Variations on the Landscape, the present exhibition of the works of Tony Thompson in the Shellnut Gallery, mixes the traditional art of the Hudson River Painters with that of modern abstract art. His art has a way of just setting your soul at ease as you are taken into the beautiful landscapes he creates, where you feel surrounded by the nature of the scenes depicted.
As I was staring at “Cohoes Falls,” his depiction of the Mohawk River drew me away from the brick buildings of RPI and made me feel like I was standing in the middle of the river, watching it flow by me. This more traditional piece is a representation of what he sees. While this piece seems to show a lot of spirit, there were other traditional ones that seemed to be missing something, whether it be the depth, the spirit, or just the time and dedication of Thompson. His abstract pieces seem to have been given much more feeling and time in general.
“Most feel when they like a work they must justify why they like it. But actually they really don’t know why they like it and what they say really means nothing,” said Thompson. This is a statement that applies to all art forms, in that they are something to be taken in and experienced, and no justification is necessary of where you are taken or what you feel.
His more abstract pieces are very interesting in that they combine photographs with acrylic paint. I felt drawn into a distant place. The usage of a mirror effect in these pieces made it more visually appealing. While Thompson feels that “at this point I don’t have any idea what I’m doing,” his art speaks for itself, and proves that he must have some idea of where he is heading.
For me the piece that drew most of my attention was “Double Coskata” which utilizes both oil and acrylic in a new, intriguing way. After viewing it, one is left wondering what more they can do, and what the next painting will bring. He uses the depth that acrylics can provide to add to the flat, simplistic image created by the oil. This depth adds an abstract vision as the rich colors of the paint draw you deeper into the painting.
“I paint pictures which I hope will give people interesting, maybe sometimes even moving visual experiences,” Thompson modestly states. His paintings are definitely only the start of the experiences he is trying to share with us. While he may appeal to those of the area because of his use of the Hudson scenery, his art is definitely universal and can affect all who pause to stare into his visions.
