Tom Jean Webb, Painter + Sculptor

Words by Sam Lauron Photos by Eric Morales

Stepping inside a house in England, cowboy hats and old westerns playing on TV aren’t exactly what anyone would expect to see. But for artist Tom Jean Webb, these were more than familiar sights — they were home. 

Tom grew up in the UK and spent a lot of time with his grandfather, who lived next door and happened to be particularly fascinated with the American Southwest. “His house was a bit of a museum for all things Southwest,” Tom remembers. 

Being surrounded by this American influence, the love for the Southwest naturally trickled down to Tom, who even had his own Stetson hat and pair of cowboy boots as a kid, courtesy of his grandfather. Being from a family of makers (his mother upholstered furniture and made curtains while his grandfather restored cars), working with his hands became a natural outlet for him to translate his inspiration into something tangible. 

The sweeping landscape of the Southwest, which offers a “never-ending space to roam,” as Tom describes, became the primary muse for the UK artist, whose work first brought him overseas to Los Angeles and eventually to Austin. While landing in Austin was fortuitous, there was also something so predetermined about him ending up immersed in the landscape that he had painted from afar for so long. 

Deserts and mountains, and all of the shapes and textures that are associated with them, are prominent figures depicted in Tom’s large-scale paintings. However, they’re illustrated in a way that’s much more whimsical than what one would see trekking through the desert. Thick black lines carefully form around playful shapes of muted color to connect and bring to life the “romance” of the Southwest, as Tom describes.

Not one to limit himself to one medium, Tom’s found-object sculptures explore the same distinct shapes and look as if they’ve been pulled directly out of his paintings in three-dimensional form. Though he hopes to tell a story with each of his pieces, he tries to stay present throughout the process and also doesn’t take himself too seriously. 

“Making artwork is essentially playing, and the artwork is a byproduct of playing,” Tom explains.

For years, Tom was far from his biggest muse. Now that he’s immersed in the very landscape he envisioned, he’s focused on finding his place here and finding himself in his work. Even so, Tom’s earliest influence, his grandfather, remains a prominent pillar of his art. Tom reflects on the connection to his inspiration and his grandfather’s lifelong passion. “He liked the idea of going out west to find yourself and find your freedom.” 

Contact:
tomjeanwebb.com 
@tomjeanwebb