Bears By the Lake - A CeleBEARtion

Bears By The Lake....a CeleBEARtion

ANDREW THOMPSON

Born In California and raised in the Far East as the child of a foreign service diplomat, I was exposed to a wide variety of cultures and their art. I always appreciated the efforts of artists of all categories and skill levels and this appreciation remains with me to this day. I was always encouraged by my parents, family and friends to make art, to study its history and philosophies, and to strive to remain true to my vision. I began my studies in art as most children do in school and at home. The difference between me and non-artists is that I never stopped coloring and drawing and making things with my hands, so it may be that my involvement in art is simply a case of arrested development.

My formal training really began at the University of Southern California whore I had the privilege of studying painting and drawing with Prof. Edgar Ewing, a post-cubist and a wonderful painter and teacher as well as with Ruth Weisberg a printmaker of renown. My degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts was awarded in 1975.

In 1975 my small family moved to Tahoe and we have called it our home ever since. While making a living doing whatever I could (nursery, teaching, casino work) I enrolled in the art program at California State University, Sacramento and earned my Master’s Degree In 1984 . This degree allowed me to quality for a leaching position at Lake Tahoe Community College, where I have been an adjunct faculty member since 1984.

If I was pressed to choose a description of my working style I would have to include two of my favorite words “exploration” and “experimentation”. I find it necessary to keep my mind open to new discoveries in order to satisfy my thirst for knowledge and to continuously replenish the sense of wonder and delight which comes from understanding a bit more about the world of art. I don’t mean to imply that there can be no structure in painting, just that while one is involved in art making, one should be open to the possibilities which are inherent in the process.

I have lately been producing mostly landscapes in watercolor, pastel, and ink on paper, as well as still-life in acrylics and oil paint. I am still intrigued by figurative work and keep my hand in portraiture. My personal favorite method of working is to try something new and immerse myself into the project as fully as I can so that I can gain knowledge and to solve all the problems involved in the successful completion of the project. I find that solutions present themselves in timely ways If I am receptive and patient.

Always look to nature for inspiration. Whether I am looking for a color balance, a design scheme, textural references, compositional ideas, natural phenomena are an unfailing resource from which to draw ideas.