Tom Betts
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Tom Betts
@tombettsart.bsky.social
40 followers 17 following 68 posts
California artist known for hyperrealism. Represented by Plus One in London, Dawson Cole in Carmel, and Thomas Anthony in Park City.
https://linktr.ee/tombetts
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Tom Betts @tombettsart.bsky.social · Dec 8
The December issue of American Art Collector features paintings now on view at Dawson Cole Fine Art in Carmel.
✨ The Language of Light ✨
#oilpainting #hyperrealism #magicrealism #superrealism #realism #carmel #carmelbythesea #pebblebeach #artcollector #americanartcollector #californiaart #tombetts
Hyperrealistic still life oil paintings by Tom Betts are featured in the December issue of American Art Collector magazine in an article titled "The Language of Light."
tombettsart.bsky.social
Estuary is from the Latin aestus, a place for the tide, a constantly changing environment.

Estuary and Cup, oil on panel, 20 x 16 inches

#oilpainting #hyperrealism #magicrealism #superrealism #lagunabeach #palmsprings #californiaart #tombetts
February 8, 2026 at 4:06 PM
tombettsart.bsky.social
The Taíno word for island, cairi, became cayo in Spanish, cay in English. "The question is not what you look at, but what you see." – Henry David Thoreau

Cays and Glass, oil on panel, 36 x 24

#oilpainting #hyperrealism #magicrealism #superrealism #lagunabeach #palmsprings #californiaart #tombetts
February 1, 2026 at 4:59 PM
tombettsart.bsky.social
The Latin lacūna refers to a pool or pond. A body of water can represent distance, depth, and sensitivity.

Lagoon and Glass, oil on panel, 36 x 24 inches

On view at Dawson Cole Fine Art in #Carmel

#oilpainting #hyperrealism #magicrealism #superrealism #pebblebeach #californiaart #tombetts
January 25, 2026 at 4:38 PM
tombettsart.bsky.social
Archipelago is from the Ancient Greek ἀρχιπέλαγος, the main sea, referring to the Aegean which has countless islands and endless history.

Archipelago and Glass, oil on panel, 36 x 24 inches

#oilpainting #hyperrealism #magicrealism #superrealism #californiaart #tombetts
January 18, 2026 at 4:13 PM
tombettsart.bsky.social
Atoll, from the Dhivehi word ⁧އަތޮޅު⁩ or atoḷu, comprises one of the rarest natural environments. އަތޮޅު⁩

Atoll and Cup, oil on panel, 20 x 16 inches

#oilpainting #hyperrealism #magicrealism #superrealism #realism #lagunabeach #californiaart #tombetts
January 11, 2026 at 4:53 PM
tombettsart.bsky.social
The only tree for over 250 miles, the Tree of Ténéré was a solitary acacia in the Sahara, the most isolated tree on Earth.

Acacia Lights and Cup, oil on panel, 12 x 12 inches
On view at Plus One Gallery in #London

#hyperrealism #magicrealism #superrealism #californiaart #plusonegallery #tombetts
January 4, 2026 at 3:39 PM
tombettsart.bsky.social
“It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done.” – Vincent van Gogh

Magnolia Lights and Cup, oil on panel, 12 x 12

#hyperrealism #magicrealism #californiaart #tombetts
December 28, 2025 at 4:04 PM
tombettsart.bsky.social
Baobab trees have been known to live over 2,000 years. Their name, from the Arabic أَبُو حِبَاب abū ḥibāb, means "many-seeded fruit."

Baobab Lights and Cup, oil on panel, 12 x 12 inches
On view at Plus One Gallery in #London

#hyperrealism #magicrealism #realism #californiaart #plusonegallery #tombetts
December 21, 2025 at 4:27 PM
tombettsart.bsky.social
“You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

Constellation and Cups, oil on panel, 12 x 12 inches

#oilpainting #hyperrealism #magicrealism #superrealism #realism #lagunabeach #palmsprings #californiaart #tombetts
December 14, 2025 at 4:24 PM
tombettsart.bsky.social
The Joshua Tree grows only in the Mojave Desert, one or two inches per year, for hundreds of years.

Joshua Tree and Cup, oil on panel, 12 x 12 inches

#oilpainting #hyperrealism #magicrealism #superrealism #realism #joshuatree #palmsprings #californiaart #tombetts
December 7, 2025 at 4:17 PM
tombettsart.bsky.social
Sagebrush, artemisia tridentata, derived from the Ancient Greek Ἄρτεμις or Ártemis, the goddess of the wilderness.

Sagebrush and Cups, oil on panel, 12 x 12 inches

#oilpainting #hyperrealism #magicrealism #superrealism #realism #lagunabeach #palmsprings #californiaart #tombetts
November 30, 2025 at 4:41 PM
tombettsart.bsky.social
Ocotillo comes from the Nahuatl word ocotl, referring to a torch. The plants usually appear spiny and dead but grow leaves and bright flowers soon after rain.

