Thomas Torak
Classical Realism
Thomas Torak is a modern master painter working in the classical tradition. His paintings are known for their breadth and luminosity, rich color and lively brushwork
Thomas Torak is a modern master painter working in the classical tradition. His paintings are known for their breadth and luminosity, rich color and lively brushwork. In 2008 he was invited join the staff of the Art Students League of New York as an instructor of portraiture and figure painting. His paintings have been recognized with the American Artists Professional League Medal of Honor at their 66th Grand National Exhibition; the Audubon Artists Gold Medal of Honor at their 59th Annual Exhibition; the Allied Artists of America Silver Medal of Honor at their 93rd Annual Exhibition, the Academic Artists Gold Medal at their 61st National Exhibition of Contemporary Realism and the Honor Award for Oil at the Academic Artists Association 50th and54th National Exhibitions, the Frank C. Wright Medal of Honor at the 2005 American Artists Professional League Summer Members Exhibition and Best of Show at the 8th Annual National Small Oil Painting Exhibition in Wichita, KA. He has received the top awards at the Salmagundi Club in New York City at their thumb box exhibition and a special members exhibit of floral paintings. His painting, The Artist, was purchased by the Masur Museum of Art in Monroe, LA for their permanent collection and his painting Onions is in the permanent collection of the Art Students League. There is a feature article about Thomas’ work in the October 2013 issue of The Artist’s Magazine.
Thomas was born in Pottstown, PA in 1953 and moved to New York in 1974 to study at the Art Students League. He studied the first year with Robert Beverly Hale and the next seven years with Frank Mason. Under Mason he learned not only the art of painting but also the craft. He prepares his own canvas, mediums and varnishes and uses only hand ground paint, often grinding the colors himself,adifficult and time-consuming task, abandoned by most contemporary artists, but vital to the quality of his work. The methods and techniques he employs are those of the Old Masters but his paintings are decidedly contemporary. Many of his still lifes contain timeless subject matter such as fruit and flowers, but in others you will find more modern objects such as pizza, comic books or baseball mitts. Walks near his Vermont home or a stroll along the Maine coastlineoften inspire landscapes.
He has been elected to membership in the National Arts Club, the Salmagundi Club, Signature Membership at the American Artists Professional League, Allied Artists of America, Audubon Artists, the Academic Artists Association, and signature membership in Oil Painters of America. His paintings have been seen at the Butler Institute of American Art, the Springfield Museum of Fine Art, the Huntsville Museum of Art, the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum, the San Diego Art Institute, the National Academy Museum, and the Chautauqua Art Galleries.
CV
2019 - Visual Poetry, Solo Exhibition, Helmholz Fine Art, Manchester, Vermont
2017 – Academic Artists Association Honor Award – Academic Artists Association 67th National Exhibition of Contemporary Realism, Vernon Community Art Center, Vernon, CT
2017 – Award for Harmony-Beauty – American Artists Professional League Theme Exhibition: Landscape, Seascape, Streetscape, online exhibit, American Artists Professional League website
2016 – Salmagundi Club Award – American Artists Professional League 88th Grand National Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2016 – Georgie Read Barton Memorial Award – Hudson Valley Art Association 83rd Annual Juried Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2016 – Philip Isenberg Award – Salmagundi Club Summer Non-Juried Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2016 – Honorable Mention – American Artists Professional League Theme Exhibition: Landscapes, Seascapes, Streetscapes, online exhibit, American Artists Professional League website
2015 – Allied Artists of America Award – American Artists Professional League 87th Grand National Exhibition Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2015 – Mary Fitch Memorial Award – Salmagundi Club Annual Members Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2015 – Honorable Mention – Academic Artists Association 65th National Exhibition of Contemporary Realism, Vernon Community Art Center, Vernon, CT
2015 – Award for Best Technique – American Artists Professional League Theme Exhibition: Landscape, Seascape, Streetscape, online exhibit, American Artists Professional League website
2014 – Newington Award – Best in Show – American Artists Professional League 86th Grand National Exhibition Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2014 – 1st Place – American Artists Professional League Still Life Theme Exhibition, online exhibit, American Artists Professional League website
2014 – 2nd Place – Noble Nocturnes, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2014 – Award for Beauty/Harmony – American Artists Professional League Portrait Theme Exhibition, online exhibit, American Artists Professional League website
2013 – Marquis Who’s Who in American Art References Award – Audubon Artists 71st Annual Exhibition, online exhibit, Audubon Artists website
