Tom Humbert's lifelong passion for painting began in childhood during the 1960s. His mother was working on a paint-by-numbers kit depicting horses in a landscape, using tiny tubes of paint that contained just enough for the single project. Young Tom was fascinated and kept getting into her paints. Concerned that she would run out and be unable to complete her painting, she bought him his own set of oil paints—primary colors plus black and white—along with brushes. "These are your paints," she told him, effectively keeping him happily occupied with his own materials. From that point on, Tom had unrestricted access to oil paints as a child, experimenting freely with drawings and paintings throughout his growing years, all without formal instruction.
This self-directed foundation developed into a unique blend of scientific precision and artistic mastery. He holds a degree in physics from North Carolina State University, where his studies led him to explore fine arts through both undergraduate and graduate-level painting courses at the School of Design. This distinctive combination of analytical training and creative development gives Tom a rare perspective on structure, form, and technique in painting.
Tom studied privately under the late Frank Covino, widely regarded as a master painter of classical methods. Through this mentorship, he gained deep firsthand knowledge of traditional Renaissance techniques, including underdrawing, underpainting, color, and glazing. Tom has further expanded his expertise through the study of painting conservation, working from established conservation texts and restoring more than 100 paintings and frames.
In addition to his artistic work, Tom tutors high school and college students in mathematics and physics, reflecting his strengths as both a right-brain creative thinker and a left-brain analytical problem solver. He has taught numerous painting workshops over the years, guiding students of all levels in developing classical skills. A gallery of student work showcases the strong results his instruction consistently produces..