What's in your bag of tricks?

Hi folks,
I hope everyone's doing good! I have really enjoyed all this nice cooler weather. It's still been warm enough to get out and paint and the skies around Southern Va have been incredible!

I have been teaching for the past couple of months and all of my students are asking me, " why are you spilling all of your bag of tricks with us". My idea of helping others paint is to open my mind up and share all the information that I have with them. What this means, of course, is sharing of knowledge. Knowledge is power, now what you do with that knowledge, I can't control, but at least I feel like I shared a bit of my soul with the student. Both walk away feeling like we did our best. I have picked up alot of information while painting with some of the nation's top plein air painters and they opened up for me, so why should I keep all of my secrets locked away in a bag? Fear someone will take my secrets and run with them? NO! I am open to anyone trying these ideas and incorporating them into their own style of painting. That's where the magic is, that's ART. So, if you want to learn about all my bag of tricks....sign up for one of my workshops or classes, here at my gallery, ThomasBradshaw.net, or if your in the Richmond area, go over to see Diana at For Arts Sake gallery in the west end and sign up for a thursday class
held every thursday from 10-12:30. Some weeks, weather permitting, we go outside and paint.

Or come by my gallery here in Blackstone, va and sign up right here where I can cater to your schedule. Both way's are a great way to come paint with me and learn my bag of tricks!

Here's some recent paintings I've been working on out in the field, Enjoy
Take care,
Tom

Post Sept, Pre October...

Hi folks,
I have just gotten back from being on the road since last Thursday. I must say, It is such a pleasure to share this passion of mine with others who have been so gracious and helping me become to artist that I have always set my high standards towards. Spending time with other artist at Williamsburg Chamber of Commerses Art Stroll and meeting new friends as well. Then Friday I loaded up the van with more paintings and took a little overnight road trip to Elizabeth City, NC. Courtney, from Serenity Studios Art held a friday art walk as well with me being the featured Artist. What an honor considering I had never even been to Elizabeth City. They opened themselves up so graciously and I met MANY new friends there as well. This event went so well that I will be returning back to Elizabeth City to teach a 2 day workshop in November 4-5. This will be a plein air workshop and hopefully the weather will hold out for the better. Any which way, it'll be a fun time! Sign up today here

Here's a painting I did while down in Elizabeth City....

Immediately following the Art Walk in Elizabeth City I returned to Williamsburg for Sat/Sunday's biggest yearly event The Occasion for the Art's. This event draws in over 150+ plus fine artist and jewelry artisans from around the country. The weather could not have been better! Saturdays weather was a bit on the hot side, and Sunday's was a little on the cool side. Normal Virginia fall....I met some great new friends and got to spend some time in Williamsburg. That's always a pleasure! All and all, what an incredible road trip!

Next up, Plein air Lexington, October 10-11. One word.....FALL!! Mountains Win AGAIN!

Continued.....GRAND OPENING..... updates

Hi folks.
Im in recovery mode here. After a very exhausting weekend with Blackstone's Art's and Crafts Festival and the Grand Opening of Thomas Bradshaw Fine Arts Gallery and Studio I now have time to sit back and reflect on just how crazy this whole thing came about and how possible it is to do. I never thought or visioned the gallery looking so good, having such good feedback from customers, and having such dedicated fans to come hundreds of miles (+600 - from Ohio) i might add and have this level of love for my art!! So I sit here, humbled, and think about what I can do for the NEXT opening. The Grand, was Grand. So big that I'll probably never top it, but I'll try!

Here are some more photos of the gallery that all the folks who didn't make it here can take a look at more photos!
enjoy!

Grand Opening this Saturday!! September 13th

Hi Folks,
If you all have been keeping up with my blog so far, you are aware that I've been busy building my own gallery here in my hometown of Blackstone, Va. This area is rich in Civil War history and is located a short 45 minutes from Richmond's very own Art and Historical district. A local that is always hopping with visitors to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. I recently made a trip to the VMFA to get re-aquanted by my fellow Impressionist painters like Monet, Van Goh, Pissaro and many others. They began the impressionist movement back in the mid 1800's.

Getting back on track here, I have been working very diligently on this gallery and now I am ready to open it up to the public with a Huge GRAND OPENING Celebration this Saturday September 13th at 6 pm. The gallery will be open all day Saturday but the better part of the day will begin at 6pm with an opening reception.

For those folks that are unfamiliar with the area and how to get here, here is the address of how to get to the Gallery.
The Thomas Bradshaw Fine Art Gallery is located at 131 North Main St, Blackstone, Va 23824.

