Big News

My BIG NEWS is that my wife and I sold our home in Maine and are now living back in Arizona where we lived for twelve years before moving to and living in Maine for thirteen years.  Both places have great attributes and some drawbacks most of which range from minus twenty degrees to over one hundred and fifteen degrees. However weather wasn't the only consideration for our move.

So now most of my plein air work will reflect Arizona landscapes as the last thirteen years reflected Maine land and seascapes.  Stay tuned.

 Telegraph Pass Sentinel 

6x8" Acrylic

$300

Yarmouth Frame and Gallery Holiday Show

Just a reminder that the Yarmouth Frame and Gallery "Holiday Show" is currently on now and into January if you're looking for a beautiful work of art to give for a gift or to treat yourself.

These are two of several paintings I have in this fabulous group show with many great artists.

Happy Holidays to All!

"The Golden Tree"

12"x16"

"Untitled #1217"

5"x7"

Stop by and say "hi" to Beth or Lee.

720 Route 1, Yarmouth, ME. 04096

207-846-7777

www.YarmouthrrameAndGallery.com

www.facebook.com/YFandG

www.twitter.com/YFandG

Monday - Friday 10 to 6

Saturday 10 to 4

or by appointment

3 in Yarmouth Art Festival!

It is my pleasure to announce that 3 of my paintings have been juried into the 7th Annual Yarmouth Art Festival.  You can see my 3 paintings and all of the 165 paintings juried in at 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/yarmouthartfestival/collections/7215765684. 

According to their website http://yarmouthartfestival.com/, there was a record number of 382 paintings submitted this year. My personal thanks to the judges artist Suzanne Harden; Anne Haas, Bowdoin College art librarian; and Peg Golden, owner of Greenhut Galleries in Portland as well as Joe Michud and to the entire staff of the festival who do such a magnificent job each year putting this event on. 

The 7th annual Yarmouth Art Festival will be held Oct. 21-24, 2015, at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church at 396 Gilman Road in Yarmouth from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. An artists’ reception, including music and refreshments, will be held Thursday Oct. 22 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Admission will be free for both the festival and the reception, with donations accepted.

Hope you'll be able to make it to the reception or one of the days of this wonderful exhibit and sale.

BBQ on Congress

8x10" Acrylic

$500

Painting Plein Air in Yarmouth, Maine

Yarmouth, Maine, for those of you who haven't had the pleasure of visiting it, is a beautiful, charming small New England town about 10 miles past Portland as you travel north on Rt. 295 or the slower, but more picturesque, Rt. 1.

It is a cornucopia of painting subjects and a plein air painters dream!

With all of the above in mind, Yarmouth Arts, according to their web site http://www.yarmoutharts.org/ is "a non-profit organization made up of local citizens committed to encouraging arts and cultural activities within the community of Yarmouth."

This past Saturday I participated, with other plein air painters, in the paint-out called 

CELEBRATING THE CHADBOURN SPIRIT: A SENSE OF PLACE

This is the painting I did  of the local railroad station which is now used as a unique floral shop.

Yarmouth Station

11x14"  Acrylic

My painting setup at Yarmouth paint out.

The juried exhibit and sale is 9/18 - 10/31 at 317 Main Community Music Center which is open Mon - Fri, 10 AM - 6 PM. Reception is Friday, 10/2, 5 - 7PM.

If you can't make it to this part of Maine in the next week or so, I have one word as further encouragement for you to visit....A U T U M N!

PS If you do visit the show take a little longer to scoot around the corner up to  720 Route 1 and visit Yarmouth Frame and Gallery   www.yarmouthframeandgallery.com where you can see several more examples of my paintings along with those of a whole bunch of great artists.  Tell Beth or Lee I sent you.

Take care.

BRAF - August Exhibit

BRAF stands for Boothbay Region Art Foundation www.boothbayartists.org/ located, where else, in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. I am a member and have been for several years. We each get to put two paintings in the monthly members' exhibit and below is one of my two. To see the other acrylics painting you'll have to visit the gallery because I forgot to photograph it before I took it in.  Sorry.  If you're in Maine and find yourself near Boothbay Harbor, please stop in and say "Hi" to June or whoever happens to be "sitting" the gallery.  Tell her Bill Tomsa sent you.