2013 – Hudson Valley Art Association Award – American Artists Professional League 85th Grand National Exhibition, online exhibit, American Artists Professional League website
2013 – Wholesale Frame Co. Award – Academic Artists Association 63rd National Exhibition of Contemporary Realism, Vernon Community Art Center, Vernon, CT
2013 – SCNY 1st Prize – Fourth Annual Sylvia Maria Glesmann Floral Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2013 – 2nd Place for a Landscape – American Artists Professional League Summer Theme Exhibition: Landscapes, Seascapes, Streetscapes, online exhibit, American Artists Professional League website
2012 – Honorable Mention – The Butler Institute of American Art 76th National Midyear Exhibition, The Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH
2012 – Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club Award – American Artists Professional League 84th Grand National Exhibition, online exhibit, American Artists Professional League website
2011 – Best in Show – Academic Artists Gold Medal – Academic Artists Association 61st National Exhibition of Contemporary Realism, Karen Sprague Cultural Arts Center, American International College, Springfield, MA
2011 – Jack Richeson & Co., Inc. Award – American Artists Professional League 83rd Grand National Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2011 – Ethel Gilmore & Charles J. Romans Memorial Award – Allied Artists of America 98th Annual Exhibition, National Arts Club, New York, NY
2011 – SCNY 2nd Prize – Second Annual Sylvia Maria Glesmann Floral Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2011 – Certificate of Merit – Winter & the Holidays Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2011 – Jane Impastato Award – Salmagundi Club Fall Auction Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2010 – Dianne Rudy Memorial Award – American Artists Professional League 82nd Grand National Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2010 – Alfred and Mary Crimi Award for Creative Oil – Audubon Artists 68th Annual Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2010 – Catherine Bogardus Memorial Award – Hudson Valley Art Association 79th Annual Exhibition, National Arts Club, New York, NY
2010 – John N. Lewis Memorial Award – Salmagundi Club Fall Auction Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2010 – First Prize and Members Popular Vote 2nd Prize – The National Arts Club 2010 Annual Open Online Exhibition
2010 – Honorable Mention – 102nd Annual Thumb-Box Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2010 – Libby Hutchens Award – 54th National Fall Open Exhibition, Southern Vermont Arts Center, Manchester, VT
2009 – John Collins Memorial Award – American Artists Professional League 81st Grand National Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2009 – Jane Peterson Memorial Award – Hudson Valley Art Association 78th Annual Exhibition, Ridgewood Art Association, Ridgewood NJ
2009 – Alexander Katlan Family Conservation Award – Audubon Artists 67th Annual Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2008 – The Butler Institute of American Art Award – Allied Artists of America 95th Annual Exhibition, National Arts Club, New York, NY
2008 – Marquis Who’s Who in American Art Award – Audubon Artists 66th Annual Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2008 – John R Grabach Memorial Award – American Artists Professional League 80th Grand National Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2008 – Samuel T. Shaw Memorial Award – 124th Annual Members Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2008 – W. Granville Smith Award – Salmagundi Club Fall Auction Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2007 – Antonio Cirino Memorial Award – Salmagundi Club Annual Members Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2007 – Certificate of Merit – Flowers Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2006 – The Allied Artists of America Silver Medal of Honor – Allied Artists of America 93rd Annual Exhibition, National Arts Club, New York, NY
2006 – Herbert and Rosetta Bohnert Memorial Award – Hudson Valley Art Association 75th Annual Exhibition, National Arts Club, New York, NY
2006 – Irene Hunter Award – Artists in the Garden, Hildene, Manchester, VT
2006 – George Inness, Jr. Award – Salmagundi Club Spring Auction Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2005 – Frank C. Wright Medal of Honor, Best in Show – American Artists Professional League Summer Members Exhibition, Pen & Brush Club, New York, NY
2005 – Irene Hunter Award – Artists in the Garden, Hildene, Manchester, VT
2005 – D. Wu & Elsie Ject-Key Memorial Award – Salmagundi Club Winter Members Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2005 – Dianne Rudy Memorial Award – American Artists Professional League 77th Grand National Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2005 – Third Place – Chaffee Center for the Visual Arts Fall Members Exhibition, Chaffee Center for the Visual Arts, Rutland, VT
2004 – Len G. Everett Memorial Award – Allied Artists of America 91st Annual Exhibition, National Arts Club, New York, NY
2004 – Honor Award for Oil – Academic Artists Association 54th National Exhibition of Contemporary Realism, First Church Gallery, Court Square, Springfield, MA
