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Hernando Today

The Presence Of All Colors

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By TONY MARRERO

Published: August 3, 2008

BROOKSVILLE Thomas Hogan's art is a study in contrast.

The 24-year-old Brooksville resident's work, most often a blend of colored pencil and acrylic paint, demonstrates the juxtaposing vibrant colors with the presence of all color: black.

"There is no graduated shadow," in Hogan's pieces, notes Rhonda Hancock, coordinator of the City Hall Art Gallery. Instead, Hogan hems in vibrant colors with a strong outline of black acrylic.

In "Church on Blowing Rock," for example, the trees above an A-frame church in North Carolina appear aflame with fall hues. The black acrylic paint reins in the color, but also accentuates it.

Adding that black delineation is the last step in Hogan's process, and it lends a distinctive quality to his work. He admits he's not quite sure how he got there, though he said it's a combination of styles of some of his favorite artists.

"I experimented with it," he said during an interview last week at City Hall, where 15 of his pieces hang as part of the gallery's summer exhibit.

Hogan cites New Orleans artist James Michalopoulos as a major influence. Michalopoulos is known for his architectural pieces, and it's a clear inspiration to Hogan's almost impressionistic approach to, say, the lines of a brick church in Masaryktown church or a New Orleans doorway.

Among Hogan's fans are City Manager Jennene Norman-Vacha.

Norman-Vacha has known Hogan since he was a boy drawing Orlando Magic players on the basketball court. She now has four of his pieces, including three of his churches.

One of them, "Mountain Church," is hanging outside her office door on the second floor of City Hall.

"They just have a calm, powerful feeling," Norman-Vacha said.

Born in Clearwater and raised in Brooksville, Hogan's earliest memories wielding a pencil are of sketching on restaurant placemats. His uncle, the late Lewis Watkins of Brooksville, was a professional artist who helped his nephew to develop a style.

"He always had tips for me, ideas to try," Hogan said. "He's the one who thought I should do color."

Hogan is the son of Brooksville attorney Tom Hogan and Rita Lovelace, also of Brooksville. He has muscular dystrophy, a disease that weakens the muscles. Hogan is shorter than the average man his age, and he walks with an uneven gait.

While he acknowledged "it's a bit of a challenge," he said MD has done little to temper his ability to create.

Uncle Lewis did more than help young Thomas with his craft. Here was a Brooksvill resident - and family member, no less - who had made a living with his art.

Hogan graduated from Hernando High School in 2003. He took some classes at Pasco-Hernando, but has since decided to dedicate his life to his craft.

"I just really knew it was what I wanted to do," he said.

To see more of Hogan's work, visit the City Hall Art Gallery before Aug. 8, or go to www.tmhogan.net.

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.

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