Accepting your Subject's

Hi Folks, I am following up with you tonight because I often come across info on the web and it forces me to think and dwell on issues and how paintings come to being. So often I come across these findings and makes me question and question why don't i post them on my blog to possibly stir up the blog and hopefully get a reaction from you guys. Maybe this will work....lol

Here is something I've been thinking about lately, “As you grow older, it dawns on you that you are yourself – that your job is not to force yourself into a style but to do what you want. I saw that if I would accept subjects, I could paint with more absorption, with a certain enthusiasm for the subject which would allow some of the esthetic qualities such as color and composition to evolve more naturally.”

What I take from this statement is this..... There are paintings that I go after that AAAH HAH moments and purely put down color. Those paintings are so much fun and easy to convey because you have that scene right in front of you. It's all spelled out. Then there are painting's that are for study...those scenes where you are there to study why this scene has wound up on your panel. This is why studies are so important. You are studying a scene to get answers, if you can answer that scene then you painted it dead on, if you are unable to answer all the questions and then your painting suffers, it's as simple as that.

So I pose to all of you this question. I'd love to hear back on your thought's about the previous statement. I for one do think in my opinion it is good to step back from doing that AH HAH scene and going with just what is in front of my right at that moment. These times often are the times that make you the best at what you do. You are forced to annalyze the scene in a whole different point of view because you are not going for an AH HAH moment. you have to get down to the brass tax of why you are painting. It's interesting to do these painting's for the mere fact of painting and finding out why you are painting that scene. Great things come from these subjects even if you never noticed.

here are 2 paintings that I'll post here.
One's from an AHH HA moment, and one's from a study for study perspective. Which one sings to you?

Williamsburg Celebrates Plein air painting

This Saturday, Sept 21st, there will be a Quick Draw in Colonial Williamsburg on "Dog Street" (Merchants Square) that will take place from 10am until 5 pm. I am happy to say that I have been invited to this wonderful event. Along with the Quick Draw, over the past couple of weeks, the month of September, the invited artist have been painting the area. Those paintings will hang in the Bruton Parish Church Hall, 331 Duke of Glouchester St, for viewing.
So come on out tomorrow morning and watch an artist doing what he loves to do!
here are my paintings of the area that will be on view at Bruton Parish Church Hall

March Madness

Hi Folks,
I just want to update many of you living in the Hampton area to drop by Blue Skies Gallery soon to see my new paintings going up. I am changing out my wall today with a fresh set of paintings. I would post here but I am one to likes to keep the suspense so you'll have to go by and see the wall! Also, don't forget to sign up for my Plein Air workshop that is happening on April 15,16,22,23rd! This should be a lot of fun and now that the days are getting longer and the sun is bond to warm up before then. At least I'm counting on it to!

Alas, here are a few paintings that I have had time to work on in the studio recently.
Hope you enjoy!
Tom

Hi Folks, Ive settled into a new place here in Smithfield, Va. The country living is something I have viewed as the ideal lifestyle. Away from everything and lots of new items to paint, including old weathered barns, distant vistas, and strong shadows that happen when you are around lots of trees. I think this new location is going to be great for me artistically and emotionally. I have been painting nearly everyday since coming out here. My work is expanding on a daily basis! It has given me a chance to realize how important art is to my soul. Here are some recent paintings...Hope you enjoy! Tom

Thomas Bradshaw workshop preparations!

Well, apparently my Blogger app on my iPhone 5 is not working right. I have put 2 post into that app and niether of them were ever posted...So here is the more recent one that I did just the other wk. This will catch you up with a bit of my history, Hi Folks, I want to let folks know who follow my blog that my workshop preparations have begun for 2013.Currently I am teaching a basic landscape class that is meeting every Monday afternoon at 4pm out of Blue Skies Gallery in Downtown Hampton. Blue Skies gallery is a wonderful place to teach with plenty of room to spread out and discuss my topic on color theory, composition, and value studies. Although this class is already underway, you can be put on a mailing list for my March class's which will be taught at the Chamberlin. Details are still being hashed out for this.We are also planning a workshop in April, still early in the work stages. Charles Talor Art Center in Hampton has inked me in for April 28, and May 5th. This class is deeply discounted and is only $50! so Call The center for more details. Charles Taylor Art Center,4205 Victoria Blvd, Hampton, VA 23669Many more to come so if your interested in getting involved, shoot me a line and I'll keep you updated!Spring is around the corner, so let's get out there and paint!Tom

Full on Color! It's been peak here for color over the past wk. I have been fortunate enough to be able to get out and enjoy a few days of some of the best color of all year. I just ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR!!! Every year I am in amazememnt again at the sites around! I often forget how beautiful winter light is to paint. God is really great to our eyes!

Plein Air 757

Hello Winter, er...winter-ish Hello folks. Hope you all have been well.... I have been up to my usual painting adventures. I recently participated in a Plein air event here in the Norfolk area called Plein air 757. It was an event where 40 regional artist all came together and spent 2 days painting in the (phone) area code of 757. It was my first time taking part in an event here in Va like this so I was very excited about it! The first day presented absolutely amazing weather! I did 3 painting's that first day. The second turned cloudy due to a tiny storm called Sandy. Sandy didn't rear her ugly head here in Va as much as in the New England area. Some painters were actually scrambling back to their families in the hard hit areas. From what i hear there are a few that still are without power. My heart goes out to them and their struggles. Here are some of the paintings that resulted from that event. I did win 2 awards for one of my paintings and one even sold the night of the "Wet painting sale!" Here are those pics!

I also did a larger piece that is in there as the last one that I have been working on in the studio for a Gallery on this side of the river. Hope you enjoy your fall, and Happy painting everyone! Tom

The passing of Fall

Hi everyone. How is your fall going? I have been busy keeping work flowing and keeping things fresh here and at the galleries. I have been invited to show at the Chapmans Gallery here at Peninsula Town Center here in Hampton. Stop in sometime in November to see the new paintings! Also, coming this week is a HUGE PA757 paint out and wet painting sale on Sat. If you are interested in attening this great show you can find it at www.pa757.com to get tickets and all the goodies there. Here are a few paintings that are going into the gallery and some that I have done recently. Thanks for looking in! Tom

Beginnings of fall

Here is a recent plein air I did with a friend up in Richmond, Va. I always learn alot about philosophy and a little about painting when I paint with him. Tomas' is quite the philosopher and a mighty good compositional painter... here is a few of our more recent journeys around Richmond.

Announcing.... thomasbradshaw.net !

After nearly 2 years of not being able to easily find me on the net I have gotten a domain name just for me. I hope it will direct more traffic to my blog and in turn direct more people who love my art and inspire me to create more. Fall is in the air here along the coast. We have had 2 wks now with mid 70's temperatures consistently keeping the summer heat at bay. A few announcements for everyone to become aware of is a new Gallery Representation coming in October to The Chapmans gallery here in Hampton at the Hampton Peninsula town center just off of Mercury Ave. Also I have put together a plein air painting workshop geared around my style. I have it set up to meet at Blue Skies Gallery in Old Town Hampton on October 8th, and October 15th. Both are Monday meetups and I will give an hour lecture about my process, then we take a very short walk to waterside pier and do a painting for the next 2 hrs. Call Leslie at Blue Skies gallery for more info....(757) 727-0028, or just shoot me an email. Here is a few paintings done over the course of the last couple of weeks. Hope you like! Take care