2004 – Frank C. Wright Memorial Award – American Artists Professional League 76th Grand National Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2004 – Herbert and Rosetta Bohnert Memorial Award – Hudson Valley Art Association 73rd Annual Exhibition, Newington-Cropsey Foundation Gallery, Hastings-on Hudson, NY
2004 – Honorable Mention for Artistic Excellence – Salon International 2004, Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art, San Antonio, TX
2004 – The Gene Magazzini Memorial Award – Salmagundi Club Winter Members Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2004 – Juror’s Choice Award – Southern Vermont Arts Center 48th National Fall Open Exhibition,Southern Vermont Arts Center, Manchester, VT
2003 – Honorable Mention – Northern Colorado Artist Association 12th National Exhibition, Lincoln Center, Fort Collins, CO
2002 – The Philip Isenberg Memorial Award – Salmagundi Club Annual Summer Members Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2002 – Certificate of Merit – Flowers Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2002 – Honorable Mention – American Artists Professional League Members Exhibition 2002, Pen and Brush Club, New York, NY
2002 – George Inness, Jr. Award – Salmagundi Club Spring Auction Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2001 – Audubon Artists Gold Medal of Honor – Audubon Artists 59th Annual Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2001 – Georgie Read Barton Memorial Award – Hudson Valley Art Association 70th Annual Exhibition, Newington-Cropsey Foundation Gallery, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
2001 – Academic Artists Association Award – Academic Artists Association 51st National Exhibition of Contemporary Realism, First Church Gallery, Springfield, MA
2000 – Jane Peterson Memorial Award – Salmagundi Club Winter Members Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2000 – Honor Award for Oil – Academic Artists Association 50th National Exhibition of Contemporary Realism, First Church Gallery, Springfield, MA
1999 – The Directors Award – American Artists Professional League 71st Grand National Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
1999 – The Daler-Rowney Merchandise Award – Audubon Artists 57th Annual Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
1998 – Juror’s Choice Award – Southern Vermont Art Center 42nd National Fall Open Exhibition, Southern Vermont Art Center, Manchester, VT
1998 – Emil Carlsen Award – Salmagundi Club Fall Auction Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
1997 – Morton D. & Victor M. Catok Memorial Award – Academic Artists Association 47th National Exhibition of Contemporary Realism, First Church Gallery, Springfield, MA
1997 – Helen G. Oehler Memorial Award – American Artists Professional League 69th Grand National Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
1997 – Mary and Paul Ortlip Award – Salmagundi Club Winter Members Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
1996 – John N. Lewis Memorial Award – Salmagundi Club Summer Thumb Box Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
1996 – Juror’s Award – Schoharie County Arts Council National ‘96 Small Works Exhibition, Schoharie County Arts Council, Cobleskill, NY
1996 – Springfield Art League Merit Award – Springfield Art League 77th National Exhibition, Connecticut Valley Historical Museum, Springfield, MA
1995 – The Richard Noyes Award – The American Artists Professional League 67th Grand National Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
1995 – Arlington Heights and La Grange Art Leagues Award – and – Dillmans’ Creative Art Foundation Award – Oil Painters of America Fourth National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, The Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art, San Antonio, TX
1994 – AAPL Medal of Honor for Oil – American Artists Professional League 66th Grand National Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
1994 – D.Wu & Elsie Ject-Key Memorial Award – Salmagundi Club Annual Members Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
1993 – John N. Lewis Memorial Award – Salmagundi Club Thumb Box Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
1993 – La Grange Art League Award – Oil Painters of America 2nd National Exhibition, The Studio of Long Grove, Long Grove, IL
1993 – First Honorable Mention – New Orleans Fine Arts Festival 2nd Juried Exhibition, World Trade Center, New Orleans, LA
1992 – Honorable Mention – Salmagundi Club Annual Members Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, NY
1991 – The Mrs. E.J. Bellinger Memorial Award – 34th Chautauqua National Exhibition of American Art, Chautauqua Art Association Galleries, Chautauqua, NY
1990 – Juror’s Special Award – 2nd Annual Recent Realism Exhibition, Clary-Miner Gallery, Buffalo, NY
1989 – Second Place – 35th Annual National Juried Exhibition, San Diego Art Institute, San Diego, CA
1989 – Juror’s Special Award – W & J 21st National Painting Show, Olins Fine Arts Center Gallery, Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, PA
1988 – Best of Show – and – Mr & Mrs Jay H Galloway Patron Purchase Award – 8th Annual National Small Oil Painting Exhibition, Wichita Art Association, Wichita, KA