tom bentley
Abstract Artist
A native of the Pacific Northwest, Tom grew up taking things apart to see how they worked. Engineering education followed with degrees at MIT and Stanford. At Stanford he discovered Art and ended up with a dual major of engineering and art.
This combination was a perfect fit for emerging hi-tech companies in Silicon Valley. He managed design in several environments but the most fun was doing Apple’s first laptop. He ended up in Austin to help start the notebook business for Dell. Following a consulting career, Tom started painting in 2013 at the insistence of long-time mentor Ruth Meaders.
In 2017, Tom and his wife Carol worked with Miro Rivera architects to design a home in a historic area of Austin, Texas. That design included restoring a 1910 bungalow and designing a new studio. These separate components of old and new have resulted in a fantastic home and inspired some new artwork mixing old and new techniques.
“The biggest change I have found moving from design to art is the emotional shift I have had to make from focusing externally to internally. At Apple or Dell there was never any shortage of powerful people telling me what to do. In my studio, it is hard to find that quiet voice that directs me toward my best work.”
Tom wants his work to embody a spiritual element that is core to his life today. The intent is to create from the heart and not from
the head. For someone of his technical training, he is usually trying to find his way back from thinking too much.
Tom’s art is unplanned and never to an obvious purpose. He also tries new materials and processes constantly. The more Tom stays in an experimental place, the more his work seems to flow. Part of this process is that Tom make lots of mistakes, some of which are his best work.
TOM’S FAVORITE ARTISTS
Here are a few artists that inspire Tom to keep doing what he does:
“His choice of color and composition is fantastic.
The way he applies the paint gives his pieces a brilliance that is quite exceptional.”
“Kevin’s work has a sense of drama and presence that I love. I can stare at his work for hours.”
“Cody’s work inspires me in a couple dimensions. I can sense the feeling in his art and also the way his work evolves from year to year. He is incredibly open to talk to and brainstorm new directions with.”
If you would like to browse other favorites of Tom’s, take a look at his Pinterest board of favorite artists.