(Ellis Thomas) "Tom" Howard (1957-), of Kearns, Utah, is painter in oils or acrylics, a watercolorist, and a mixed-media artist as well. Born in Las Vegas, Nevada, Howard earned a B.F.A. at the University of Utah in 1984, an M.F.A. at Brigham Young University in 1995, and is known for his assemblage collage creations as well as for his figurative and landscape subjects done in both representational and abstract manners.

He has won the following awards:1994- The Alliance for the Varied Arts “Celebrate the Arts“ (merit award) in 1994; Bountiful Davis Art Center Regional Fine Arts Exhibition (first place) in 1996; First Annual Old Capitol Centennial Fine Arts Show, Delta, Utah (third place) in 1996; The Deseret News Annual Landscape Art Show (merit award) in 2001; and Holter Museum of Art, Helena, Montana (honorable mention) in 2002.

Artist's Statement

“As I understand 'Deconstructionism,' it is a term coined to describe the process of peeling away layers of meaning until the basic truth of a thing is known. This philosophy begins to touch on some of the reasons why I paint the landscape. Life has its moments, for all of us, when meaning and focus can become lost in the very living of it. 'Where can I turn for peace?' becomes the quest of the moment. The struggle for all of us is to find the focus that gives us clarity once again. The landscape of the west, still relatively open, distant, remote and devoid of the clutter of human existence, is where I am able to find a measure of peace and restfulness.

“It was Ralph Waldo Emerson who wrote '...within these plantations of God a decorum and sanctity reigns... in the woods we return to reason and faith....' These are among the things I meditate on while painting. Many of my images are from the landscape of my youth, which includes the valleys, hills and mountain ranges of the Great Basin. These are far from the deep hardwood forests of Emerson's world, but none the less beautiful. Mine is an effort to impact on human emotions and sentiments, soothe the soul, and brighten the spirit with a greater sense of being.“

For more information on the artist contact: howard1@smartfella.com

Biography courtesy Artists of Utah and the artist.