Tom Bender Bio
Tom is a native Texan who transitioned to Maine and back to Texas. He also transitioned from film to digital at that time. He returns many times to the fascinating places he has photographed; to capture the time lapse – a couple of minutes or several days – that reflect the drastic changes in the light and weather as he captures each locations’ many moods. When he moved to Wimberley he also moved more into Digital Photo Art, some of it surreal. This move is evident in his phone booth series, the violin series and many more of his recent works. While some of his surreal images invoke questions, they are never dark; tongue in cheek would be the better description. Tom is a “self taught photographer” whose training was due to a fortuitous collection of mentors. His first mentor taught him to see the details in the reflections and the shadows. Perhaps more importantly, he taught Tom how to capture those details on film. That profound experience shaped the next 45 years of Tom’s artistic journey and resulted in a true love of art. He is active in the Art Guild of the Kennebunks, the Wimberley Valley Art League and the New Braunfels Art League.
The consummate artist, not satisfied with only capturing art through a camera’s lens, and manipulating many of those images with the computer mouse, Tom has recently ventured into additional artistic endeavors. His current mentor is honestly critiquing his journey into oil painting.
Tom’s sense of humor is evident in his finished work. Some of his images raise questions, some will pull your leg and some will tug at your heart.
Galleries
Pitzers Fine Arts – Wimberley, Texas
Kirchman Gallery – Johnson City, Texas
Wimberley Valley Art League Gallery – Wimberley, Texas
New Braunfels Art League Gallery – New Braunfels, Texas
Permanent Collection
Otmos Energy Corporation – Houston, Texas
Exhibits
Art Guild of the Kennebunks -May Day Celebration ‘05 – People’s Choice Award
– AGK Awards Exhibition ‘05 – Best Photograph
-Christmas Prelude Exhibition ‘05 – Peoples Choice
-Awards Exhibition ‘06 – Peoples Choice
-Awards Exhibition ’09 – Peoples Choice
New Braunfels Art League – Magic of Music – First Place, Photography for “Charles Music”
– Art Octoberfest – Second Place, Photography
-Artist of the Month, December 2008
-Artist of the Month, February 2011
Wimberley Valley Art League – November Show and Sale ‘06
– November Show and Sale ‘07
-November Show and Sale ’08 – People’s Choice Award
-November Show and Sale ’09 – People’s Choice Award
-November Show and Sale ’10 – People’s Choice Award