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Girls, while your husband or significant other is absorbed in the Super Bowl game, why not go shopping online at tommythompsonart.com? You will find oil paintings of all sizes and subject matter, including landscapes, figurative, horses, and many others. If you order on Super Bowl Sunday, we will provide free shipping throughout the continental U.S.A.

Happy Shopping!

Tommy Thompson painted "Foggy Bales" at a farm in Leiper's Fork, Tennessee. The artist enjoys painting in this quaint village because of its pristine horse farms and beautiful vistas.

In 1984 artist Tommy Thompson was traveling through a small town called Iron City, Tennessee and happened to stop by one of the stores for a soft drink and was amazed at the town pride that he heard in the voices of the old men sitting around a pot-bellied stove in the store. After listening some more, he learned that a community group needed a fundraiser to help refurbish a park along a creek that ran through the town. The people in the general store, through their descriptions and recollections, helped the artist capture in a pencil drawing the essence of the buildings that had long ago been torn down. The project was quite successful, selling all prints in a month or so, to benefit the small town. From that spark, the artistic team of Thompson and his two daughters, Michelle and Melanie, preserved the memories of bygone days for more than 300 towns in twelve states across the South--Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

For more than 20 years, Thompson and his two daughters preserved small-town Americana for posterity in their drawings. Check out the VillagePrints.com web site to see if you can find the place of your roots. For example, you will see a composite drawing of Hope, Arkansas, the birthplace of two famous men, former Governor Mike Huckabee and former President Bill Clinton. Struck by the pride of older Americans in the heritage of their towns, Thompson transformed glimpses of the past found in old, faded photographs and memories into composite drawings, which were then printed as limited editions. Collectors of Thompson’s prints sometimes find it difficult to locate someone who is willing to part with their prints once all the prints of a particular town are sold, which sometimes occurred in a week or two.

Thompson, who has 35 years’ experience in art, photography, printing, and marketing, recorded for posterity the main streets of small town America. The native Mississippian studied art at Mississippi State University, where he also supervised the art and photography division of the Mississippi Agricultural Experiment Station.

"Are You Sure," 16x16 Acrylic by Ginger Oglesby

Ginger Oglesby, a native Tennessean, began her art career studying with Juanita Green Parks in Nashville, Tennessee. The recipient of a BFA from the University of Tennessee, Ginger's creative careers include modern dance, education and her first love, painting.

"Golden Day," 30x30 Acrylic by Ginger Oglesby

Rich beautiful color sets the tone of her paintings. Layering and texture creates depth in her work, and her great eye for design is inspired by nature. Numerous works hang in private collections in Miami, Dallas, Scottsdale, Nashville and other cities around the United States.

"Leiper's Meadow," 30x30 Acrylic by Ginger Oglesby

"I love painting abstracts. Abstracts allow the viewer to be the interpreter of the work. Each person brings his or her own experiences, visions and meaning to each piece to make it  uniquely their own. My artwork evolves as I build multiple layers of thick texture, color and pattern. Surprising and delightful discovery of things previously unseen then unfolds."
 
 

"Latte Emperor," Mixed Media Collage by Eric Hansen

The Upstairs Gallery in Leiper's Fork, TN, is pleased to announce that noted photographer and printmaker, Eric Hansen, is now exhibiting his work at the fine art gallery's location at 4208 Old Hillsboro Road, Suite 6.

Eric L Hansen's color images are deeply personal storyboards of his own connections to post-modern American culture. His work has been curated in more than twenty group shows and three solo exhibitions. One of his major works, “Dollhouse” was featured in the spring 2006 issue of Eyemazing, the international fine art photography journal published in the Netherlands. “Dollhouse” was presented in 2007 at a solo exhibition at the George Billis Gallery in Los Angeles.

Hansen began making photographs at the age of 12, and while he later studied drawing and painting, photography remains his enduring passion. He earned a B.F.A. degree at Newark College of the Arts in creative writing and theatre. Acting, directing, stage lighting, and set design contributed to his applying the art of telling a story with actors, color, light, shadow and space.

