Master Artist Tom Anderson

The Hawaiian Night Before Christmas Children's Book

This children's book is certain to become a family tradition! It is twenty two pages (8.5 X 11 inches) and includes nine full page color illustrations. The spiral binding enables the book to lie flat when opened and is another feature which makes it child friendly.

Master Artist

Tom Anderson

Tom Anderson has always, even as a young boy, had an ability to draw. He would copy paintings from his parents encyclopedia. He would draw in pencil, copying the works of Michelangelo, Donatello and others. He taught himself all of the body’s muscles and their movements.

He was always at the head of his art classes because of his gift for drawing and painting. He entered art contests and won awards. He worked full-time and simultaneously attended junior college where he was enrolled in drawing classes. Live models were very valuable in developing his artistic abilities. He also attended cartooning classes where he learned the use of ink and watercolors.

Next, Tom studied oil painting with a local artist. As soon as he began to work with oil paints he knew that this was the art medium for him. He wanted to share his enthusiasm for this medium with everyone, and was longing for a way to capture the vibrant colors he saw in the world around him. Now that he had found a medium by which he could express himself he searched for teachers that specialized in oil painting. He learned some of the techniques necessary in painting landscapes and portraits.

Then Tom heard about Bill Alexander and how he fulfilled other’s desires and dreams to become both artists and teachers. Bill had an electric personality that inspired Tom to go out and teach, teach, teach!

Tom taught wherever he could change lives with his oil painting technique. Initially, he taught at people’s homes and in retail stores. In 1993, he and his wife, Lynda, opened their own studio in San Ramon, California. There he instructed beginning to advanced students in group settings, as well as teaching private and semi-private lessons. A paint manufacturer began sponsoring him at trade shows, where he taught numerous artists this technique. In addition, he taught at various schools in the area as well as at the San Ramon Community Center. Simultaneously, he taught on a weekly public access television program --- where a potential 170,000 people viewed his teaching methods. Tom grew to be very comfortable in front of the camera and loves reaching out to everyone. It is his dream to have his program seen on PBS. and to be a part of their community.

Tom Anderson is a native Californian and studied at the College of Arts & Crafts in Oakland, California. He currently resides and teaches in McKinney, Texas, where he and his wife moved to be near family.