Tom Burns was born and raised in the Midwest. From an early age he has felt the drive to create. In fact, at nine years old, he had his first working studio space. He attended college in Texas and graduated with a business degree in marketing, but after working in the corporate world for several years he craved the creative, and made the decision to go back to school to pursue a career in fine art.

After moving to California 25 years ago, he has been inspired by the great Bay Area abstract expressionists of the 1950’s and 1960’s, as well as the California landscape in all its diversity. The complexity of color, shape and texture and their relationship to each other give his paintings movement and emotion.  

His work is really a series of paintings over paintings.  At times, there will be three to four completed paintings under each layer; each one, leaving little gems from the previous painting that give history to the final work. He builds up paint in selected areas on his canvas and scrapes off other areas, giving each canvas a tremendous amount of depth and movement. Burns likes to say he allows his passion to paint the canvas – that his feelings move the brushes and even the decision that a painting is finished is an instinctive intuitive moment. Every painting is an emotional personal journey.

In 2004, Burns created ARTWORKS Magazine and served as founder and publisher. ARTWORKS was dedicated to promoting the art and artists of the West Coast. The glossy publication celebrated art in all of its forms, giving artists a platform in which to share their visions. With so much attention given to artists working in New York; Tom felt that the vibrant West Coast art scene was often overlooked. He has made it his mission to change that impression. In 2009, he founded the Carmel International Film Festival and ran both businesses simultaneously whilestill pursuing his passion for painting. In 2017 major life changes brought Burns to Palm Springs where he now resides. Painting and creating art remains at the core of his soul.