Tom's Profile

After graduating with an art major from Alma College in 1975, Tom
became an art teacher with the Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan public
schools. After 30 years as an educator, he retired in 2006 to become
a full time artist.

Tom explored watercolors and oils before discovering pastel several
years ago. He developed an immediate attraction to the vibrancy and
immediacy of this exciting medium. It has been the primary form of
his visual expression since.

Tom serves on the boards of directors for several arts organizations,
including the Great Lakes Pastel Society, the Sault Area Arts Council,
and the Olive M. Craig Gallery. He continues to help arrange monthly
exhibitions and has judged several invitational shows and art
festivals. He won "Best of Show" in the Sault Area Arts Center's
"Bridges" exhibit in 2008, was co-winner of the 2007 Sault Summer Arts
Festival's "Best of Show", and recently won "Judge's Choice" award in
the 2009 Sault Summer Arts Festival. Tom has exhibited in numerous
individual and group shows, and his work is in public and private
collections throughout the Midwest, as well as Florida and England.

Tom teaches pastel workshops in Northern Michigan and on St. George
Island, Florida. He is represented by the Sault Realism Gallery in
Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan and the Sea Oats Gallery on St. George
Island, Florida. Tom's art can be seen at many of Northern Michigan's
summer art festivals, as well.