About The Artist

Thanks for visiting my website. I hope you enjoy viewing my images as much as I enjoyed creating them.  If you have any questions or would like to inquire about comissioning me to do an original portrait, you may contact me personally by email: tomhessel1@hotmail.com

Following is a brief Bio and Artist’s Statement.

Born: June, 1947 – Dubuque, IA

I started drawing at a very young age. When I was about five years old, I would often spend the day with my grandmother. She would set me up at the kitchen table with some sheets of wrapping paper, that she got from the butcher shop, and a number two pencil. As she went about her daily routine, I would draw from the newspaper, usually from the comics, but sometimes I would also attempt to draw the photographs. These are very fond memories for me and I’ve been drawing ever since.

1952–1965

All through elementary and high school, I took every art class that was offered and also participated in all of the extra-curricular art projects. During this time, I was very fortunate to have received a lot of encouragement and support from my teachers and family.

1965–1969:  BFA Degree in Studio Arts from Loras College, Dubuque, IA

While attending college, to help pay tuition and supplement my income, I worked 30 hours a week as the Staff Artist for the local newspaper, The Telegraph Herald. I did a lot of illustrations for the newspaper, many of them full-page. I had the opportunity to illustrate the proceedings of a murder trial and to illustrate a special tabloid supplement featuring local civic leaders. This job was a very good experience for me.

1969-1970:  Graduate work in Creative Photography – U of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

During my second year at Loras College, I bought a 35mm camera and carried it everywhere. I would photograph anyone and anything that I found interesting. I really enjoyed this, so I decided to do graduate work in Creative Photography. Many of my photographs would be used as subjects for my drawings.

In an old book on art techniques and media, I discovered silver-point drawing. Basically, it’s drawing with pure silver (see attached). I’m sure there are other artists that do silver-point, but I’ve not yet met anyone that draws in this media.

1973-1988:  Art Director |Sales Rep – Associated Litho, Inc in St Louis Pk, MN.  

During the 1970s it was not uncommon for printing companies to employ their own art staff. I was responsible for doing design and illustration for their printing customers. After discovering that I enjoyed meeting with people, I decided to go into print sales and devote my personal time to my art. 

1989-2010:  Started Choice Graphics, Inc. – Commercial Print Sales

Running a business and raising a family proved to be very time consuming, so my artwork took a “backseat” during this period. I mostly did commissioned portraits, but I stayed active in the fine arts and exhibited my work whenever possible.

In 1992 I was a founding member and Chair of The Hopkins Area Arts Assn (HAAA).  As an arts organization in the Hopkins area, HAAA attempted to gain grass roots support for building an art center in downtown Hopkins and I was instrumental in the development and creation of The Hopkins Center for the Arts. Upon it’s completion in 1998, HAAA evolved into the Programming Board for the Art Center and I served as chair for the first five years. 

2010:  Retired from my business and returned to devoting full time to my art.

Over the years, I have exhibited at area art centers, the State Fair and a few local businesses. Some of my work has received awards in these exhibits. In addition, one of my silverpoint drawings was purchased for the permanent collection of the Minnesota Museum of Art and one of my paintings was purchased for the General Mills Collection.

I also work on commission and I am presently living and working out of my studio in Minnetonka, MN.

Artist’s Statement:

The subjects of my images are almost always people. I believe it’s those other souls we encounter during our lives that make it more interesting and enriched. My attempt is to capture some of the character and dignity that is a part of every person. We all have our individual hopes and dreams and we each find our own path to self-discovery. It’s these personal aspects of our humanity that I try to convey with my art.

It could be said that I do portraits and that would be accurate. However, I try to create something more than a likeness. I strive to show something about that individual’s personality, or perhaps capture a feeling of their situation at that particular moment in time. Hopefully, if I’m successful, the viewer will be able to connect with the image, in some way, without actually knowing the subject.

The purpose behind all of my images is to instill in the viewer a feeling that goes beyond the subject matter. My goal is to create something within the image that is universal or timeless.