Tom White
October 5, 1942 – June 13, 2007 

Tom White was a co-founder of the New York Society of Etchers, and a true ‘Renaissance Man’.  His remarkable etchings frequently employed a narrative device combining his love of story telling with exceptional drafting skills.  He approached the medium in a studied, practiced manner developing a series of detailed drawings and sketches before working the plate. Tom was adept at the needle, aquatint, burnisher and soft ground.  The dominant influence in his work, if there was one, was a combination of French and English etching schools from the mid-nineteenth century.  This appeared best in his work with botanical subjects such as his “Chrysanthemum”, and “Benbulben” prints - exquisite studies in etching and aquatint. 

Tom was particularly well versed in the history of intaglio print making. A voracious reader and genuine print scholar, he could speak with great specificity about this discipline of graphic art and its history.  Tom had a particular affinity with intaglio technique for conveying anything from sunny days to moonlit skies.  He reveled in discussions of the works of favorite etchers like Rembrandt, Piranesi, Bruegel the Elder, Goya, Arms, Cameron, Charles Meryon and Martin Lewis. He could cite prints by name, the dates of their execution and even various states – for the joy of knowing the work.  Tom simply loved etching, the brilliant artists that created them, and the stories so many of them told.  

In addition to Tom’s accomplishments in the graphic arts he practiced professional story telling; was a founding member of the New York Story Telling Center; and, a founder and artistic director of The Tale Bearers – an organization dedicated to increasing awareness of folklore, legend and mythology as seen through the visual and dramatic arts.  Over his career he performed story telling at several landmark venues such as St Peters Church at Citicorp Center, and La Mama Galleria. Tom also wrote and illustrated over a dozen stories for Parabola Magazine, and was a member of The Gurdjieff Foundation.

Tom White was born in Detroit, Michigan.  After high school he studied art at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California.  Returning briefly to Michigan he moved to New York City in 1967.  He continued his art studies at Parsons at the New School, The School of Visual Arts, the Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop, and, NYU’s School of continuing Education.  Though, over the last two decades of his later life Tom was resolutely an active member of the Art Students League of New York where he worked continuously in the etching studio.

His exhibition record included important shows in France, China, Australia, Japan, Hungary and across the United States.  His work may be found in many public institutions – though Tom was particularly pleased to be part of the print collections in the Museum of the City of New York, The New York Public Library, and The Art Students League of New York. 

Tom also worked at Doubleday Bookshops and Barnes & Noble Chelsea. The system he devised for the arrangement and categorization of art books became the standard for all Barnes & Noble stores throughout the country. At the time of his death he was engaged in his work with The New York Society of Etchers, exchanges of ideas in the Google Group “Mythologos”, and the first stages of collaborative efforts on Magic Flight – a study through text and illustration of the metaphysical/esotoric content in several tales. 

He will be missed and remembered always – by many. 

<< Back