URBAN LANDSCAPE - TONALIST IMPRESSIONIST OIL PAINTING

This is another painting that 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:
Mixing two kinds of breakfast cereal

CALIFORNIA IMPRESSIONIST OIL PAINTING by Tom Brown

The top image in today’s blog is a “detail” of the large horizontal painting that is shown below it. This is a sweeping panoramic vista in Irvine that I painted entirely on location while conducting a recent Plein Air Workshop. We all had a terrific session and many of the artists produced some of their best work. I’ve included photos of a few members in my workshop that day, enjoying the fresh air and beautiful scenery as they work at their easels.

Today’s painting measures two feet wide and it will be included in my new one-man show which opens soon. 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 like the one shown above. The exhibit runs through October 27. Hope to see you on opening night!

Email me with any questions at tombrownart@gmail.com

Today’s thought to smile about:
Spider webs glistening in the morning light

CALIFORNIA IMPRESSIONIST OIL PAINTING by Tom Brown

“HIDEAWAY” by Tom Brown
Original oil painting by Tom Brown
8x10 inches

This is a small ranch house in San Juan Capistrano that I painted on a hazy day. This canvas has very soft and subtle hues, which create a calm and restful effect. If you are interested in purchasing today’s painting, please email me for details and include the title of the painting: tombrownart@gmail.com

SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT: Join me for the opening of my one-man show “THE UNEXPECTED VISTAS OF IRVINE.” 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. Hope to see you there!

Today’s thought to smile about:
Swallowtail butterflies

URBAN LANDSCAPE - TONALIST IMPRESSIONIST OIL PAINTING

“FREEWAY RAMP” by Tom Brown
12x16 inch original oil painting
This painting will be exhibited in my
upcoming show (details below)

SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT: Join me for the opening of my one-man show “THE UNEXPECTED VISTAS OF IRVINE.” 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.

Hope to see you there!

Today’s thought to smile about:
The opening reception of a new art show

TONALIST IMPRESSIONIST OIL PAINTING LANDSCAPE

“QUIET COUNTRY ROAD” by Tom Brown
Original oil painting by Tom Brown
6X6 inches
SOLD

SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT: Join me for the opening of my one-man show “THE UNEXPECTED VISTAS OF IRVINE.” 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.

Coming soon, my new CD art lesson: “OIL PAINTING FOR THE ABSOLUTE BEGINNER.” With this user-friendly guide you can learn to paint in a weekend, on your very first try. If you have ever wished you could paint with oils, this is the answer to your dreams. Watch my blog for details.

Today’s thought to smile about:
The peace and quiet of a country back road

PASTORAL TONALIST IMPRESSIONIST OIL PAINTING LANDSCAPE

“FLEETING COLORS IN THE SKY” by Tom Brown
Original oil painting by Tom Brown
6X6 inches
SOLD

At a certain time of day the colors in the sky are very fragile, lasting a brief time before changing or disappearing completely. I was delighted to be able to capture these effects in oils while I had the chance. You will like this one.

SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT: I hope to meet you at the opening of my one-man show “THE UNEXPECTED VISTAS OF IRVINE.” 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. Come join me for a fun evening!

Coming soon, my new CD art lesson: “OIL PAINTING FOR THE ABSOLUTE BEGINNER.” With this user-friendly guide you can learn to paint in a weekend, on your very first try. If you have ever wished you could paint with oils, this is the answer to your dreams. Watch my blog for details.

Today’s thought to smile about:
Hummingbird feeders being used

IMPRESSIONIST TONALIST NIGHT LANDSCAPE, OIL PAINTING

“STARRY, STARRY NIGHT”
Original oil painting by Tom Brown
6X6 inches
SOLD

SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT: I hope to meet you at the opening of my one-man show “THE UNEXPECTED VISTAS OF IRVINE.” 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. Come join me for a fun evening!

Coming soon, my new CD art lesson: “OIL PAINTING FOR THE ABSOLUTE BEGINNER.” With this user-friendly guide you can learn to paint in a weekend, on your very first try. If you have ever wished you could paint with oils, this is the answer to your dreams. Watch my blog for details.

