We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tom Brown. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tom below.
Tom, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you recount a story of an unexpected problem you’ve faced along the way?
Marketing is one issue that is hard to figure out as a creative. I’ve read the books, read the blogs and have tried just about everything, within reason. I’m still trying to figure it out, it’s an ever-changing part of doing business. But the one thing that I count on most is my network of friends and mentors. One needs people in their lives that they can trust to give sound advise and wisdom. People with experience, been there done that!
Tom, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I can trace my fascination with art back to my grade school days. I would doodle on any scrap of paper near me. I always enjoyed art classes in junior and senior high school. I was actually able to hone my skillsets beyond doodling. But life sometimes can get in the way, after high school came the military, marriage and raising a family.
I think you get the picture.
Several years ago I took some watercolor classes and all of the sudden the creative fire was ignited again. I’ve not looked back.
Fast forward…I have spent the last 14 plus years pursuing mastery of the medium of watercolor while still maintaining a full time career as a project manager.
I recently retired and now I’m involved in the arts full time. I am primarily a landscape artist and I consider myself one who “Documents Rural America.” It’s been said, “Our art only runs as deep as our love of the subject.” My favorites are the old run down dilapidated farms scattered around rural areas and painting the barns and outbuildings.
I have a small studio in my house and I paint plein air (outdoors) as often as I can. I’ve had my work shown in several exhibits around the country and I have participated several plein air competitions.
I do an occasional demonstration for art societies I’m affiliated with and have created a robust following on social media and through my newsletter on my website. I also do commission work on occasion.
What I am most excited about at this time is that preparations are underway to offer a workshop in the foreseeable future.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
When I am out painting in a public place I occasionally I get asked questions or receive comments by onlookers. The two that I probably hear most are:
“How long did it take you to paint that?”
“You are so talented, I couldn’t draw a stick figure if my life depended on it.”
My first response is, “it took me about 2 hours and 18 years.”
Many non-creatives think that because you have done a painting in 1-2 hours that it’s either easier than it looks or that you’ve been born with this God given talent.
Then I will expand on my initial response with, “whether one is born with some in-ate talent or not, one becomes accomplished as an artist in the same way others become skillful in any other endeavor, through hard work, study, sacrifice and determination.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
It’s very rewarding when someone has an emotional reaction to one of my paintings. It’s one thing to render a subject on a canvas that resembles the scene in front of me, but when the viewer has an emotional connection to it, it’s just absolute icing on the cake. I’ve had people come to tears and share how the painting evokes a memory of a place from their childhood. Secondly, when someone finds value in what I’ve created and can’t live without it. Purchasing my paintings brings me some validation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tombrownwatercolors.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tombrown.art/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teebrown7