The Process of a Commission
Tom likes to take as much time as he can when creating
art.
With a portrait Tom likes to visit with the subject
once a week, staying about one hour. During that time he will make sketches,
take photos and have the subject sit for a few minutes. Children love the
process and look forward to his visits. It is a sad day when he no longer
visits. A drawing is done in pencil on the canvas using the composition
ideas of the client, once approved the painting begins. Painting is wet on
wet, each section is completed while the paint is wet. When the paint starts
to congeal painting that section stops. When Tom starts a face he brings the
canvas to the sitter for a live sitting. After working in the studio almost
completing the face he will return for another live sitting. Tom borrows the
sitter’s clothes and dresses up a wire mannequin for the clothes and works
from life. The background is painted completing the portrait
Watercolors, pastels and charcoal commissioned are
similar.
Click on images to larger image
The River
20” x 16”,
Oil on canvas
The client
wanted a night scene of the Suspension Bridge to go with the daytime scene
Tom had painted for her. Tom used Cincinnati’s Tall Stacks Celebration that
brings 15 river boats into town to populate the scene and placed himself by
the fire.
Keith Richards
12 “x 16”,
Pastel on
paper
Created from
a magazine photo as an example of Tom’s ability to get a likeness.
Captain Ahab
5”x 7”
Watercolor on
paper
Created from
a photo of the client and a issue of Mad magazine that parodied “Moby Dick.”
The client is an avid collector of Mad Magazine.
Jean Niehaus
8” x 10” ,
Pastel on
paper
Commissioned
as a gift to her children.
Fancy
12” x 16”,
oil on canvas
Painted from
a photo that Tom took of the dog.
Ireland
16”x 12”
Oil on canvas
Created from
a photo the client took while in Ireland.
Illuminated Manuscript
8” x 10”
Watercolor on
paper, a gift to a minister .
Princess Stephanie
Oil on canvas
This is a
detail of a 48” x 36” canvas. The Royal Family of Monaco was painted along
with the clients friends in a painting showing him breaking the bank in
Monte Carlo.
Roebling Suspension Bridge
36” x 24” ,
Oil on canvas. Commissioned as a view of the Suspension Bridge. Tom was
allowed to compose the work as he saw fit. He painted from life over several
days right along the water’s edge.
Jude Austin
10” x 8,
pastel on paper
One of three
pastels commissioned as their children were born.
Queensboro Bridge
20” x 16”,
oil on canvas
Commissioned
a memory of her riding across the bridge everyday to work at the UN. Tom was
given the idea of what she wanted and he drew several sketches as
suggestions. Later he would paint from life in a small park nears the waters
edge. The people were from snaps he shot while sketching.
Savanna Home
16” x 12”
Watercolor on
paper
Painted from
a snap shot supplied by the
client.
Captain Kirk
30” x 40”,
oil on canvas
Painted as an
example of how Tom could get a likeness. The painting was eventually bought
by a client who had his portrait put over Kirks.