Hope you all can attend and please don't hesitate to call me with any questions you might have! 757 250 1721

See you all September 13th!
Tom

Lots of new information, but before that, we'll be right back with you....

Hi folks,
I've been so busy that I haven't posted anything new on here in over a month...well, this is just an update, but I will promise you this....There's big news right around the corner....stay tuned..
In the mean time, here's a few paintings to get you by....

Plein Air Easton Quick Draw and Island Hopping in the Chesapeake Bay

Hi Folks,
I am returning from a week long painting trip that included a ferry, getting to visit an island in the Chesapeake Bay that is known as the "soft shell crab capital of the world" Tangier Island. I never realized this island was right in our back door and had so much to offer for the plein air artist. Tangier island is actually loosing it's foot hold on the bay. Yes it's actually sinking into the bay, the island is growing smaller by 3 feet every year. There are several moodes of transportation once you get to the island- Walk, bike, or you can rent a golf cart. I think I only saw 4 trucks over there and I think they were just used to haul around the towns namesake, crabs and fish. I had the chance to stay at the Chesapeake house originally owned by the Crocket family. This B&B had the best island food to offer, until....about 2 wks ago they had a grease fire in the kitchen and destroyed the kitchen and a few of the upstairs bedrooms. We still got to stat in the B&B thankfully they have a second house across the street. I love this little town, if you interested, check it out. Tangier island

After Tangier I made a trip up to Plein Air Easton's Quick Draw
I was able to take part in this single day quick draw event that included over 200 artist taking 2 hours to paint a scene in downtown historic part of Easton Md. Always a pleasure to be with so many good artist and it's great to see friends from last years event that welcomed me back this year.

Anyway,
here are some paintings from all the travels down the road. See you all further on down the road!
Take Care,
Tom

Roxy
9 x 12
Oil on Panel
$650

Out of Water
8 x 10
Oil on linen
$450

Mores's Dining
8 x 10
$450

Firing on all Cylinders ....

Hi folks,
I hope this blog finds you well, and the summer heat is not keeping you down. My time has been split pretty equally between events in Richmond, Richmond Plein Air 2014, in Hampton at the frame shop, and here at the Thomas Bradshaw Fine Art Gallery/Studio. I have even had time to paint on an almost daily basis. I am so thankful for this talent that God has given me. I am such a lucky person to be able to not have to punch a time clock anymore....AAAhhh, back to the blog....
I have been making huge progress in the gallery. Main gallery has been painted! YES! I am doing trim work now for the next couple of days out in the halls and the stairs, and maybe even get all of that painted as well. I think at the end of all this gallery and in my memoir's I am going to have to write about "how to open your own gallery on a shoestring budget!" But here's some photos from paintings and other happenings. Maybe even one from the gallery!!
Take care, stay cool!
Tom

Taking it all in stride

Hi folks, 

Just checking in to let all of y'all see some progress of paintings/ gallery/ instuctional and what not. 

Lately my days have been filled with painting walls or fine art. Here's a few paintings and maybe a video hopefully. We'll give it a shot

Thomas Bradshaw Fine Art Gallery and Studio

9x12

Oil on linen

Shiloh Baptist Church

9x12

Oil on linen

Demo for For Arts Sake Gallery

6/10

Rain Maker

20x24

Oil on Linen

Maymont Japanese Garden

12x9

Oil on linen

Free Marketing

Hi Folks,
Here's just a quick reminder that if you want to get into the local paper. All you have to do is to show up at one of the local event's and paint. It seems to be such a unique way of capturing the event and most importantly it's so unique that that alone draws in people. So much fun to do as well.
Well, here's just a few pics and a few updates on the gallery movement. It's coming along. Ready to start painting in the primer! So Exciting!
Thanks for looking in!
Take care
Tom

Ps. Please don't forget about my Demo on June 10th at For Art's Sake Gallery in Richmond. More information contact Diane.....For Art's Sake Gallery

Turning the corner....

Hi Folks,
Hope this brings you all well. I'm just updating all you folks out there about my whereabouts. It's been a very busy time since being back from such a great event at Winter Park Plein air 2014. While down in Florida I picked up 3 new clients, new friends, and a great new family. Since being back in Va. I have been in the local paper, asked to be a part of a demo at For Arts Sake Gallery in Richmond. All the while working on the gallery in Blackstone. In the mean time, I've had some spare time to do a few paintings.

I'm really excited about my demo happening on June 10 at For Arts Sake Gallery and Frame shop in the west end of Richmond. Please contact Diana for tickets. Promises to be a good time had by all.

IN the mean time, here are some paintings done over the past couple of weeks. Enjoy!
Thanks for checking in and spending a few minutes with me!
Tom