Welcome to Canadian artist, Tom Hilborn‘s online art exhibit, “Saints and Hards”.

Two themes can be found in many of his works.  Renaissance figures and the faces of early American Rockabilly musicians share the canvas.  His drawing exercises are based upon the drawings of artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Tintoretto and Rafael, artists of the Renaissance.  A new style of art emerged in the 14th century,  one concerned with perspective, mathematical precision, an interest in the natural world and the rebirth of Classical Greek ideas and perfection.

It is these ideas of the Renaissance, a time during which the art and culture flourished in Europe that Tom uses in his paintings of “Saints”.  They represent to him a kind of order and perfection juxtaposed against “Chaos”. The “Chaos” is Rockabilly – the faces of early American rock icons, Tom’s other passion.  In these works, the holy Madonna’s face cradles against the face of Cowboy Copas, or say, Morris Deason.  The peaceful reflection found in the faces of the Saints contrast to the wild chaotic faces of the musicians.  His other passion, music, finds expression in performance with a band he belongs to called “The Black Holes” which play in small clubs around his hometown.  Thus, the “Hards”, a slang word for “tough guys” contrast with the beautiful faces of the Saints to create art which reflect Tom’s interests and life long passions of drawing and music.

Rockabilly is a style of American music born out of American notions of patriotism based on the outcomes of the first and second world wars.  This style of music evolved out of the context of American victories.  It is an expression of victory, a reflection of living in the most powerful nation in the world after the chaos of war.  In Tennessee, Carl Perkins was bragging that the atom bomb was born there.  Ironically, it is also the birthplace of Rockabilly.

Tom uses a variety of media in a single work, painting with acrylics on Masonite as canvas and building up texture with molding paste and grit for a three dimensional effect.