Blog

it's been awhile since i have visited my blog and thought i would write a few lines about what is going on in the heflin studio. first i would like to acknowledge a comment made from a long time friend, Laurie. how good to hear that you still remember not only our conversations about art but you still recall one particular painting  20 years after our last meeting. thanks for your beautiful words. please keep in touch.

my show in october at the garrison school lofts drew over 600 guests. it was great to see many old friends and to meet many that were new to my exhibits. it came as no surprise that sales were down due to our national economy. i am confident that things will take a turn for the better by next year.

at present i am working on three commissions that will keep me busy for awhile. its been some time since i have entered any shows but this year i did have work accepted in 4 different national shows. from what i have been observing for the last few years art has mushroomed on a national scale. what is most evident is the great talent that is out there. a renaissance of academic realism and impressionist (ala richard schmid) oh richard, what a fire you have started in the hearts of so many young artists. i should include myself in that last statement, even though i'm not a young artist, and don't paint in richards style... i admire his work greatly.

speaking of style, i have heard from quiet a few visitors to my site lately that were somewhat surprised at my home page painting "ghosts of the seven devils swamp" being so different from my peaceful landscapes. it is true that this work is rather disturbing to some but this further proves my point that we as artists are capable of finding inspiration in more than one segment of our personalities. as for myself i don't come to the easel with the same mindset each day.(maybe i have multiple personality problems) i never feel more free than when i am painting from instinct and imagination. true, these works are not as marketable as peaceful landscapes that bring contentment to the viewer. on the other hand there are some of us that must paint what we feel without regard as to how we will be perceived.  fortunately there are some collectors who buy art for arts sake which makes it possible for this artist to explore new horizons.

to those friends that have asked about the whereabouts of  my daughters rebecca, elizabeth and sarah....they have fled our home town and now live in new york, houston and charleston. i will post a picture that was taken a few years ago in our front yard.....i hope it will  show up somewhere near this blog. thanks for visiting....tom