Tom Perkowitz used to be the Director of Marketing for a Chicago area window fashions company, but art has always been a passion. He has donated many hours painting murals for local schools and has painted and drawn all of his life. Painting with oils was a recent discovery. He explains:

 

     Everyone told me to stay away from oil paints. Oil paints are expensive. Oil paints take forever to dry. Oil paints are difficult to work with. The colors are hard to control. Everyone told me to stay away from oil paints. In 2014, I did my first oil painting. Everything they say about oil paints is true, but there is so much more. At times it is like the paints have a mind of their own. The colors blend and flow in unexpected ways. Painting with oil is like magic.

 

     Soon after discovering oil painting, Tom suffered a stroke which left him unable to stand unaided, with double vision, unable to focus his eyes, and with ataxia in his limbs. While in the hospital, he focused on recovery with six daily therapy sessions. Desperately needing a diversion, Tom asked his wife to bring in his easel and oil paints. Painting from his bedside, art became a key to Tom’s recovery.

 

     Today, mostly recovered, Tom has a public art studio and gallery in Grayslake, Illinois and art is his full-time occupation. Tom has original works available through our site. If you have any questions please reach out to us via the "Contact Us" page.