Rainy Night Blues

Original Painting - Acrylic on Canvas 20x16

A summer thunderstorm drenches the city and isolates the pedestrians under awnings and umbrellas to escape the downpour. Car tires swish through puddles on the wet pavement as the rain beats a steady tattoo on the city streets. The distant rumble of thunder joins the rumble of traffic and bright downtown lights challenge the sporadic flashes of lightning illuminating the dark sky above.

Cold Hard Streets

Original Painting By Tom Shropshire

Acrylic on canvas 16x20

This piece began as a class demonstration in monochromatic painting and was later completed in the studio. I like the mood and film noir feel of the finished work.  It reminds me of the opening shot for a black and white Hollywood crime movie from the 1940's or early 1950's.

The voiceover - "Corrupt cops and politicians, hookers and junkies, delinquents and gangsters ...you'll find them all on the COLD HARD STREETS. (Title scrawled across the screen as orchestra comes in)

Pulse of the City

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 20x24

From Trash To Triumph

This painting began as a purely non-objective abstract painting and I was unhappy with the results. I then decided to try again and painted over the surface until only the texture remained. The random and heavy texture forced me to use a loose approach on my second attempt. I am now extremely happy with the results. In fact, I plan to use this technique in the future for my large scale night city scenes. We can learn a lot from our failures. Sometimes failure points us to success and triumph only needs another try and a little more umph.

Nor'easter in New York city

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 20x16

"Suckerpunch Nor’easter adds to the misery of Super Storm Sandy victims." – Baltimore Sun Blog

“God hates us!” the New York Post said in a front-page headline.

These are the headlines regarding the Northeaster of November 2012. I wanted to capture the atmosphere of the unexpected snow blanketing the city of New York and see the beauty even in an ugly weather event.