Today’s thought to smile about:
The old SEARS catalogs

IMPRESSIONIST TONALIST SUNSET, OIL PAINTING

“FINAL MOMENTS OF THE DAY”
Original oil painting by Tom Brown
6X6 inches
SOLD

I felt triumphant after capturing these subtle hues in the sky as the sun took its final plunge to the horizon. These colors are very fleeting, lasting a very short time. And the sun moves quickly in the final moments before disappearing, but I was able to capture it all in paint. This is another one with a bit of pure magic. Hope you like it.

I would also like to invite you to my upcoming one-man show “THE UNEXPECTED VISTAS OF IRVINE.” 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. Hope to see you there!

Today’s thought to smile about:
Duct tape; it solves so many problems

PLEIN AIR LANDSCAPE BY TOM BROWN

“CRUISING CULVER” by Tom Brown
10X6 inches, original oil painting

SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT:
This is the small field study for a 24x36 inch painting to be featured in my upcoming one-man show “THE UNEXPECTED VISTAS OF IRVINE.” 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. Hope to see you there!

This study shows the view looking north on Culver Avenue at Irvine Center Drive. In this painting I wanted to capture the majestic grandeur of the mountain range that forms a backdrop for the morning commute.

I set up my easel on the median strip to paint this study (a bit risky) and fortunately all went well. Come to my show and have a look at the large painting created from this study, as well as about 100 other paintings focusing on scenes of Irvine usually not seen in art. The show will be up from September 14 through October 27, 2007. Tell your friends, too!

Today’s thought to smile about:
Safe landings.

NEWPORT BACK BAY, IMPRESSIONIST TONALIST LANDSCAPE

“EDGE OF THE MARSH” by Tom Brown
6X6 inches Original oil painting

SOLD

This one was pure bliss to paint. The birds made wonderful shimmering reflections in the water at the edge of the marsh. The cloud formations added another bonus, creating a feeling of grandeur in this scene. I used my laptop-sized paintbox to paint this piece and felt a sense of peace and serenity while painting it. I hope that feeling is evident.

Today’s thought to smile about:
Reflections in a marsh

PALETTE KNIFE PAINTING IMPRESSIONIST TONALIST LANDSCAPE

“TWILIGHT” by Tom Brown
Approximately 7x4 inches
Original oil painting

Here’s something different. It was done entirely with a palette knife on white card stock. I sometimes do rapid studies this way when the scene will last only a few moments. The palette knife is faster to work with than brushes; I just mix and paint. Bam! It’s a very quick and direct way to work. In this case I desperately wanted to capture the subtle effects in the sky and landscape during the final moments of twilight. I knew from experience that I had to work quickly to capture these fleeting colors before they disappeared. Got it!

These studies with a palette knife on card stock are generally done only for myself and I keep them on my studio wall to use as reference for larger paintings at a later date. I did this one awhile back and it’s been living on my studio wall since then but I decided to share it with you today. I hope you can see some of the subtleties on screen.

If you are interested in purchasing this, please email me for details: tombrownart@gmail.com

Today’s thought to smile about:
A puppy’s wagging tail

FRESH FRUIT ORIGINAL OIL PAINTING

“FRESH FRUIT” by Tom Brown
8x10 inch original oil painting
SOLD

In the children’s book “Fun with Dick and Jane,” the most important word of all was “LOOK!” Look for beauty and joy everywhere; even in commonplace things like a nectarine, bananas and cup of coffee. This painting is loaded with rich brush strokes of thick, juicy oil paint that really bring this piece to life. I hope you enjoy it, and thanks for looking.

Today’s thought to smile about:
Discovering beauty in unexpected places

IMPRESSIONIST TONALIST LANDSCAPE PAINTING

“END OF A PERFECT DAY” by Tom Brown
DAILY PAINTING
6x6 inch original oil painting
SOLD

This is another in my recent series of skyline paintings. Many of these paintings have featured city skylines, but this one was painted out in the countryside. The title says it all; this was the beautiful finish of a perfect day.

