Remembering Tom Cross

Today, we learned of the passing of our friend, stellar artist Tom Cross who, over the holidays, lost a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was 54. Our hearts go out to his devoted wife Patti and daughter Amber. The biographical information (below) is courtesy of Mill Pond Press.

Artist Tom Cross blends techniques both old and new to create a light-hearted yet thought-provoking glimpse into the aspects of nature that are so often overlooked—its lore, its myth and its legends. His art is a journey on which one can, Cross says, "rediscover the magic of nature trapped just within our reach." Cross describes his artwork as nature folklore rather than fantasy or science fiction as he believes his work is more than just an illustration of a fantastic scene. With its roots in ecology and folklore, Cross says his work is wildlife or nature art that has gone "just a bit awry."

Cross' artwork is in a realm where science and art meet and mix. He combines ecological fact and fable with whimsical images and fuses traditional and nonconventional techniques to convey the visions, dreams and realities of a world that is environmentally right with itself. With a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from the University of Florida, Cross is uniquely qualified to employ his unusual and effective combination of creative and scientific expertise to accurately interpret and artistically communicate complex concepts in an easy to understand and visually entertaining fashion.

A nationally recognized specialist in the study of coastal barrier island ecology, Cross has been honored with awards for his environmental activities as well as his art. He has been associated with ecological projects and environmental programs on local, state and federal levels as a contributing author and artist for such organizations as the Cousteau Society, the National Estuary Program, the Nature Conservancy, the American Littoral Society and the Sierra Club. He has made documentaries on barrier island management and other films, videos, commercials and animations for environmentally oriented organizations and projects. Cross has also served on the faculty of Ringling School of Art and Design, teaching a variety of subjects from publication design to digital painting and drawing.

In his artwork, Cross interweaves the magic of the different elements that, he says, "are the foundation of this floating sphere of life we call earth. Our planet is unique. It's a closed system and a fragile one. It must be tended with care, respected and kept whole for the generations who follow."

An added note: The Florida resident co-founded the Web site neversmokers.com to share information and hope with lung cancer patients who like himself never smoked.

Tom's originals and prints continue to be available through Gallery One.