoming one-man show.

The opening reception for my show is Friday, September 14, 5:30 to 8 pm, at the Irvine Fine Arts Center, 14321 Yale Avenue, Irvine California 92604. Admission, parking and refreshments are free. Hope to see you there! The exhibit will be on display until the end of October.

Today’s thought to smile about:
Looking through an old photo album

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Wednesday, September 05, 2007

IMPRESSIONIST LANDSCAPE PLUS FREE ART BOOK


“A PEACEFUL DAY” by Tom Brown
5x7 inch original oil painting
(Plus FREE offer, see below)
SOLD

You will receive a FREE full color book of my art with this painting if you are the winning bidder.
Tell a friend, too. You’ll EACH receive an autographed copy of the book if you each bid and one of you wins the auction (up to 3 books maximum). The book is scheduled to be released at the opening of my upcoming one-man show.

The opening reception for my show is Friday, September 14, 5:30 to 8 pm, at the Irvine Fine Arts Center, 14321 Yale Avenue, Irvine California 92604. Admission, parking and refreshments are free. Hope to see you there! The exhibit will be on display until the end of October.

Today’s thought to smile about:
Finding animal shapes in the clouds

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Tuesday, September 04, 2007

IMPRESSIONIST LANDSCAPE PLUS FREE ART BOOK


“THE SERENITY OF NATURE” by Tom Brown
5x7 inch original oil painting (Plus FREE offer, see below)
SOLD

You will receive a FREE full color book of my art with this painting if you are the winning bidder.
Tell a friend, too. You’ll EACH receive an autographed copy of the book if you each bid and one of you wins the auction (up to 3 books maximum). The book is scheduled to be released at the opening of my upcoming one-man show.

The opening reception for my show is Friday, September 14, 5:30 to 8 pm, at the Irvine Fine Arts Center, 14321 Yale Avenue, Irvine California 92604. Admission, parking and refreshments are free. Hope to see you there! The exhibit will be on display until the end of October.

Today’s thought to smile about:
Sidewalk art fairs

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Monday, September 03, 2007

URBAN LANDSCAPE TONALIST IMPRESSIONIST OIL PAINTING


“BEAUTY IS WHERE YOU FIND IT” by Tom Brown
5x7 inch original oil painting
(Plus FREE offer, see below)
SOLD


Plein air painting is much more than recording pristine vistas. Beauty is wherever the artist finds it, as this painting of a freeway bridge and vacant lot demonstrates. In my upcoming one-man show I will be exhibiting approximately 100 new paintings, many of which include surprising and unexpected vistas like rush hour traffic, freeway bridges and other surprising scenes like this.

A full color book of my work has also been produced and a limited number of copies will be available at the opening of the show.

SPECIAL OFFER: I will include a FREE copy of the full color book of my paintings if you are the winning bidder of the eBay auction for this painting and mention seeing this offer on my blog. Tell a friend, too. You’ll EACH receive a copy of the book if you each bid and one of you wins the auction. (Up to 3 books maximum.)

The opening reception for my show is Friday, September 14, 5:30 to 8 pm, at the Irvine Fine Arts Center, 14321 Yale Avenue, Irvine California 92604. Admission, parking and refreshments are free. The exhibit will be on display until the end of October.

Today’s thought to smile about:
Seeing a double rainbow

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Sunday, September 02, 2007

URBAN LANDSCAPE - TONALIST IMPRESSIONIST OIL PAINTING


This oil painting captures a colorful sunset in Southern California as shadows creep over the tollway in the foreground and a cluster of white stucco homes glisten in the golden sunlight. It will be exhibited in my upcoming show which opens in two weeks. The opening reception is Friday, September 14, 5:30 to 8 pm, at the Irvine Fine Arts Center, 14321 Yale Avenue, Irvine California 92604.

Admission, parking and refreshments are free. I will be exhibiting approximately 100 new paintings of Irvine, including some surprising and unexpected vistas like rush hour traffic, freeway bridges, historic architecture and other surprising scenes as well as pristine landscapes. Come have a look.

A film documenting my painting techniques will be shown at the opening reception. The film was shot by a local TV station as I created an oil painting on location in a beautiful canyon here. This is a chance to see how a landscape painting evolves from blank canvas to a finished work of art on location.

A full color book of my work has also been produced and a limited number of copies will be available at the opening of the show. Check with the reception desk.

Email me with any questions at tombrownart@gmail.com Hope to see you there!

Today’s thought to smile about:
Relaxing with a good book in your favorite chair

Saturday, September 01, 2007

MOON RISING, TONALIST IMPRESSIONIST OIL PAINTING, NR!




“FULL MOON RISING” by Tom Brown
6X6 inch original oil painting
SOLD

During the full moon I set up my easel on location and painted this scene directly from life. A TV film crew recently recorded my plein air painting techniques. The film will be shown at the opening reception for my one-man show which opens in two weeks. The opening reception is Friday, September 14, 5:30 to 8 pm, at the Irvine Fine Arts Center, 14321 Yale Avenue, Irvine California 92604.

A full color book of my work has also been produced and a limited number of copies will be available at the opening of the show. The exhibit will be on display until the end of October.

Admission, parking and refreshments are free. I will be exhibiting approximately 100 new paintings of Irvine, including some surprising and unexpected vistas like rush hour traffic, freeway bridges, historic architecture and other surprising scenes as well as pristine landscapes. Hope to see you there!

Today’s thought to smile about:
The comfort of your favorite slippers