Today’s thought to smile about:
Microwave ovens

CALIFORNIA SUNSET, SURF, BEACH Original Oil Painting

“HUNTINGTON BEACH SUNSET” by Tom Brown
CALIFORNIA PLEIN AIR LANDSCAPE
8x10 ORIGINAL OIL PAINTING
SOLD

This one has magic! A spectacular California sunset as the sun dips into the Pacific Ocean behind the Ruby’s restaurant on the famous Huntington Beach pier.

Watch my blog in the coming days for more details about my one-man show next month, as well as more of my paintings. Thanks for visiting, and if you like my work tell your friends.

Today’s thought to smile about:
Spending a lazy afternoon

Art, Floral, Original Impressionist Oil Painting

“COLORS OF SUMMER” by Tom Brown
7x7 inch original oil painting
SOLD

Today’s thought to smile about:
Using the snooze button on an alarm clock

CITY PLAZA, ORIGINAL URBAN LANDSCAPE

The top image shown here was painted during a plein air workshop I held during the weekend. A few of my students are shown in the photo above (I’m the tall one in the center wearing the black shirt).

Today’s Daily Painting:
“CITY PLAZA” by Tom Brown
6x8 inch original oil painting (top image)
To purchase, email me at tombrownart@gmail.com

Today’s thought to smile about:
Spending the morning with a group of friends

CITY PLAZA, ORIGINAL URBAN LANDSCAPE

Things change. The top image shown above was painted this morning during a plein air workshop I held in the City of Orange. The colorful coffeeshop on the right is now a Starbuck’s. A couple of years ago I did a larger painting of the same area when that building housed Deidrich’s (the 2nd image shown). That painting was reproduced on the cover of the City of Orange publication “Orange Progress.”

Today’s Daily Painting:
“Starbuck’s” by Tom Brown
6x8 inch original oil painting (top image)
SOLD

Today’s thought to smile about:
A quiet city plaza, complete with benches and a large fountain

BUTTERMILK PANCAKES Original Oil Painting (click here to bid)

“BUTTERMILK PANCAKES” by Tom Brown
6x6 inch original oil painting
SOLD

Breakfast of champions: buttermilk pancakes, topped with creamy butter and thick maple syrup. I believe an artist should paint what he or she loves. Look at that thick, rich maple syrup spilling over the pancakes. Mmmmm! Doesn’t that make your mouth water? This painting will look great on your own walls, or it will make a wonderful gift for a friend.

A film was recently made by a TV crew to document my oil painting methods as I painted impressionist landscapes on location (en plein air). Check my recent blog entries for photos taken behind the scenes during the filming. Thanks for visiting, and if you like my work tell your friends.

Today’s thought to smile about:
Hot maple syrup. Mmmmm!

CITY AT NIGHT, TONALIST IMPRESSIONIST OIL PAINTING (click here to bid)

A film was recently made by a TV crew to document the oil painting methods I use to create impressionist landscapes on location (en plein air). The film will be shown at the opening reception of my one-man show next month in Southern California.

Here are details about the painting above:
“GLOW OF THE CITY” by Tom Brown
DAILY PAINTING
6x6 inch original oil painting
SOLD

This painting records that magical time at day’s end when city lights begin to glow against the darkening sky. There are rich and subtle nuances of color and brushwork in this piece that you must see in person to properly appreciate. Please check my eBay feedbacks to see typical reactions from delighted buyers of my work, then bid with confidence.

Watch my blog in the coming days for more details about my upcoming show, as well as more of my paintings. Thanks for visiting, and if you like my work tell your friends about my blog.

Today’s thought to smile about:
The pulse of the city at night

FILMING THE CREATION OF A PLEIN AIR PAINTING

Here’s something a little different for a change of pace. I spent yesterday being filmed by a TV crew as I painted on location in a picturesque canyon in Southern California. The film will be shown at the opening reception of my one-man show next month in Irvine, California. This photo gives a glimpse behind the scenes as they record a painting being created.

Here are details about the painting above:
“LAST LIGHT” by Tom Brown
DAILY PAINTING
6x6 inch original oil painting
SOLD

Watch my blog in the coming days for more details about my upcoming show, as well as more of my paintings. Thanks for visiting, and if you like my work tell your friends about my blog.

Today’s thought to smile about:
When everything goes perfectly for a change.

