October Artist Tom Curry

For the month of October our artist is Tom Curry. For more information about Tom and his work visit his website Tom Curry – Maine Landscape Artist (tomcurrymaineartist.com)

Artist Statement:

I was first introduced to the medium of egg tempera forty years ago as a student at Rhode Island School of Design. Although I now work primarily in oils, studying with local painter friends Jerry Rose and Phil Schirmer, both of whom are masters of egg tempera, rekindled my interest in this challenging and venerable medium.

The predecessor of oil paint, egg tempera is an ancient medium first used widely in the Middle Ages. The formula is deceptively simple: one egg yolk and one tablespoon of water mixed with powdered pigments. It is generally applied to wood panels covered with glue gesso. I have found that painting in egg tempera shares a surprising similarity with pastels, a medium I’ve worked in for years. Both media use a process of overlaying colors to achieve transparent effects.

Oil paint is my favorite medium, but in winter I like to work with something different. Portraiture in egg tempera allows me to slow down the process of painting and observe intimate details like skin tones and shadows, afternoon light through delicate curtains, the variegated beauty of marsh grass in autumn.