In the eye of the beholder

Another David Thompson and it's yet another artist. Does this mean that having the name David Thompson makes you more likely to possess artistic skills? And if so, why hasn't it worked for me?

Anyway, this artistic David Thompson lives and paints in the majestic British university city of Cambridge. His oil paintings cover a diverse range of subjects: still-life, landscapes and portraits as well as pictures with historical, religious and mythological themes.

Having had little formal training, he's spent some 17 years teaching himself the necessary techniques. He now offers tuition to groups and individuals, sharing with them what he has learnt over the years. David says that the elements of painting a picture can be understood by anyone who's willing to learn (but surely understanding how to do something isn't necessarily the same as being able to do it).

If you'd like a painting with a personal touch but can't be bothered to learn how to paint it yourself, you could always commission David Thompson to do a painting for you. He'll paint you a portrait (it's best to have two or three sittings, although he can work from photos), a still life featuring a treasured possession, or even a picture based on an historical, religious or mythological theme of your choice.

For David Thompson, art is all about a quest for beauty. 'We live in an age which has largely lost its faith but still feels the need for a pathway to the sublime. There are two things which can do this: love which awakens our sense of beauty and makes us receptive to it, and art which can show it to us. Thus all art of any value is Romantic Art; it is inspired by love.'