FILMING THE CREATION OF A PLEIN AIR PAINTING

Here’s something a little different for a change of pace. I spent yesterday being filmed by a TV crew as I painted on location in a picturesque canyon in Southern California. The film will be shown at the opening reception of my one-man show next month in Irvine, California. This photo gives a glimpse behind the scenes as they record a painting being created.

Here are the details about the painting above:
“LAST LIGHT” by Tom Brown
DAILY PAINTING
6x6 inch original oil painting

Watch my blog in the coming days for more details about my upcoming show, as well as more of my paintings. Thanks for visiting, and if you like my work tell your friends about my blog.

Today’s thought to smile about:

When everything goes perfectly for a change.

IMPRESSIONIST TONALIST LANDSCAPE PAINTING (click here to bid)

“A VERY PLEASANT DAY” by Tom Brown
DAILY PAINTING
6x6 inch original oil painting
SOLD

This is another in my recent series of skyline paintings. Many of these paintings have featured city skylines, but this one was painted out in the countryside. When I painted this one the sky was a soft silver color, very restful and serene.

This painting is available on eBay. To bid on this painting click the headline above the image. Also watch my blog for more in this series of paintings. Thanks for looking.

Today’s thought to smile about:
A feeling of inner peace

CRASHING SURF, Original Oil Painting (click here to bid)

“LIQUID THUNDER” by Tom Brown
6x8 inch original oil painting
SOLD

I painted this canvas from atop the cliffs in Laguna Beach as I conducted a Plein Air Workshop for other artists recently. Waves were crashing against these craggy boulders with a thundering roar, sending foam flying high into the air. I wanted to capture the roar of the surf and movement of the waves. Hope you like it, and thanks for looking.

If you like this one it’s available on eBay; click the headline and good luck bidding.

Today’s thought to smile about:
Watching seagulls hovering in the air

PALM TREES AND OCEAN, Original Oil Painting (Click here to bid)

“LAGUNA BEACH CLIFFS” by Tom Brown
6x8 inch original oil painting
SOLD

These are the famous landmark cliffs in Laguna Beach, a well known artist’s colony in Southern California. I painted this canvas from atop the cliffs in Laguna Beach as I conducted a Plein Air Workshop for other artists Saturday morning. This painting has beautiful brushwork and color, and it will bring a breath of fresh air and California sunshine into your home. Thanks for looking.

If you like this one it’s available on eBay; click the headline and good luck bidding.

Today’s thought to smile about:
Quotes by Mark Twain

SAILBOAT IN MOONLIGHT, ORIGINAL IMPRESSIONIST PAINTING

“CLAIRE DE LUNE” by Tom Brown
6x6 inch original oil painting
SOLD

This small private sailboat was gently rocking in the moonlight at the edge of Balboa Island in Newport Beach. I've painted some of these boats at night in the past and had my laptop-sized paintbox with me just in case.

In this piece I was striving to capture the "abstract" composition above all else. No detail, just enough information to communicate the boat, water and moonlight. I used a big brush, loads of thick, juicy paint and subtle colors.

If you like this one it’s available on eBay; click the headline to bid.

Today’s thought to smile about:
Moonlight on the water

SNICKERS CANDY BAR Original Oil Painting (click here to buy)

“SNICKERS CANDY BAR” by Tom Brown
6x6 inch original oil painting
SOLD

Someone once said an artist should paint what he or she loves. Enough said.

Legal disclaimer: The artist is not responsible for sugar binges or weight gain that may accompany the purchase of this painting.


Today’s thought to smile about:
Listening to echoes

OCEAN SURF, BEACH, Original Oil Painting (click here to bid)

“WAVE MAGIC” by Tom Brown
DAILY PAINTING
6x6 inch original oil painting
SOLD

There is a feeling of peace and serenity in the clean smell of ocean air, the gentle sound of rolling waves washing onto the sand, and the cries of gulls circling overhead. This painting will bring those feelings into your home and will be a daily source of pleasure.

This painting is available on eBay. To bid on this painting click the headline above the image. Also watch my blog for more in this series of paintings. Thanks for looking.

Today’s thought to smile about:
The clean smell of sea air