Meet Tom Lockhart!

Tom is one of PPWS’ Featured Artists for October 2025!

Tom has been a member of PPWS since 2024 and is an Associate Member.

Tom is also a Signature Member of (OPA) Oil Painters of America, Signature Member of RMPAP. Past Signature Member of the NWR, (OPS) Outdoor Painters Society, (CWS) Colorado Watercolor Society, (PPWCS) Pikes Peak Watercolor Society and the (PPPS) Pikes Peak Pastel Society. Tom Serves on the Board of the (FCA) Fremont Center for the Arts in Canon City, CO and just finished a one-man show in November 2023.

Tom’s Bio:

Tom Lockhart is a representational landscape artist, born and raised in the heart of the San Luis Valley of Southern Colorado. Tom feels that solid drawing, correct colors, and value, along with the atmospheric effects of light & shadow within the landscape, are some of the keys to a visually stimulating and interesting image.

Painting from life, (plein air as often as possible) helps to reinforce the visual stimulants when it comes to painting the landscape.

Tom has been working as a professional artist for over 40 years. Being primarily a self-taught artist, I have learned to seek out information, not only about painting from life in the outdoors, but also by studying the artworks of top professional working artists, and by taking workshops with those I most respected. This helped to further my knowledge and skill.

Tom feels that nothing can take the place of study, hard work, and painting hundreds and hundreds of paintings. “I love painting mountains, rivers, the valleys of rural Colorado scenes, the Southwest Canyons, as well as the Coast of Maine”.

Tom’s Awards:

  • Tom has had one-man Colorado shows including the Luther Bean Museum at Adams State College in Alamosa, the A.R. Mithcell Museum in Trinidad, and the Western Center for the Arts in Grand Junction, and the “From the Canyons to the Coast” Exhibition.
  • Tom has shown in the Old West Museum for Cheyenne Frontier Days for 18 years.
  • Top 100 in NOAPS On-Line International 2023.
  • Top 100 Finalists in (NOAPS) National Oil and Acrylic Painters Best of America 2018, as well as the 2016
  • Online Exhibition & Merit Award Winner. (OPA) Oil Painters of America Western Regional 2017, as well as a Signature member in both NOAPS, OPA, and CWS.
  • Third place in the (CWS) Colorado Watercolor Society’s Statewide Exhibition 2018,
  • Best of Show Statewide Exhibition (CWS) 2007.
  • BEST Show in 3 Consecutive Plein-Air Competitions in Colorado in 2011.
  • The Only Artist Awarded the Silver Medal for Region III in the National Arts for the Parks in 1994 & 2004.
  • Featured in, Art of the West Magazine, Jul/Aug 2018 & May/Jun1998.
  • Southwest Art Magazine 2006, (Tom was Awarded the cover) of the February 2006 Issue.
  • Featured in American Artists Watercolor Magazines,” Colorado Markings” Spring 2000.
  • Tom was also included in the Forbes Magazine Gallery Exhibition in New York City.

Tom’s favorite things to paint:

Dramatic landscapes, old ranches, sunrises, sunsets, rivers, and snow scenes. Tom also works in oils and pastels.

Tom’s favorite or most admired artists:

Richard Schmid, Wayne Wolfe, Lowell Ellsworth Smith, Irvine Shapiro, Ted Goerschner, James Reynolds.

Tom’s Goals for next year:

Paint more watercolors and do more Plein-Air events

FAVORITE ARTSY QUOTE

“Paint from the Heart.”

Tom’s Tip or Trick:

Do several thumbnail sketches both in the studio & on location.