Have a nice August.

For Rent

8x10" Acrylic 

Prints for sale on 

http://bill-tomsa.artistwebsites.com/

Yarmouth Frame and Gallery Group Show

I am pleased to invite anyone reading this and in the Yarmouth, Maine area to stop by and check out the newest group show at Yarmouth Frame and Gallery http://www.yarmouthframeandgallery.com/ titled "Winter Cowers as Spring Empowers". The painting shown below is one of several I have contributed to the show. Tell Beth or Lee I sent you.

Blue Gated Alley

Acrylic  $300

Memorial Day

To  all of our fallen heroes

Thank You.

Seven Words

  

Can these seven words help sell art?  I think the answer is "yes".  They are a "Call to Action" intended to move readers of these words to buy a work of art that has moved them (or may move them in the future) through a sense of joy or inspiration or whatever.

We, as consumers, are exposed to calls to action every day from sellers of everything from soup to luxury automobiles.  Every product/service, it seems, has a Call to Action associated with it, a phrase, a "suggestion" that tells the reader/listener to perform a certain action that will bring them closer to owning the product or service.

Some examples of  Calls to Action:
-Ask your doctor about...fill-in-the-blank.. to relieve your allergies.
-See your.. fill-in-the-blank... at your local dealer for a test drive.
-Call 1- 800..-fill-in-the-blank... for more information about how to refinance your home.
And the most used Call to Action of our current times...LIKE US ON FB.

So, a number of years ago I asked myself why not a Call to Action (CTA) that can help those of  us who sell art, (artist, gallery owners, reps and anyone who wants to promote the ownership of artworks) to actually give potential buyers a good reason to BUY ART?  The phrase "Invest in Joy & Inspiration  BUY ART" came about as a result.

This is a "suggestion" to people who hover on the edge of purchasing a piece of art but who can't quite justify it so they hold back as a result.  Investing in art has traditionally only addressed the financial reason for doing so with the hopes of making a profit on the art.  Our CTA calls for an investment not for financial gain but rather an investment in one's own joy, one's own inspiration, one's own happiness, contentment, sense of
well being or whatever that comes from owning a work of art that one has fallen in love with.

If you agree that promoting this message "Invest in Joy and Inspiration BUY ART" can help promote art and you want to help spread the word please go to www.zazzle.com/buyart or just click on the small bumper sticker in the gadget to the right and above "About Me".

Xanadu Announcement

It gives me extreme pleasure to announce that Xanadu Gallery LLC of Scottsdale, Arizona has accepted my submission to be one of their Studio Artists on their web site http://www.xanadugallery.com/.

What this means is that I now have my own page in the Studio Artists segment of their online gallery. Simply go to that section and put my name into the Search box to pull up my page.  I have a limited number of painting originals available for sale but plan to increase that number on a regular basis.

I have long admired Xanadu Gallery LLC, which is owned and operated by Jason and Carrie Horejs since Sept. 10, 2001.  Not only are the artworks they exhibit among my favorite but their story of opening on the day before the world changed forever is both inspirational and touching.   If you happen to find yourself in the Valley of the Sun, do yourself a favor and treat your senses to a delightful visit to Xanadu Gallery LLC.

Cape Elizabeth Lupines

8"x8" Acrylics

$450

http://www.xanadugallery.com/

Spring has sprung. Fall has fell. Summer's comin'. It's hotter than........

Spring has sprung.  Fall has fell. Summer's comin'.  It's hotter than usual!   You thought I was going to say something else?

Well, Spring hasn't exactly sprung here in good 'ol Maine, but it seems to be creeping closer with every day.  And that means I'll soon be out and about plein air painting.  Now that will be a real sign of  Spring. I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of my painting companions with the Plein Air Painters of Maine (PAPME) down near and around Boothbay Harbor.

Painter of the Sea

Acrylics on panel

Get a print of this painting at

www.bill-tomsa.artistwebsites.com

Winter has me WIP'ed.