"Kelsey," 24x36 Mixed Media Collage by Eric Hansen

With Photoshop, Hansen saw the possibility of going beyond the traditional single image photograph into collage and mixed media. He could conceive drawing, painting and photography in a single work. Since then he has continued to make images but he also works in acrylic paint and charcoal. He typically builds on a dibond substrate, layering with epoxy resin. His style is representational but he takes extreme liberties.

"Kenndy Creek," 30x24 Giclee by Eric Hansen

Hansen was born in Staten Island, New York City; has also lived in Long Beach, CA and Paris, France; but now lives in Nashville, TN, with his wife Stellasue. A quote regarding Hansen’s work:  “An enduring vision . . .that will enable us to see the world in a new way.” Philip Brookman, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC.

Wendell Short and Bob Jones, the Owner/Director of Upstairs Gallery, in Leiper's Fork, TN, are lifetime friends who grew up in Old Hickory, TN. Short is currently focusing on historical photography of the Civil war and the War of 1812. The photographer also enjoys reenactment engagements.


"Indian Dancing by Waterfall," 14x9 Giclee, by Wendell Short

“I am indebted to my sister Marie for introducing me to the world of art,” says Short. “My talent does not lend itself to the artist’s brush or pen. However, the camera allows me to present my thoughts to the public with the love my sister instilled in me.”

During his 20 years in the U.S. Navy, Short was privileged to visit many countries. “The beauty present in different parts of the world inspired me to pursue the film media.”

Wendell Short completed courses in business, lighting, and composition at schools of photography in New York and Washington, DC.

“I must acknowledge my good friend Bob Jones for his introducing me to contract and table top photography, which has allowed me to further my career and show my work in the Upstairs Gallery in historic Leiper’s Fork, TN.

Photographer Short now lives in Chapmansboro, TN.

"Dreamscape," 24x30 Oil by Tommy Thompson

Oil artist, Tommy Thompson, is pleased to be represented by the Upstairs Gallery in Leiper's Fork, TN. On your next visit to this quaint village, be sure to check out Thompson's work at Bob Jones new fine art gallery at 4208 Old Hillsboro Road, Suite 6.

Thompson’s pastoral landscapes are a blend of realism and impressionism and evoke a sense of peace. In 2010 Thompson’s work was juried into exhibitions by Leu Gallery of Belmont University and Energen Corporation of Birmingham, AL.The artist’s paintings have been featured in American Art Collector, Southwest Art, Horses in Art, Hills and Hamlets, Greater Nashville House, Home, and Garden and other publications.  He has been invited to conduct solo exhibitions by art associations in Birmingham, Brentwood, Guntersville, Memphis, and Nashville. Thompson is also represented by Loblolly Gallery in Columbia, TN.


"Tuckered Out," 11x14 Oil by Tommy Thompson

Thompson has studied with some of the nation’s premier painters including Kevin Macpherson, Ken Auster, Kenn Backhaus, Roger Dale Brown, Scott Christensen, Jeremy Doss, Ned Mueller, Michael Shane Neal, Jason Saunders, and Dawn Whitelaw.

He is a member of the Oil Painters of America, Portrait Society of America, American Impressionist Society, Landscape Artists International, and Nashville’s Chestnut Group.


"Country Boys," 6x8 Oil by Tommy Thompson

“Painting is so much a part of my everyday life that it would be difficult to live without it,” says Thompson. “Regardless of where I happen to be, I am driven to paint every day.  I have always been the kind who wanted to see what was around the next curve, over the next hill, or at the end of an interesting lane. Now I want to capture on canvas what I find on my journeys. I ride the roads less traveled looking for the play of light and shadows on tranquil pastoral landscapes, beautiful horses, architecture, and people as they go about their everyday life.”

