Playing With Toys
A Wealth of Powerful Color and Images
Why do I want to explore toys? I have long been fascinated with toys; I spent most of my life with toys around me. Even now as I write this, my desk is covered with plastic people.
I think when you have a passion for a subject, you are free to explore it fully from the inside out.
In this manner, these toys become real and alive to me (and the viewer, I hope). It's as if they are friends posing for a group portrait.
Most of my work is simply meant to be a celebration of toys and our perception of them. It is my intent to capture in these works some of a child’s excitement with a new toy.
The toys I select for inclusion in my work are based upon a series of criteria such as colors, size, facial expressions, decade of its origination etc. I hope that you will find some recognizable inhabitants in this environment. In the best sense like seeing an old friend.
If in my work I can re-capture even a fraction of the joy of a kid on Christmas morning wakening to a magical experience of Santa leaving new toys, then the viewer and I will have shared a worthwhile moment.
Toys as a source of imagery
Some of my favorite toy-themed works are the wrapped doll paintings by James Rosenquist and works by Charles Bell who explored photo-realism in the 1980’s and 1990’s with uniquely American toys and games.
Bell pulled these images like diamonds in the rough and polished them until they sparkled. Take a look at his phenomenal series of marbles and be mindful that these images are actually giant oil paintings, though they appear highly photographic.
TOM WIZ ARTIST RESUME
Artist's Background
Thomas Swansea Whisnant was born and raised in North Carolina. He is from a family of creative people. His mother, author, teacher and lecturer Charleen Swansea and father Murray Whisnant, an artist and architect got their two kids off to a strong artistic start. Tom and sister, Ena Swansea (now an internationally known painter) took extensive art classes.
Tom’s training in the visual arts is varied in many different media. He is equally comfortable working in photography or drawing. His training in graphic arts included study at Parson’s School of Design in New York, UNC Chapel Hill and the ArtsCenter in Carrboro.
Illustrations & MODELS
1973 - 1977 Illustrations for The Red Clay Reader literary magazine, Apprenticed in drawing with father/architect, Murray Whisnant. Made architectural models during summers
1999 Published ilustration, Word and Witness: 100 Years of North Carolina Poetry.
2006-2009 Portrait drawing classes, The ArtsCenter
POTTERY & DRAWING
1978 - 1980 Pottery Apprenticeship with Herb Cohen, Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Took extensive and intensive drawing training with artist Dean Barber. Extensive art classes at CPCC in Charlotte, NC.
1981 Studied at Parsons School of Design, NY.
Large ForMat Photography
2009 Made in the USA juried show in Raleigh "Plastic People in Search of an Edge" (6 ft x 8ft)
2022 Plastic Idols
CEramics
2020-2021 Pandemic Pottery
ART SHOWS
2011 Started M.A.G.I.C or Moveable Art Gallery In Carrboro. This show moves from venue to venue
and showcases my work as well as other regional artists.
2012 Curating an art show and online auction called The Art of Caring to benefit the Lion’s Club
and people with visual impairments.