I am no stranger to winter.  I grew up in upstate NY and have many fond memories of "going sledding" and the hot chocolate after we came in  and building snowmen and snowball fights (without  anyone's eye ever being "put out").  My wife, Gloria, and I are in our 11th Maine winter.  But I don't remember, in my 67 winters, seeing so much snow piled so high, shoveling or now, snowthrowing it, so often (and hoping the machine lasts through the season) than I have in the last month or so.  And don't get me started on the C-O-L-D! The one positive on that is that heating oil prices have dropped since last year.

What does this have to do with art, you ask.  Well, it certainly does put the kibosh on my plein air painting as I can't paint outside below 40 degrees because my paints are affected.  Therefore I am confined to my studio to A) work from my photos, B) do some still life paintings or C) finish some of the many unfinished or, as I call them, WIPS (Works In Progress ) that I have strewn about. There is no real simple explanation as to why I have a lot of unfinished paintings other than I am lazy or I just haven't figured out a good end to the WIP....yet.  However I haven't given up on it either and, most of the time, I will come to a reasonable conclusion on the painting and it will find it's way to a frame and eventually to a wall. 

So I guess, in hindsight, winter does serve a purpose afterall as far as my art goes.  It forces me to do two things.  One, reacquaint myself with my studio and, two, confront my WIPS and transform them into fully realized paintings. Here's the one I'll work on next. That is once I locate my favorite brush and that tube of cadmium yellow....

One of my Works In Progress

Art to hang on your walls.

Well I've been a member of Fine Art America (FAA) for about 6 weeks now and have learned a lot about how it works from reading and particiipating in the Discussions.  One of the most talked about topics is marketing, especially thru social media.  Hence the purpose of this blog to let my readers know what is available on my particular part of  FAA which you can access through the following link www.bill-tomsa.pixels.com   Since my last post I have become a Premium Member and now have over 60 images posted of both my acrylic paintings and photographs both color and black & white.  Prints of any of them can be hanging on your wall within days.  Many of my works on FAA have been featured on various Groups that I have joined and submitted images to.  Besides a variety of prints to decorate your walls many of these images lend themselves nicely to a new product, the throw pillows, as well as greeting cards. Check it out.

Art work at Yarmouth Frame and Gallery

Just a heads up that I have 3 small paintings in the Yarmouth Frame and Gallery Holiday group show. Below is one of them.

 

Blue Sky Reflections

8x8" Acrylic

$450

Just joined Fine Art America

I'm very pleased to announce that I have just joined and am now selling originals and prints of my artwork on Fine Art America.  For me this is an exciting new venture which I hope will enable me to get my work to a much larger audience.  If you would like to visit my site go to www.bill-tomsa.pixels.com. Please check it out.  Thank you.

Arts Downtown & All Around....already???

Yes, it is that time again!  Where has this year gone??!!  Oh well, as a wise man ( I think it was Frank Zappa) once said, "Time flies like the wind.  Fruit flies like the bananas."  Anywho, I will be participating in the 17th Annual Arts Downtown & All Around  Group Show at Fort Andross November 14, 15 and 16th.  The gallery is right next to the enterance of Frontier cafe.  I will have many new paintings inspired by Maine and the Southwest, where Gloria and I lived for 12 years before moving to Maine. Besides my acrylic original paintings, I'll also have selected unframed watercolor, pen & ink sketches and acrylic originals at a lower price point in my "bin".  Please stop by and say "hi".  Gloria and I would love to see and chat with you and answer any questions you may have about my art.

 

ADAA HOURS

 

Nov. 14 Fri. 5 - 8 PM

 

Nov. 15  Sat. 11 AM - 4 PM

 

Nov. 16  Sun. 11AM - 4 PM

 

 

 

 

Sonoran Thunderhead

5x7"  unframed   $225 

Safety First

Something a little different here.  I've wanted to post something about how I set up to paint plein air on the side of busy (or not so busy) roads.  Maybe there is something here that one of my five readers can use.  Seriously though you do need to take some precautions when you're out painting in the world.  First of all I try my best to get as far off the road as the shoulder will allow.  Next I always carry a red fluorescent "cone" with me.  You can buy these at any store like Home Depot or whatever.  I've gone one step further and stenciled mine with the words "Dept. of Art".  I picked this up from another plein air painter and I regret I can't remember his name in order to give him credit. I do remember him saying that he thought Dept. of Art looked more official than Art Dept.  It may help reduce any hassle you might get from whoever.  Also, putting your car's "flashers" on can add to your visibility to drivers.

