Tommy Thompson's painting career really was born in Old Lyme, CT, where he attended a Scottsdale Artists School/Plein Air Painters of America Workshop in 2003. He studied with the renowned painters, Kenn Backhaus, Ken Auster, John Budicin, Kevin Macpherson, Ned Mueller, and many more. Thompson enjoyed getting to know other outstanding painters such as Matt Smith, Frank LaLumia, and others.