Artist in Residence Program

October 19 – November 8: Thomas Bradshaw

Richmond based Plein air artist, Thomas Bradshaw, has been honing his painting skills since he was a small child watching his grandmother create still life paintings in her basement studio. After graduating from the Art Institute of Atlanta with a degree in Graphic Design, he moved west to Jackson Hole, WY, where his evolution into a Plein air artist began to take shape.

Having always loved the outdoors, Thomas began to paint in and around Jackson Hole setting up his easel to capture the breathtaking western landscapes. He soon realized it was the perfect marriage of his two passions, painting and being in nature.

“Jackson Hole was a place where I could immerse myself in the style of art that has always been my first love”. Thomas often says “ I have always loved seeing a painterly painted painting”.

His loose painterly style allows him to imply detail without overstating it. Using brushwork and a palette knife to create a textural impression which draws the viewer in for a closer look. Utilizing a limited palette, Thomas is able to create shimmering light through temperature and value and bring to life the way in which it illuminates the scene as a single moment in time. Painting Plein air forces the artist to recognize that light is the heart of any painting and that light is the quality that inspires the dynamic nature of the landscape.

Thomas is currently teaching a Master Class in Richmond and he is enjoying the pleasures and challenges of painting, teaching and spending time with his family.

October 2nd – October 16th : Dan Berne

Named an award winner by the Pacific Northwest Writers Association, Dan Berne published his debut novel The Gods of Second Chances in 2016. In addition to writing for publication in literary magazines, Berne writes non-fiction about markets and their transformations.

While working on his current manuscript in Gloucester, Berne will give a reading at Arts On Main on October 9th. He will be reading from both works and talking about how he approaches the story’s arc and points of tension, as well as the challenges of writing a female versus a male protagonist.

A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Berne worked various warehouse and factory jobs through college before moving to the west coast and settling in Portland, Oregon. His poetry and fiction create worlds with a gritty realism in which goodness, too, can thrive alongside trauma. Dan has been an active member of a select writing workshop led by author Karen Karbo for ten years.

His short stories and poetry have been published in literary magazines and he has won a literary award from the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. Dan owns a market strategy consultancy and is currently writing a book on market transformation. Find more at www.danberne.com

Please check our “Events and Classes” for more information on gallery talks, workshops & performances hosted by AIR.