 

 



Hot Air Meets Plein Air

I painted plein air in Auburn, Maine last Saturday during the 6am launch at the Lewistion/Auburn Annual Great Falls Balloon Festival.  Getting up an hour early in order to make it the 30 miles to Lewiston from Topsham had it's benifits, the biggest of which was seeing a beautiful sunrise.  It was a graphic reminder of why I need to get out earlier in the day to paint with this wonderful light.  Anyway below is the results of my efforts at the hot air balloon event.  This painting is available through my email.

 

This Sun Also Rises

8x8" Acrylic

$450

Oreo Cows...Art Show @ Aldermere

O.K. O.K.  I know they are officially called "Belted Galloways".  But every time (almost) that I mention Belted Galloways by name to people who don't know the official name, I get a blank stare back, until I describe the black cows with a wide white belt.  Then their faces light up and they say "Oh yeah! The Oreo cows"! Most people just refer to them as "Belties" your truly included. Much faster to say.  I had never seen one of these unusual looking cows until, my wife, Gloria, and I were on a back road in Rockport a number of years ago and drove past Aldermere Farm www.aldermere.org where they raise them. I later found out about the annual Art Show and Sale that is held at the farm featuring the Belties and farm as the theme.  Since Aldermere partnered with the Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) several years ago the theme of the show/sale has been expanded to also include artworks that depict Maine coast scenes, and the Erickson Fields Preserve. MCHT's website www.mcht.org states "Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) conserves and stewards Maine’s coastal lands and islands for their renowned scenic beauty, ecological value, outdoor recreational opportunities, and contribution to community well-being."

I have 9 acrylic paintings of both Belties and coastal scenes in  this year's annual fund raising Aldermere Farm Art Show and Sale which is this Saturday, August 9th from 9am to 4pm. Check their web site for more info on the great variety of art from whimsical to traditional landscapes and coastal scenes.  You are certain to find something you love.  Admission is free and you know what I say about "free"...if it's free, take it!

 

 

Aldermere Belties

Acrylic  8x6

 

 

The Shop at Aldermere

Acrylic  11x14

Holy Color Wheel Batman! It's already August at the Sebascodegan Art Gallery!

Well, on second thought, if you aren't a fan of  "The Dark Knight" aka Batman, that title may not mean much to you.  But, if you're still reading this I've succeeded in getting your attention.  My point is that we are already into August and therefore the season's second art exhibit at the artists' cooperative Sebascodegan Art Gallery on Route 24, 7.5 miles south  of Cook's Corner in Brunswick.  We are celebrating our 25th year and hope you'll stop by to find a piece of beautiful art to fill just that right spot on one of your home's walls. If you haven't visited the gallery before you'll be delighted to find dozens of paintings and 3 dimensional art by 20 juried artists who compose the gallery which is open 10 am to 5pm every day until the end of  August. Stop and enjoy.  Below are 3 of my own paintings in this show.

Little Dog and Beyond

Acrylic 9x12

$650

Heading Out Under the Cribstone Bridge

Acrylic 9x12

$650

 

 

The Cuise In

Acrylic 8x8

 $450

Sebascodegan Artists Gallery Open

As a member of the Sebascodegan Artists Gallery, a co-operative of 20 artists, I'm happy to say the gallery is now open for our 2 month 2014 season, July and August.  We are celebrating our 25th year and looking forward to many more to come.  The gallery is located 7.5 miles south of Cook's Corner in Brunswick, ME on Route 24 (also known as Harpswell Island Road).  Look for the signs and a little white (former) church on the hill on the right side (if you're coming from Cook's Corner) of the road.  We have a very eclectic collection of art for sale in a wide price range, so  I'm sure you'll find your time well spent if you stop by.  Many of our visitors are looking for a piece of art for their home or as a gift for a friend or loved one.  A number of local people are very pleased to stop by the gallery with friends/family visiting them from away and often find a nice keepsake.  I, personally have a number of paintings in this show and, for the first time, several assemblages.  Hope to see you when I'm "sitting" the gallery.