Artist Statement – Bio
Living in the Midwest has influenced my style of painting and choice of subject matter significantly. Many of my pieces depict very common scenes I have experienced. As a child, I spent countless hours playing on the riverbanks and wooded areas in Central Iowa. Even today, I continue to be intrigued with nature and the way sunlight and shadows help define the landscape. I continue to spend my mornings hiking and sketching the rugged landscape along the Iowa River near my home. My goal is to paint relatively common scenes in a more dramatic and interesting way. Most of my finished works are the result of reference photographs and on-location (plein-air) studies.
I have worked primarily in pastels and oil paints. I plan to continue to explore these two mediums and look forward to many more years of painting and conducting workshops.
Tom Christopher is a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America (PSA) and
Master Circle, International Association of Pastel Societies. (IAPS)
Awards
2008 4th Place – The Pastel Journal Top 100 Paintings
2010 First Place – Arkansas Pastel Society National Exhibition
2011 Feature article in the Pastel Journal – “Rural Values”
2012 Honorable Mention – Pastel Journal Top 100 Paintings
2013 Purchase Award Pastel Society Society of New Mexico National Exhibition
2013 Honorable Mention – Pastel Journal Top 100 Paintings
2014 Honorable Mention – Pastel Journal Top 100 Paintings
2014 Merit Award – Great Lakes Pastel Society National Exhibition
2014 Feature Article – Plein Air Magazine
2014 Terry Ludwig Award – Pastel Society of the West Coast Annual Exhibition
2015 Best of Show – IAPS “International Association of Pastel Societies”
2015 Workshop/ Demo artist for IAPS Convention Albuquerque NM
2015 Pastelist Award – Pastel Society of America
2017 Demo Artist – PLein Air Convention Tucson Az
2017 Awarded Master Circle medal IAPS convention .. Demo Artist
2017 Albert Handell Award – International Association Of Pastel Societies IAPS International exhibition.
2023 Bronze Award IAPS Master Circle Category
