June 20, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Santa Monica Inspires Its Artists

By Tina Lynch

 

For the past 20 years, Santa Monica has been an inspiration for artist Thomas Mercer Hartman. He has lived in Southern California since the 70s and in Santa Monica for over a decade. “There are places along the coast with beautiful light – Newport, Laguna and especially Santa Monica. I see contrasts and blended light here. It’s an influence on my work,” Hartman said. His Santa Monica light-filled studio is a warehouse space with16’ ceilings and six sandblasted skylights. “The studio energizes me,” the artist added. “I like being able to hang a number of works or only one in the studio. Rotating them over time allows me to study them.”

Much of his recent work is focused on exploring depth and light in his paintings. “Hanging work in the studio for a few weeks allows you time to assess options,” Hartman explained. “The background for Puddle Jumper was a rippled watery surface that is now barely visible. A gradient of yellow before over-painting blues and greens. The piece has a backlit quality with a deep background. The top surface almost looks like water on glass.”

Hartman is looking forward to “Explorations,” 14 of his recent paintings being exhibited at Upper West Restaurant in Santa Monica. He has been a fan of the restaurant for several years. “It’s special venue, a large open bar, high vaulted bow-truss ceiling, great light and an intimate quality,” Hartman said. The restaurant mounts an art show every three to four months and celebrates each opening with an artist reception.

Hartman recounted the evolution of another work in the exhibit. He created a few abstract studies prior to starting Over Somewhere. “The studies experimented with allowing a brighter background reveal itself between vertical columns of color. Scraping across the columns with additional color allowed for parts of the background to be revealed.” His work on the larger canvas started with painting a gradient of two colors that merge. Additional layers of gestural plaster and caulking created a working surface. The surface was then lightly sprayed with two colors of lacquer. Vertical ‘columns’ of black roofing compound mixed with paint were added. As the scheme emerged it began to form a landscape quality. He soon found that the columns became a torrent of trees. “Without painting from nature or using references I painted a memory – more of a feeling – from a place in my childhood.”

To find out more about the artwork of Thomas Mercer Hartman, visit his website at http://www.mercerprojects.com For additional information about IQ Magic’ his Santa Monica design firm, see http://www.iqmagic.net/

The opening reception for the artist will take place on Sunday March 12 from 4 pm. – 7 p.m. at Upper West Restaurant. Stop in to meet the artist and enjoy the paintings of Thomas Mercer Hartman. Upper West is located at 3321 Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica. Call the restaurant for info at 310.586.1111 or visit the website http://www.theupperwest.com/

ART_March_12_2017_UpperWest_ThomasMercerHartman_OVER_SOMEWHERE-2014-16 ART_ThomasMercerHartman_PUDDLE_JUMPER-2017 ART_ThomasMercerHartman_BEIJING-2014-16 (1)

Related Posts

Culver City Police Nab Two Suspects in Canterbury Drive Burglary Case

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

Community Tip and Set Investigation Lead to Arrest of Repeat Offenders Culver City police have arrested two suspects in connection...

9th Circuit Court Backs Trump in Battle Over California National Guard Control

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

Federal Judges Allow Trump to Retain Command of Troops in Los Angeles Federal judges on Thursday cleared the way for...

Nightly I-405 Lane Closures Begin June 23 for Sepulveda Pass Rehab

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

Caltrans Will Shut Down Select Lanes Nightly Through June 28 The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has announced overnight lane...

(Video) Where great minds grow at The Willows Community School

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

The Willows, a DK-8 co-educational school, enrolls 474 students from 57+ zip codes annually. As a balanced, progressive educational leader, experiential learning,...

(Video) The Guest List Collab Dinner with Chef Raphael Lunetta and Chef Alan Wong

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

Held at Marelle Restaurant at The Sandbourne Hotel in Santa Monica. An Incredible mix of Hawaiian and Santa Monica’s flavors...

Summer Pop-Ups Serve Crullers, Challah Donuts, Croissants, Coffee and Musical Vibes

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

Nyletta Nyletta, Challah Dad, Des Croissants Paris Bring Pastry Delights to Culver City A pair of sweet summer pop-ups are...

(Video) A Plus Tree: A Steward of Urban Forest Management Across Los Angeles

June 18, 2025

June 18, 2025

For More Information, Go to Aplustree.com For More Information, Go to https://t.co/fvJmXNZPfw pic.twitter.com/oxfMddVpLR — Westside Today (@WestsideLAToday) June 19, 2025

Pizza Girl Brings Clean, Classic Italian Pizza to West Hollywood’s Sunset Strip

June 18, 2025

June 18, 2025

Founder Caroline D’Amore opens “Pink and Mortar” shop at Hotel Ziggy Pizza Girl is now open at its new brick-and-mortar...

Foodie Week Returns to Westfield Century City With 10 Days of Irresistible Dining Deals

June 18, 2025

June 18, 2025

25 Restaurants Are Serving Up Exclusive Offers, Prix-Fixe Menus,  Limited-Time Treats Westfield Century City is kicking off its annual Foodie...

Justice Served by the Slice: L.A. Chefs Rally for Pies for Justice Fundraiser

June 18, 2025

June 18, 2025

Sweet, Savory, and Pizza Pies to Support Foster Youth and Civil Rights Chefs and restaurants from across Los Angeles and...

Journalist Files Lawsuit After Being Hit by ‘Less Lethal’ Munition Fired by Sheriff’s Deputies

June 17, 2025

June 17, 2025

LASD Faces Legal Claim After Journalist Wounded at Anti-Ice Rally  Independent photojournalist Nick Stern has filed a civil rights claim...

CAP UCLA’s 2025–26 Season Spotlights Queer Voices, Global Visionaries, and Musical Trailblazers

June 17, 2025

June 17, 2025

The New Lineup Celebrates Boundary-Pushing Performances Across Disciplines The UCLA Center for the Art of Performance (CAP UCLA) has announced...

LAPD Searching for Suspect in Pair of West Los Angeles Motorcycle Thefts

June 17, 2025

June 17, 2025

Man Seen Wearing Helmet Stole Motorcycles From Apartment Garage Detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Los Angeles Division...

Copper Wire Theft Suspect Arrested After Late-Night Stop in Culver City

June 17, 2025

June 17, 2025

Police Recover Stolen Wiring and Tools, Asks For Community Help Proactive patrol efforts by Culver City police led to the...

Tyler Malek Celebrates New Ice Cream Cookbook With Sweet Pop-Ups in Los Angeles

June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

Chef to Appear at Book Soup and Debut Limited-Edition Matcha Sandwich at GGiata Tyler Malek, co-founder and head chef of...