AUGUST FEATURED ARTIST

 Tom Wright is the featured artist at the Bakersfield Art Center for the month of August. 

Tom was first exposed to art when he happened to see a charcoal drawing done by a neighbor when he was only 10-12 years old. The drawing depicted a scene from the old west and it made a lasting impression on him.

Tom did not have access to many art supplies in his youth so paper and pencil became his medium of choice early on. His first subjects were athletes and comic book characters. 

Once he entered Bakersfield High School,  he was quickly influenced by other artists. His four year study of art was heavily influenced by teacher Norma Plunkett. Ms. Plunkett encouraged Tom to try other mediums such as oil painting and water colors. Most of his work back then was of his athlete friends. Most were given to those friends. 

Upon graduation in 1972,  he was named “Most Artistic Student” in the class.

Tom spent his first year at Bakersfield College studying basic design and basic drawing. Financially he could only afford one year of college but that one year was invaluable in his development as an artist. He soon left school to start work and left his art behind.

In 2020 Tom retired from his day job as a salesman. During the pandemic he decided to do a series of drawings for his grandchildren featuring their favorite animals. This project rekindled Tom’s love of drawing and art and pushed him to get more exposure for his work. 

Most of that work today features western themed subjects as he spent several years on the rodeo circuit as a bull rider and team roper. Tom was raised around horses and livestock his entire life. 

 Tom and his wife of 49 years, Faye, live on their own small ranch west of Bakersfield.