Aloha … from BethCChelsea children's book author, illustrator Jasper Tomkins' original works now in Gifford Gallery
After 25 years caring for area residents,
Dr. William Minsinger retires from Gifford
RANDOLPH, Sept. 21, 2009 – Thirty small and vivid watercolor paintings from three children’s books by Jasper Tomkins are now on display in the Gifford Gallery.
Tomkins, whose real name is Tom Batey of Chelsea, is a children’s book author and illustrator. He’s published a total of 11 books since 1981, including the award-winning “The Catalog,” “Nimby,” “The Hole in the Ocean” and “The Sky Jumps into your Shoes at Night.”
Among Tomkins’ more recent works are 2004’s “Catwalk” and “The Camelback Dogs.” Original watercolors from those two books plus 1992’s “My Cousin has Eight Legs” are in the Gifford Gallery.
They feature an octopus in rippling blue waves; seven orange, striped cats in various stages of play and sleep; and other bright and whimsical images.
A native of the Pacific Northwest, Tomkins grew up drawing. His parents whisked him away to the wilds of nature to experience mountains, rivers, lakes, forests, bears, porcupines and snakes, he says. Next came oceans, islands, whales, rocks, sand, ants and eagles.
In school he was a quiet student, sitting in the back of the room working on secret “science projects” hidden in his desk. In the second grade, he said, he had so many projects that his teacher gave him two desks.
And, if one peeked over his shoulder, one would have found the young Tomkins making funny drawings he didn’t dare show anyone, because he thought they were “terrible.”
As a college student, Tomkins studied both science and art, graduating from the University of Washington in Seattle with a degree in graphic design and illustration. He went on to work as an illustrator for a large publishing house in New York City.
He called learning to make books “exciting,” and, after work, Tomkins began making his own books about the wonders and delight he found in nature.
In the decades since, he has continued to create books and has made Vermont his home. He moved to Chelsea in 2007 and built a new studio for creating his works, which also include sculpture that is on display at the Chandler Gallery in Randolph.
Tomkins’ Gifford show runs until Oct. 28, and Tomkins notes that it may be his last showing these works.
Tomkins paintings are created with extremely bright liquid watercolors for the purpose of being reproduced in books. The paints are fragile, however, and easily diminished by light exposure. Although Tomkins more than 300 images have been stored in the dark, some for more than 25 years, over the last two years he has been showing the 30 currently at Gifford under ultraviolet protected glass. Even with the precaution, those paintings have faded, and Tomkins is unsure if he’ll be able to show them again.
“This will probably be the last time these watercolors can be displayed before they are too far gone,” said Tomkins, with his critical artist’s eye.
While still bright to the layman, the works are not for sale because of the fading and what will likely be continued fading. His books, however, are for sale in the Gifford Gift Shop. Some have been signed by the author.
To catch a glimpse of these original works before they are put away for good, visit the Gifford Gallery at 44 S. Main St. in Randolph. The Gallery is just inside the main entrance of the medical center. The show is free and open daily. Learn more about Tomkins online at www.jaspertomkins.com.