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Painting plein air (in the “full” air – outside!) is a sport – it requires speed, agility, endurance, and passion. The sport gives the artist a chance to capture a moment in time, to make quick decisions to identify the essential elements in his view, splashing a canvas with wet on wet paint (“alla prima” – “first attempt”), to create his impression. The spectators, those viewing the painting, are equally important, because they actually finish the painting, blending and interpreting in their minds the colors and dabs of paint left by the artist. So, buckle up and enjoy the sport! I identify plein air works to distinguish those I may paint in a “studio.”

I enjoy the style of the impressionists, who did not attempt to paint images with the “realism” that one might expect from a camera, but painted with quick stokes with a brush loaded with vibrant and often unmixed colors, leaving it to the viewer’s eye to mix the colors and stokes, to create a notion of a specific and fleeting moment of time colored by both the painter and viewer’s impressions. Unlike many impressionists and modern artists, I do not agree that reality is subjective, being defined by what the individual sees. Truth is not subjective, yet personal and subjective sensations and perceptions are varied and reflect our creative individuality given to us by the Master Creator. The paintings are not an “exact” reproduction of an object for its own sake. We create because we are created. The Creator is the benchmark for truth–we all see reflections of that truth. Theologians call that common grace. The Heavens do declare the glory of God. I feel his pleasure when I create. —- Thomas H. Roberts

We create because we are created.  In creativity we experience some of the joy of the creator.  Truth is absolute, but each individual experiences the truth and the world around them in a unique and individual way.   I paint plein air, outdoors, because I am inspired by the creation and love to capture a moment in time with a painting that gives a unique and individual impression of that fleeting moment, which those viewing my painting will in turn enjoy through their own unique and individual eye and mind.   I approach life as an artist taking my life-time of experience to examine the puzzle facing me and pursuing a creative solution.  People ask, “how long did it take you to paint that painting?”  The honest answer “A lifetime.”

Tom Roberts – American artist THRoberts

Painting is seeing, thinking and expressing.  It seems that our minds are wired to capture what we believe to be the essential parts of a situation, event, object or scene.  Some of you may have seen a video that illustrates this phenomenon where the viewer is told to count the number of times a basketball is passed back and forth.  The viewer dutifully counts and at the end of the video, is asked whether he noticed the gorilla passing through by the players.  Most of us missed it and refuse to believe that we could have missed something so obvious until the video is played again.  And so it is with life, much passes by us unobserved in plain view.  For the artist, life is a lesson in seeing, observing all of life that was previously ignored and the search to understand the relationship between the parts and the whole, and then our interpretation and expression.  Many find it unusual that an artist might also litigate as an attorney.  Litigation is not so different.  A litigator searches for the parts that have been ignored or overlooked, seeks to understand the relationship between the parts and the whole, and finally expresses an interpretation.  As an artist, I bring to litigation creativity in a profession known for formulas and traveling well worn paths.

American Artist Tom Roberts, Esq.

American Artist Tom Roberts is creative gifted with a zest for life, seeing, experiencing and expressing unique impressions for all to experience in their own way.

 

Tom Roberts was born in Norfolk, Virginia into a family committed to community service.  His grandfather was a prominent state legislature.  He spent his early years in Afghanistan where is father spent most of his time volunteering as a surgeon in a small Afghan hospital after tending to the International community.  THRoberts was educated in a liberal arts school in New England, earning a degree in business & economics.  After his first summer in school he computer programmed at the Pentagon.   Looking for a challenge and to read the Scriptures in the native language he studied Hebrew under the tutelage of Marvin Wilson.  He received his only painting instruction down the road at Montserrat College Of Art in Beverly, Massachusetts,  After law school at the University of Richmond, THRoberts was a founder of a start-up IT company creating collision avoidance  systems for general aviation and started a law firm that earned a reputation for creative and zealous litigation.

 

For the artist, life is a lesson in seeing, observing all of life that was previously ignored and the search to understand the relationship between the parts and the whole, and then our interpretation and expression.  Many find it unusual that an artist might also litigate as an attorney.  Litigation is not so different.  A litigator searches for the parts that have been ignored or overlooked, seeks to understand the relationship between the parts and the whole, and finally expresses an interpretation.  As an artist, THRoberts brought to litigation creativity in a profession known for formulas and traveling well worn paths.

 

Tom Roberts married Shari and together they raised three sons, David Janney Roberts, an IT Entrepreneur, Jesse Hunt Roberts, an innovative farmer and horticulturist, and Isaac Thomas Roberts, Air Force ROTC & Engineering student.  During the time his children grew, THRoberts coached travel soccer teams and spent most of his time in law and with family.  Most of his artistic endeavors were devoted to charitable causes, including St. Michael’s school, Noah’s Children and others. As time continued the intensity of THRoberts art increased.  In 2015 THRoberts successfully completed #365daysofpainting, painting a fresh painting each day of the year.

 

THRoberts paintings are often plein air works, with occasional conceptual works fusing binary code, language and images.  His art work explores life with a zest and zeal that mirrors the life he lives.

 

This website features a few of the many creations of fine art and expressions.  Enjoy.

I cannot explain why I woke up on January 1, 2015 and determined that I would paint a painting each day for the year.  There are many unexplained mysteries in the universe – this is but one.  I could not tell you whether it was the daily inspiration of the beauty surrounding me each day, the satisfaction of completing another day in the journey, the simple obsession of painting, the encouragement of many who expressed their appreciation of the daily paintings or the fear of failure aided by the reach of social media that pushed me to complete the goal.  The journey was richly rewarding.  Each day I intentionally observed life and for a few moments each day expressed my impressions of those observations.  Along the way as we circled the sun, I communicated with old and new friends around the globe.  For those who made the journey with me, thank you.  I hope that you will continue to participate with me, art is a joint endeavor between the artist and the viewer.  In the case of Impressionism, the viewer’s eye and mind completes the painting.  Enjoy.    THRoberts – 2015.