Ocotillo and Flowers, oil on panel, 12 x 12 inches

#hyperrealism #magicrealism #superrealism #realism #palmsprings #californiaart #tombetts
November 22, 2025 at 5:34 PM
tombettsart.bsky.social
“Nature is always more subtle, more intricate, more elegant than what we are able to imagine.” – Carl Sagan

Rockets and Flowers, oil on panel, 12 x 12 inches

#oilpainting #hyperrealism #magicrealism #superrealism #realism #lagunabeach #palmsprings #californiaart #tombetts
November 16, 2025 at 4:20 PM
tombettsart.bsky.social
The golden ratio, sectio aurea in Latin, is thought to be the "divine proportion" in both art and nature.

Conch and Flowers, oil on panel, 12 x 12 inches

#oilpainting #hyperrealism #magicrealism #superrealism #realism #goldenratio #lagunabeach #californiaart #tombetts
November 9, 2025 at 4:13 PM
tombettsart.bsky.social
“It is not so much where my motivation comes from but rather how it manages to survive.” – Louise Bourgeois

Laguna Palm and Flowers, oil on panel, 20 x 16 inches

#oilpainting #hyperrealism #magicrealism #superrealism #realism #lagunabeach #californiaart #tombetts
November 1, 2025 at 3:54 PM
tombettsart.bsky.social
“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Traveling, oil on panel, 18 x 17 inches

#oilpainting #hyperrealism #magicrealism #superrealism #realism #californiaart #tombetts
October 26, 2025 at 3:07 PM
tombettsart.bsky.social
The Latin vāde mēcum, meaning "go with me," refers to something a person carries for frequent or regular use. Wading requires us to carry only what is most useful.

Wading, oil on panel, 17 x 18 inches

#oilpainting #hyperrealism #magicrealism #superrealism #realism #californiaart #tombetts
October 19, 2025 at 4:10 PM
tombettsart.bsky.social
Two perspectives of knowledge, shared traditions, and reflected inspirations.

Tea for Two, oil on panel, 18 x 17 inches

#oilpainting #hyperrealism #magicrealism #superrealism #realism #californiaart #tombetts
October 12, 2025 at 2:59 PM
tombettsart.bsky.social
Water reflects the setting sun, and the tea cup reflects an identity.

Shimmering Tea, oil on panel, 17 x 18 inches

On view at Thomas Anthony Gallery in #ParkCity

#oilpainting #hyperrealism #magicrealism #superrealism #realism#utahart #californiaart #tombetts
October 5, 2025 at 3:59 PM
tombettsart.bsky.social
"The soul requires Sisyphean patience for its song. Time, Hippocrates remarked, is short and art is long.” – Charles Baudelaire

Patient Tea, oil on panel, 18 x 17 inches

#oilpainting #hyperrealism #magicrealism #superrealism #realism #californiaart #tombetts
September 28, 2025 at 3:20 PM
tombettsart.bsky.social
“Who is staring at the sea is already sailing a little." – Paul Carvel

Visiting Tea, oil on panel, 17 x 18 inches

#oilpainting #hyperrealism #magicrealism #superrealism #realism #californiaart #tombetts
September 21, 2025 at 2:36 PM
tombettsart.bsky.social
Any vessel contains a kind of knowledge. Traditions, values, and aspirations are moveable.

Tumultuous Tea, oil on panel, 17 x 18 inches

On view at Dawson Cole in #Carmel

#hyperrealism #magicrealism #superrealism #realism #carmelbythesea #pebblebeach #californiaart #tombetts
September 14, 2025 at 3:33 PM
tombettsart.bsky.social
The Ancient Greek θησαυρός, or thēsaurós, refers to treasure or wealth. In Latin, thēsaurus refers to dictionaries or encyclopedias. Language is one way to preserve value.

Treasured Tea, oil on panel, 28 x 30 inches

#hyperrealism #magicrealism #superrealism #palmsprings #californiaart #tombetts
September 7, 2025 at 3:52 PM
tombettsart.bsky.social
On view in the Summer Group Show at Plus One Gallery in London until September 10:

Lost in the Desert with Glass and Cups, oil on panel, 36 x 24 inches

#oilpainting #hyperrealism #magicrealism #superrealism #realism #californiaart #plusonegallery #london #tombetts
August 31, 2025 at 4:22 PM
tombettsart.bsky.social
“It's silly not to hope. It's a sin, he thought.” – Ernest Hemingway

Transient Tea, oil on panel, 17 x 18 inches

#oilpainting #hyperrealism #magicrealism #superrealism #realism #hemingway #palmsprings #californiaart #tombetts
August 24, 2025 at 3:30 PM