Artist:
Chapin Art Trail
A Community Art Project
The Capital of Lake Murray
Tommy D. Thompson
Installed September 2019
Artist's Statement
As a lifelong artist, I have always greatly enjoyed the process of planning a project, beginning working on it, and watching as it emerges. Mistakes and miscalculations don't bother me because finding solutions are important in becoming proficient and establishing a work ethic. As with many things, the more one has to correct, the sooner you achieve a practiced eye and the confidence to move forward in your artistic endeavors.
About the Artwork
The artist's intention with this piece is to closely ally the Chapin community with the recreational area of Lake Murray. This includes painted images of some of the most iconic amenities, sites, and structures in this area including businesses, religious buildings, points of interest for tourists and travelers, and scenes of the natural beauty of our area.
As a longtime resident of Chapin, the artist and his wife have come to love the area. He firmly believes in the recreational opportunities of this area, and the genuine hospitality inherent here. There are so many unique and wonderful elements that make up our town. This artwork captures and reflects what makes Chapin be Chapin. We are all unique individuals, but have similar emotional responses to the things that make us proud to call Chapin home and makes this a great place to visit and live.
The artist has always greatly enjoyed the process of planning a project, beginning working on it, and watching as it emerges. Mistakes and miscalculations don't bother him because finding solutions are important in becoming proficient and establishing a work ethic. As with many things, the more one has to correct, the sooner you achieve a practiced eye and the confidence to move forward in your artistic endeavors. This is a 4 foot tall free standing aluminum sailboat on a large wooden base. The sailboat is beautifully decorated in paint. The metal form, based on the Chapin Town Logo, was created by Steven Reed. The artistry on this sailboat was done by Tommy D. Thompson.
Installed September 2019
About the Artist
I am a self-taught artist, producing canvas and paper or board works with watercolor, acrylic, and collage elements. I have been painting, in one form or another, for over 50 years and have also produced a large number of stained glass projects to include windows, lamps, and free-standing pieces. I have taught numerous classes and workshops in the Columbia area. For the past 10 years, in addition to traditional watercolor landscapes, I have concentrated on large, contemporary artwork. My paintings are in private, corporate and State Government collections. My most recent one-man shows were at the "City Art Gallery" in Columbia, South Carolina in 2016 and the Art Center in Aiken, South Carolina in 2017. I earned signature status of the SC Watercolor Society and am a member of several local and state art associations. I have been an active member of CCAL for over 20 years.
Scavenger Hunt Clue:
A Partnership Project by the Crooked Creek Art League and the Town of Chapin
This organization is funded in part by the South Carolina Arts Commission which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support in this grant comes from the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of The Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina.
This project was supported by a Connected Communities grant from Central Carolina Community Foundation.
