About the Artist

A. THOMAS WEZWICK

A. Thomas (Tom) Wezwick is 63 years old and lives just outside Las Vegas, New Mexico.  Originally from New York, he has lived and painted all over the world, but primarily in the SouthWest United States, for the last 35+ years.

Thomas received formal art training at Adelphi University and Utah Technical College, but has principally developed his style being a “plein aire” painter (on location outdoors).  He feels that this is the only way to truly capture the energy, feeling, and beauty of a landscape.  “Creating a piece of artwork on location is a process of becoming involved with nature.  It’s very intimate—not many people take the time to study one place for that long.  You would be surprised at how much you see after a while.”

Tom’s own personal style can be described as “painterly”, leaning towards the style of his ancestors, the Russian impressionists.  He usually works in oil on linen and is particularly interested in the quality of light and mood working in his paintings.

Tom spends much of his time outdoors.  In addition to painting, he is an accomplished rock climber, kayaker, and skier.

Tom has work on display at Weem's Gallery, located on Montgomery, in Albuquerque, and the WarDancer Gallery in Las Vegas, New Mexico.    Thomas is also a signature member of Plein Aire Painters of New Mexico............P.A.P.N.M                     

Artists Statement--  I would like to make a few statements about my painting, on the direction of my painting etc. ...When I now paint, I really want to say more than, "Here is a pretty scene!!!"  

...I would like the viewer to be impacted from across the room, however, as they get closer to my work, they can enjoy the paint--Big, sometimes sweeping, brushstrokes--looking as if they were placed with reckless abandon!

...I never want it to look as if I were trying to reproduce a scene as a photograph;  I want to remind the viewer that, "This is a painting!!!  I want the viewer to, hopefully, feel my passion and energy;  that this is my response to what is before me, not a copy; that the art  is happening now, as I paint;  that this painting was easy, slapping on paint, and was so much fun!  

...I do not want the viewer to feel like this was a struggle; or that  it was a difficult road.  (Which it is, has been (but it IS getting easier)!!      

   AWARDS  and  SHOWS

1. Bold Brush-Top 15%--last 48 consecutive months
2. Best of Signature Member, PAPNM 9th National Members Juried Show--2017
3. Honorable Mention & Artists Choice Award, PAPNM 8th National Members Juried Show--2016
4. Best of Signature Member & Artists Choice Award, PAPNM 7th National Members Juried Show--2015
5. Third Place in Bold Brush Competition--July 2015
6. O.P.A. Western Regional Exhibition, Steamboat Springs, Colorado--2015
7. Winner, Plein Air Painters of New Mexico Winter On-line Competition--2015
8. Honorable Mention, Oil Painter's of America, Spring On-line Showcase-2013
9. Juried Show:  Oil Painter's of America, 1st Summer Salon Show, Petoskey, Michigan--2013 
10. Arts for the Park, Top 100, Jackson Hole, Wyoming--1994    
11. Arts for the Park, Top 200, Jackson Hole, Wyoming--1993   
12. 1st Place, Professional Art Exhibit, New Mexico State Fair--1992
13. New Mexico Art League, National Small Painting Exhibition, Albuquerque, NM --1992
14. 1st Place, International Art Challenge, Las Vegas, Nevada--1989 
15. Best of Show, Inter-Mountain Society of Artists, Professional Show, Utah--1988
16. Rocky Mountain Western Art Association, Best of Show--1986/87 (?)
17. Utah 85, A Statewide Exhibition, Utah Arts Council--198                                                                                           2015 Plein Aire Painters of New Mexico , Annual Members Show--Best of Signature Members , Artist Choice Award       

Articles: 

Outdoor Painters , Online  Magazine, "My Favorite Place to Paint"

My Favorite Place to Paint

Author: Bob Bahr
Publication: Outdoor Painter, Plein Air Magazine, Online.
Publication Year: 2014

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Art of the West, Feature Article, November/December 1994

Art of the West, Artist’s Preview, November/December 1993

Focus Santa Fe, April/May 1995

Focus Santa Fe, October/November/December 1996

Solo Exhibitions:

Editions Gallery, Santa Fe, NM 1998

Silverthorne Gallery, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, 1994