Biography of the Artist

The artwork of Robert Tompkins is representational but impressionistic and expressionistic. The subjects include landscapes, animals, people and florals. The medium is primarily oil. He paints plein-air frequently but most often sketches in the field and finishes work in the studio.

His studio and gallery are located within the historic district in Billings, Montana at 2511 Montana Avenue.

Robert studied art in college, with numerous drawing courses, but trained in a medical area. He has been painting and showing for the past 12 years. He has trained with several of the best contemporary artists in the United States. These instructors include Carolyn Anderson, Ovannes Berberian, Robert Moore, Joyce Lee and Howard Carr.

Robert Tompkins' paintings are in private collections nationally. His paintings are known for spontaneity and strong, yet subdued colors.

Exhibitions:

• Cody Art Show at the Historic Irma Hotel Link
  Selected as one of ten artists to display at the Irma Hotel this past September, during the Buffalo Bill Exhibition in Cody and will again be at the Irma in 2009.
• Mural done in 2007 for the Big Horn County Museum in Hardin
  "The piece was done by Harry Koyama and myself over about 6 months. It is a 16 x 9 ft, oil painting mounted on one of the remaining four or five centennial cars that traveled from Billings to New York in 1964. There were 30 cars in all and each had 6 paintings on them, three to a side. The museum board wanted the three left on this car repainted. I designed the Native American piece along with Harry Koyama and we finished it and it was placed on the car in June of 2007, It is entitled "Return to Paradise." It was unveiled at the Big Horn Days in 2007."
  
• Yellowstone Art Museum annual auction
• Carbon County Arts Guild 2002-One Man Show
• Frame Hut and Gallery - Billings, Montana Landscape work
• Billings Clinic Anderson Gallery
• Art Walk - Billings, Montana.
• Depot Gallery 2003- Red Lodge, Montana. One Man Show

Awards:

• 1st place in the Greater Yellowstone National Juried Exhibition in Red Lodge, Montana in 2001.
• 3rd place in the 2001 Mayfair show in Billings. Exhibitions: He has participated in numerous other art exhibition contests.

Present Galleries:

• Robert Tompkins Fine Art Studio/Gallery ~ 2511 Montana Ave., Billings, MT 59101 Ph: 406.860.3859
• Beartooth Gallery - Red Lodge, MT
• Buffalo Trails Gallery ~ 470 Electric Ave Big Fork, MT 59911 Ph: 1.800.752.2072 or 406.837.3790
• Davidson Design and Home Furnishings ~ Billings, MT Ph: 406.656.9540
• Gallery Interiors - Billings, MT Ph: 406.248.2001
• Depot Gallery ~ 11 West 8th, Red Lodge, MT 59068 Ph: 406.446.1370
• Frame Hut and Gallery ~ 1430 Grand, Billings, MT 59102 Ph: 406.245.9728
• Hodges Fine Art ~ 122 McLeod St. Big Timber, MT 59011 406.932.6834
• Art Exchange

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