in 1967 but considers himself a Mountain Brook,
Alabama native. His artistic talent was recognized at a
very early age, and after graduating from high school,
Tom attended Auburn University where he received
his BFA in 1990. In 2004, Tom decided to pursue
his love of painting on a full-time basis. His southern
upbringing has a great influence on his spiritual subject
matter, and the landscape of Alabama plays a large
role in his rustic color palette. Furthermore, Tom's
style is visually unique as he paints using primarily a
palette knife. His canvases are rich in acrylic paint,
and each piece is finished in a tinted oil stain.
signature and he says this about his work: "I don't paint frilly cherubs resting on cotton clouds. My spiritual figures are
dramatic and meant to stir deep emotions." Always striving to keep his figures 'relevant', Thomas Andrew is inspired by
the strength in women and captures their power in his spiritual figures with unmatched luminosity. Furthermore, Tom's
original angel artwork is licensed for reproduction by Virgins, Saints and Sinners Company from Baton Rouge, LA.
Art enthusiasts around the country also collect Tom's landscape paintings. "The rural landscape of America is becoming
obsolete," says Andrew. "I find the dilapidated 19th century barns that remain speckled throughout this country intriguing
and beautiful. They all tell the story of us (society) and the simplicity we once had and the simplicity we long for again."
Thomas Andrew's 'Lost Barn' series has been a favorite among collectors, and Bentley Publishing in California has
recently acquired the rights to reproduce and distribute his landscape artwork.
"The nature of my work reflects spirituality. My figurative paintings represent the struggles of women. I was raised by a
strong single mother. She was constantly faced with tough decisions to make for herself and her children. It was her
determination and strong will that got us through the hard times. My figures depict women thinking and feeling their
emotions as they work through obstacles laid before them. Many of the figures in my paintings are facing a strong light
source, which represents the guidance they seek for strength and clarity. The women facing away from the light are
contemplating a difficult decision. In my eyes, women are by far the stronger sex, and my artwork is to celebrate them as
true blessings to mankind.
My latest landscape work, a series of 'Lost Barn' landscapes, is a spiritual journey back to a simpler time and place.
While driving through Canada and the United States, I noticed that the fabric of our countries is peppered with old barns
that seem lost in time. They are peaceful and reflective of a simpler time and place in history. My landscape paintings are
meant to instill a peacefulness, reflecting the moments we seek in separating ourselves from today's busyness. The trees
are tall and clustered together and represent the overpowering engulfment in our modern day lives. The barn structure, a
simple dark building, is a metaphor for our inherent longing to step back, breathe, and make life simple again."
