David Tomb's First Non-Portrait Show In 20 Years Opens In San Francisco

Electric Works presents "Treasures of the Sierra Madre—Birds of West Mexico" paintings by David Tomb, featuring work inspired by Tomb’s birding trips to Mexico and research from the California Academy of Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, and the Los Angeles Natural History Museum.

In the gallery Tomb, best known for his portraits of people, is presenting his first non-portrait show in over twenty years. With this exciting departure Tomb is recreating the sights and sounds of this Sierra Madre region of west Mexico.



Below: Details from Mobster (above left)


Above: Mobster, detail

Large-scale drawings (11' x 8') of birds in trees will be installed with actual trees and native vegetation supplied by Flora Grubb Gardens. Mounted bird specimens on loan from the California Academy of Science and recorded bird calls from Western Mexico will fill the gallery to add to the atmosphere of this installation. In addition there will be a sound installation by Martyn Stewart of naturesound.org engineered by johnnyrandom.



Above: David working on Mobster in his studio


Above: One of David's 2006 shows of his figurative work

Below are some of his fabulous figurative works:

Above: Tomb's Navigating Environments (5' x 10')

Above: Albany, 66" x 66"

Above left: Portrait of Ethan Wallison
Above right: The artist's portrait of yours truly.

See the artist's site here.

SF Electric Works Gallery site.
Gallery Hours are:
Monday-Friday: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Saturday: 10:30am - 5:30 pm

Art That's For The Birds. Literally. And A Peek At A Painter's Project Room

I have written about David Tomb's work before and even shown you a sneak peek of his upcoming show, Birds of The Sierra Madre at SF Electric Works gallery opening February 22,2oo8.

Over half of those bird paintings have sold already- and the show hasn't even opened!

However, now you have an opportunity to own some of these Birds of The Sierra Madre paintings as prints, with the proceeds going directly to the birds, so to speak. (All proceeds go to El Triunfo).

Below is the first print in this series, David's Horned Guan:

above: The Horned Guan; below: detail of The Horned Guan

Price $250.00

Order it here

But here's something you won't see at the show, the interesting and beautiful process of David Tomb's paintings, which, even in their partially finished form are art.

A peek at the process behind David Tomb's Bird paintings:
Project Room current project Fall 2007

Click on the images below to enlarge:

Don't miss the show!

David Tomb
Birds of the Sierra Madre
February 22 - March 22, 2008
Opening Reception: Friday, February 22, 6-8pm

Birds of the Sierra Madre
This work is inspired on birding trips to Mexico: Chihuahua, San Blas, Jalisco, El Triunfo (Chiapas) and research from the California Academy of Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, Occidental College, Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles Natural History Museum.

David Tomb's site.
Artist Contact Info:
David Tomb
1240 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
tel. 415.695.0474

Better Flock To David Tomb's Next Art Show: Birds Of The Sierra Madre

David Tomb
February 22 - March 22, 2008
Opening Reception: Friday, February 22, 6-8pm
Electric Works of San Francisco

David Tomb, the SF/Bay Area artist critically acclaimed for his figurative painting, has a new show at the Electric Works Gallery of San Francisco next spring and the subject matter is.... birds.

Now given all the bird "crap" out there, this may come as no surprise. But what IS surprising is that these are a wonderful departure from most of the 'cutesy cartoon' or 'Victorian' style bird art and crafts that proliferate galleries, the internet's indie art sites, and even retail home decor stores these days.

Using the same interesting style he often employs in his figure paintings, Tomb (rhymes with bomb) mixes detail with innuendo and energetic strokes with precious attention. His birds, colored in an almost Audubon-like veracity sit again half rendered backdrops which both show off the birds and create space that seems boundless, like that of a real birds' habitat.

Suffice it to say, I just love them. And they're nice and BIG. (you really need to see them in person for their detail)
Clearly I'm not the only since many have sold and the show doesn't actually open for 5 months!

Below are the images listed on the gallery's site. The names and descriptions are taken from there as well.


Mob Scene: Steak-backed Oriole, Blue Mockingbird, Yellow Grosbeak, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl,
2007
Gouache, colored pencil, graphite on paper
Overall Dimensions: 30 x 44"


Blue-crowned Motmot, El Triunfo, 2007
Gouache, colored pencil, graphite on paper
Overall Dimensions: 44 x 30"
Sold


Black-throated Magpie-Jay, 2007
Gouache, colored pencil, graphite on paper
Overall Dimensions: 44 x 30"


Ringed Kingfisher, 2007
Gouache, colored pencil, graphite on paper
Overall Dimensions: 44 x 30"



Bat Falcons, 2007
Gouache, colored pencil, graphite on paper
Overall Dimensions: 44 x 30"
Sold


Resplendent Quetzal, Chiapas, 2007
Gouache, colored pencil, graphite on paper
Overall Dimensions: 44 x 30"
Sold


David Tomb
Birds of the Sierra Madre
February 22 - March 22, 2008
Opening Reception: Friday, February 22, 6-8pm
Electric Works of San Francisco



So, if you're anywhere in the SF/Bay Area in February, be sure to stop by and see the show .
Attend the opening reception and tell David Laura Sweet sent you!

Better yet, snap up one of his paintings before the show has sold out! See more of David Tomb's work by clicking here.