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Oil artist, Tommy Thompson, loves horses and especially enjoys painting horses with their owners. His paintings of horses were featured in the California-based magazine, Horses in Art. The article, entitled "Tommy Thompson:  Peaceful Images in Oil," appeared in the Winter 2008 issue on pages 18-19 of the magazine.  "Friends Forever" is one example of this kind of once-in-a-lifetime painting. Thompson will be happy to arrange to visit your location to prepare an oil study from life and produce reference photographs of the subjects. Contact the artist via this web site to arrange for a memorable painting of you or your loved one with a special horse.

June 25, 2011--Leiper’s Fork, TN--Imagine taking a break in a comfortable rocker on a shady back porch overlooking Leiper’s Creek in Williamson County, TN. Now envision yourself learning to create a painting in oils in that same setting with the help of an experienced, talented instructor. If this is your lifelong dream, then you can make it a reality on July 14 at Laurel Leaf Gallery in historic Leiper's Fork, TN. This quaint little village is home to major stars like Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, the Judds, Keith Urban, Nicole Kidman, and others. Why not take a mini-vacation and stay at a local bed and breakfast or another picturesque inn in nearby Franklin? We will be happy to send interested participants a list of hotels in the area. A Virginia fan of Thompson's artwork has already registered for this workshop.

Tommy Thompson will be conducting this one-day oil workshop at Laurel Leaf Gallery, in Leiper’s Fork, TN, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 14, 2011. Laurel Leaf Gallery now occupies a beautiful building at 4145 Old Hillsboro Road, across from Puckett’s and next door to Country Boys’ Restaurant. While emphasizing values, Thompson will also touch on composition, aerial perspective, color temperature, and edges. He will do a demonstration and give individual instruction and critiques of participants‘ work. Participants will need to bring a sack lunch. The cost of the workshop is $95. To register for this one-day workshop, email bethany@laurelleafgallery.com or email tommy@tommythompsonart.com by July 8 to reserve your spot; attendance is limited to 12 participants. Some supplies will be provided. After you register for the workshop, you will receive a brief recommended equipment list. A few easels will be available for your use.

A recent participant in another of Thompson's workshops had this to say: "Tommy Thompson is a very giving teacher and so generous with his time and instruction."

For more information, please check out Thompson’s web site at http://www.tommythompsonart.com

One day when our daughter, Melanie, went outside to water our flowers, she was distracted by “Blackie” the cat who had other plans. Blackie, the neighborhood cat, likes to sun himself in our backyard swing because there are no dogs to bother him in our yard. The only other creatures nearby are those that cats love to pursue like chipmunks, squirrels, bluebirds and coi in the fish pond. Whenever a human being enters the backyard, old Blackie ambles forward to get his back scratched. Tommy Thompson could not resist preserving this scene in a figurative oil painting.

Tommy Thompson will be conducting a one-day oil workshop at Laurel Leaf Gallery from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 14, 2011. While emphasizing values, Thompson will also touch on composition, aerial perspective, color temperature, and edges. He will do a demonstration and give individual instruction and critiques of participants‘ work. Some supplies will be provided. Participants will need to bring a sack lunch. The cost of the workshop is $95. To register for this one-day workshop, email bethany@laurelleafgallery.com or email tommy@tommythompsonart.com by July 6 to reserve your spot; attendance is limited to 12 participants. When you register for the workshop, please request a supply list.

In September 2008 I was invited to paint with the Atlanta Plein Air Painters in Monteagle, TN. We painted there for three enjoyable days. While there my wife and I ventured into a remote area called the "Fiery Gizzard" canyon in the South Cumberland State Park. The canyon is very narrow with tall trees forming a canopy overhead. Several cool streams give the place a climate surprisingly different from the surrounding plateau. Even on the hottest summer day, the Gizzard is pleasantly cool. The canyon is famous for its huge hemlock trees. The 15-mile Fiery Gizzard Trail is a pristine trail between Monteagle and Tracy City, TN, which was recently named as one of the top twenty-five backpacking trails in the nation. The trail is recognized as the most diverse and beautiful in Tennessee with its terrain, vertical variations and spectacular overlooks; it provides hikers with solitude and a great wilderness experience. Legend has it that the area got its name when Davy Crockett was camping and burned his mouth while taking a bite out of a hot gizzard. Since then, the gorge has been known as Fiery Gizzard.