"Bernini at the Borghese"

"Bernini at the Borghese" Thomas W Schaller - Watercolor 22X15 inches 25 Jan. 2015

"A Hike in Ohio"

"A Hike in Ohio" Thomas W Schaller - Watercolor 22 x 14 inches 21 Jan. 2015

Masters of Watercolour Exhibition - St. Petersburg

Upcoming Exhibition: Masters of Watercolour, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 20-31 January http://www.watercolormasters.ru/ ВЫСТАВКА "МАСТЕРА АКВАРЕЛИ" Сайт выставки ведущих акварелистов мира "Мастера акварели" WATERCOLORMASTERS.RU Arch of Septimius - Rome Thomas W Schaller - Watercolor; 30x22 Inches.

"Light of the Pantheon - Rome"

"Light of the Pantheon - Rome" Thomas W Schaller - Watercolor 18X24 Inches 17 Jan. 2015

Are we artists only when we paint?

Are we artists only when we paint? As visual people, we are – in a sense - always painting. In fact, most paintings I do begin long before the brush ever touches the page. As Edward Hopper said: “Art is the outward expression of the inner life of an artist. And this inner life will result in a personal vision of the world.” And it’s in how we see and feel about the world that we are framing our future work. When just out walking, we may notice a bit of light, a hint of color, a composition of values that we never saw before. Or as the sunlight slants along a narrow street that we may have seen a thousand times, we realize; we never noticed it quite like that. Sometimes, we do a sketch, or take a quick photo. But often, we just file these impressions away somewhere in our hearts – a collection of moments. Over the years we amass a vast storeroom of moments; visual, sensory, and emotional memories - a collection we can draw upon for a lifetime. And in that collection should also be those feelings we had at the very moment we saw that light, or remembered the smell of those leaves, or the chill in the air one afternoon as the shadows inched across that road, or the talk we had that day with a neighbor or a friend. This is the stuff of Art – more than the exact specifics of what this view or that scene may actually look like. And so of myself I ask that I paint not so much the scene in front of me – but rather, how I remember, or how I feel about that scene right now. And if my painting comes even close to asking that question of the viewer, then I feel I’ve done my job. A painter paints, a writer writes, and so on it is said. That’s true enough. We only improve those skills that we practice. The only garden that grows is one that we have watered. And to be honest, I am usually not happy when I have to miss a day of painting. It is the garden I most wish to tend. But I think I need to remember how much my inner life is shaped and informed by the world around me. Taking some time to just be mindful and observant of this world – moment by moment -is critical. If I spend a little time just riding my bike, or watching people on the street, or talking with a friend, or just absorbing the sights, the sounds, the millions of angles of light that Nature provides, or just looking up and really watching the sky; all this helps to shape my unique personal vision. And back at the easel, that is at least as important a tool for the artist as any paint or brush could ever be. While this is a view of a scene, it is a painting of a feeling. “Approaching the Summit - Slieve Binnian” Northern Ireland 

"Rooftops of Rye"

"Rooftops of Rye" Thomas W Schaller - Watercolor 18x24 inches 13 Jan 2015

Three Bridges - Los Angeles

Three More Bridges - Was teaching and missed a couple of days last week - so here are 3 more bridges - this time all in Los Angeles: Detail of the 4the Street Bridge : Detail of the 7th Street Bridge : And The Cesar Chavez Ave. Bridge.

Three More Bridges - NYC

Three More Bridges - Last Day - All New York City: Sky Bridge on the Lower West Side, The Gapstow in Central Park, and The Bridge over 42nd Street at Grand Central.

Demonstration Painting

Huge thanks to the Valley Watercolor Society for hosting such a big and successful workshop for me - Great group! Lots of talented and enthusiastic painters! My first quick demonstration painting today .

"Moonlight in the Campo " - Rome

"Moonlight in the Campo" -Rome Thomas W Schaller - Watercolor 15X22 Inches 08 Jan 2015

Three Bridges a Day - Day Three

My thoughts are with the people of Paris today. So for Day Three of the 3 Paintings a Day exercise - in honor of France - I'm posting only paintings of French Bridges. The one on the right is Pont Valentré in Cahors, the other two are partially real and partially imaginary bridges inspired by the beautiful Dordogne Region in that amazing country. And I'll nominate Andy Evansen to see if he's willing to play along.

Three Bridges a Day - Day Two

Thanks for all the great comments yesterday! So for Day Two of my Three a Day Marathon , I'm sticking with Bridges as my theme. Here's one from all the 3 places I've lived - New York City, Los Angeles, and Ohio. And today I tap the great Sarah Yeoman to join the party! Cheers - Tom.

Three Bridges A Day - Day One

Thanks (I think) to a few friends ( Bev Jozwiak and Iain Stewart come to mind), I've come down with the "3 Watercolors a Day" Virus .... Thought it wasn't catching but apparently, it is. So I'm keeping mine to a theme - my beloved bridges. Here's one in Vancouver, BC, one in Northern Ireland, and one in Rome. And I now get to tap my good friend William G. Hook to get on board the 3 a Day Train and hope he forgives me -)

"New Year's Day - Ohio"

"New Year's Day" - Ohio" Thomas W Schaller - Watercolor. 22 X16 inches - 02 Jan. 2015