Tom Hale: Creating Fine Art from the Automobile

Tom Hale, who was commissioned to create the masterful painting that graces the 2006 EyesOn Design materials, is considered one of the most talented automotive artists in the world. A member of the prestigious Automotive Fine Art Society and the American Watercolor Society, he creates beautiful pieces sought by collectors around the globe.

Hale’s work is distinctive, often romantic and highly prized in both the automotive and fine art communities. He has a rare ability to create pieces that celebrate classic design and are also strikingly new. Hale’s painting 1937 Cord 812 program and commemorative poster turns the legendary car into a study of elegant design. The rich colors, bold strokes, and soft hues of the acrylic on canvas could easily be attributed to one of the great Renaissance masters.

“Creating art gives me a great deal of pleasure,” said Hale. “I find automobiles, especially the classics, to be intriguing subjects. However, I am not intent on painting ‘pictures’ of cars, nor creating a sense of nostalgia. I want to create a work of art with the automobile as my subject.”

Though born in New Jersey, Hale has resided in Michigan for most of his life. He studied art at Michigan State University and attended the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. There, he received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in 1966.

From graduation to 1985, Hale was a styling designer with General Motors, Chrysler, and American Motors. Then he began to pursue art as a full-time career.
Hale said he likes “to study the surfaces of a specific automobile, trying to understand the reflective patterns and reason light reacts in a particular manner. Understanding this allows me to use that surface as a canvas for my work.”

Hale’s paintings are shown extensively throughout the United States and have been exhibited in both national and international competitions. He has received numerous awards including the Gold Medal of Honor from the American Watercolor Society. His work has earned him commissions from private and corporate clients located in the United States and twelve other countries.

Hale has exhibited with AFAS at Pebble Beach since 1990. Peers, including AFAS President Ken Eberts, have long admired his work.

“Like many AFAS artists, Tom has a unique style that is very colorful and graphic,” commented Eberts. “His ability to play on the distinctive shapes and reflections of automobiles has earned him numerous awards. The members of AFAS consider Tom a truly fine artist.”

Hale has completed over three thousand original paintings. He has been commissioned to create forty posters for various events, concours, and exhibits.

“I enjoy the process of painting more so today than at any time in my life,” added Hale. “It’s a privilege to communicate emotions through my artwork. I hope that everyone at the EyesOn Design will enjoy my art as much as I have in creating it.”

- Scott Black