EASTERN SHORE CHAMBER ARTS & CRAFTS COMMITTEE SELECTS OFFICIAL ARTWORK FOR 2010 EVENT

The planning committee for the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce’s Art & Crafts Festival in Fairhope has made the selection of the official artwork for the 2010 show. The artist selected is Ron Thomson, a resident of Fairhope. The show is scheduled for March 19, 20 and 21.

Thomson was sought out to create the official artwork by Clara Smith, co-chairman of this year’s festival. The oil painting is of a sailboat moored at a dock on a bright sunny day, which depicts a favorite past time of local residents. Thomson said he loves to paint sailboats for many reasons.

“I love the opportunity the genre gives to paint the sky, water and light,” he said. “I also enjoy the act of employing the power of the wind and harnessing it for energy. The opportunity to enjoy nature without harming it resonates with me.”

He added that the wind also gets the opportunity to make its presence known on the viewer of the painting. The relationship those on the Eastern Shore share with the water has a long tradition and the bay is a wealth of inspiration to many artists that live here.

A native of a very small community south of Tallahassee called Sopchoppy, Fla., Thomson is a 1988 graduate of Wakulla High School. He earned a bachelor’s of fine art degree from Florida State University. While there he met and married Ellen “Scotty” Thomson, who was serving as a nurse in the U.S. Navy. The couple has two children, Natalie, age 15, and Nicholas, age 13, who both attend local schools.

The couple remained in Jacksonville, Fla. four years, where she was stationed until she was discharged. Oregon became their next home, where they lived for five years. They also spent a short time living in Orlando, Fla. before moving to Fairhope six years ago, where they now enjoy the small town life. Thomson’s wife is now a nurse at Thomas Hospital and he gets to enjoy painting full-time, when he is not conducting workshops of “Seeing Light” throughout the southeast or participating in shows.

“In teaching workshops, we begin with drawing exercises that quickly focus the attention on aspects of light and form that are pivotal to the success of the painting that follows,” said Thomson. “I introduce the foundations of the painting that follows.”

Thomson will be participating in the Arts & Crafts Festival, exhibiting sailboat paintings and some European scenes.

Thomson discovered his creative side when he was only 18 months old. He gets his strong will to paint from his family as his mother and grandmother are both artists. He said he was very honored to be asked to create the official artwork for this year’s festival.

“It goes without saying that this is a rich artist’s community,” he said. “To be asked to create the artwork for the festival was a huge honor.”
 
For more information about the Eastern Shore Chamber’s Arts & Crafts Show call 251-621-8222.