Tom Chow passed away peacefully December 15, 2020 under hospice care at his home with his family by his side after complications from a stroke and Covid-19.
Tom, a master painter and calligrapher, was a passionate teacher and mentor with a good sense of humor and a willingness to share his knowledge of Chinese history and his painting and calligraphy skills. He imparted his vision on the future relevance of brush painting and calligraphy in America, uniting east and western art. Tom also held a deep reverence and respect for the richness and depth of Chinese culture and philosophy.
Tom was born in mainland China in 1942, lived in Hong Kong during his formative years, and at age 19 immigrated to the United States. Tom majored in engineering in college, and took classes in Asian Art History specializing in the arts of China and Japan. He studied under Master painters and calligraphers and was inspired by artists in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Tom has had his work exhibited in galleries in the U.S., Taiwan, China, and Japan.
Tom will be missed by the Chinese brush painting community in southern California. He was taken from us too soon. He had so much more he wanted to teach us and share. But, he has left us with a lifetime of lessons and his book, Touch of the Brush, containing some of his favorite artworks and a bit of his own history. His creativity shows us how we can all incorporate our own western environment into the world of Chinese art.
