uantomgodfrey

Tom Godfrey

OVERVIEW:

 From the traditional, to the slightly offbeat, Tom has fun trying out new approaches and techniques using different media. With the wildlife paintings, he prefers a more photo realistic style, with light, emotion and a sense of space, being key components for him. His cartoon themes have varied, according to client needs and he has always had great fun conceptualizing and producing them. Tom recently discovered the joys of “digital paintings” in the fantasy genre and, since moving to Australia, he has started using soft pastels and is thoroughly enjoying this vibrant medium. They are, he notes, particularly effective for his beloved wildlife compositions.

HISTORY

• Tom majored in art at The Teachers' Training College in Bulawayo, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and once he began his teaching career, he was soon designing and drawing cartoon covers and posters for various school activities.

• Once the opportunity arose, he took over and ran the Art department at Highbury School, KZN, South Africa, for 15 years. During this time he designed and produced, amongst other art, over 700 T shirts for FUN RUN events, full sized and miniature watercolours, and giant back-drop murals for annual school productions.

• While at Highbury, he was commissioned by the Natal Parks Board in South Africa, to produce a set of images for the 100 years centenary of the Hluhluwe, St Lucia and Umfolozi Resorts. Some 2000 sets were printed. • Two of Tom's oil paintings of the school, currently hang in the school's reception area and prints of them were reproduced in the Highbury School Centenary Book.

• He briefly exhibited in the Henry Taylor Gallery in Johannesburg, South Africa - The Polar Bear painting as seen on his website, was sold.

• In 2004 he was commissioned by corporate, outcomes-based adult education training provider, Dionysus ( South Africa) to design and produce over 30 theme-related cartoons for their training material. • He discovered "digital painting" in 2005, and was totally enamoured with the creative freedom that this new method allows. Examples can be viewed on his website.

• In 2005 he started producing "corporate cartoon caricatures", as farewell and special occasion gifts.

• Tom gave up his day job as Retail Systems Training Manager, in 2006 and moved to Australia, where he is now following his passion and working full time as an artist. See www.tomgodfrey.com for examples of his fantasy Sci Fi and cartoon work.