"Leiper's Fork View," 8x10 Oil by Michelle Rideout

Michelle Rideout has been drawing since she was a small child with her artist father, Tommy Thompson, as her favorite teacher.  Rideout studied with watercolorist Carolyn Wright of Chattanooga, TN; Nashville oil artist Jason Saunders; pastelist Pat Thompson of Franklin, TN; Colorado oil painter Jeanne Mackenzie; portrait and landscape painter, Dawn Whitelaw of Nashville; Franklin oil painter Roger Dale Brown; Jeremy Doss of Atlanta, GA; and Casey Baugh, Portrait Artist of Framingham, MA. Rideout belongs to the Chestnut Group, Portrait Society of America, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

"Leiper's Fork Meadow," 9x12 Oil by Michelle Rideout

Rideout was honored to have an exhibition of her paintings at Belle Meade Plantation Art Gallery in Nashville, TN, during February 2-28, 2010.  She is also honored to conduct an exhibition of her work at the Brentwood Public Library during October 2011 and October 2013. Rideout is also represented by Loblolly Gallery in Columbia, TN. The artist  graduated with a B.S. degree in graphic design in 1989 from the University of North Alabama, Florence, AL.

"Leiper's Fork Morning," 8x10 Oil by Michelle Rideout

"I am happiest when I am immersed in art," Rideout says. "I cannot imagine life without this inspiring career. I am inspired to create paintings that reflect God's wonderful creations in nature, I hope that my paintings add serenity to the lives of all who view them."

Bob Jones, Owner/Director of the Upstairs Gallery in Leiper’s Fork, TN, announces that Wanda Wright has joined in the fun at his new fine art gallery. Jones invites all of his friends and colleagues to check out all of the artwork he has collected at 4208 Old Hillsboro Road, Suite 6. 
 

"You Can Lead a Lamb," 9x12 Oil by Wanda Wright

For Wright, after 32 years in the classroom, ideas for oil paintings have replaced her thoughts of lesson plans where any and everything is fair game for a model--sheep, cows, children, birds and nests. Wanda Wright cannot imagine life without a paint brush in her hands, capturing scenes on canvas that give her great joy and peace--ones she hopes to pass on to the casual observer or serious collector. Her goal in her work is to engage the heart as well as the eye.

 Wright lives in Franklin with her husband, Jim, where she spends as much time as possible with her four grandsons and painting with the Juanita Green Parks artists' group.


"Headed to the Barn," 18x24 Oil by Wanda Wright

 Besides the Upstairs Gallery, Wright’s paintings can also be found at the Veterinary Opthalmology offices in Nashville and at the Juanita Green Parks Studio on Gray Fox Lane in Franklin. She also exhibits at Henrietta's in Spring Hill, Too Much Stuff in Mt. Pleasant, and Mooney's Emporium in Monteagle.

"Mule Day, No. 2," 40x36 in Oil by Norb Skalski

Oil painter, Norb Skalski, has joined Bob Jones’ new fine art gallery, Upstairs Gallery, in Leiper’s Fork, TN. Skalski grew up in Schenectady, NY. He attended the Boston Museum School of Fine Arts before earning a B.F.A. from Syracuse University and an M.S. in art education from the State University of New York at New Paltz. The artist retired as Chairman of the Monticello (NY) High School Art Department.

Skalski sees himself as a social observer and critic whose interest lies in expressing people’s thoughts and feelings. He is primarily interested in figurative art.


"Woman in Black," 40x30 in Oil by Norb Skalski

“My work is driven by the core of human existence, emotion, and its external presence,” Skalski says.” “I see myself as a social critic who has developed an expressionistic style in the context of Van Gogh and Picasso, as well as such abstract expressionists such as Nolde, Kirchner, and Munch.”

He now lives with his wife Joan in Spring Hill, TN. On your next trip to Leiper’s Fork, be sure to check out Skalski’s work at the Upstairs Gallery, 4208 Old Hillsboro Road, Suite 6.