He loves it so much that he has been able to make a career out of his two passions by teaching art at South Glens Falls High School and opening his own art studio in Glens Falls.

Over the years, Myott’s paintings have become widely popular around Saratoga Springs due in part to their themes which revolve around the city’s rich traditions.

Recently, he was selected to create the official shirt design for the 2008 Freihofer’s Jazz Festival at SPAC and he will be taking part in various “Art in the Park” events throughout the summer, which will feature him painting on the spot in Saratoga’s Congress Park. I sat down with Myott to talk about what inspired him to become a painter, where he draws his inspiration from and his experience of creating the logo for this year’s Freihofer’s Jazz Festival.

When did you realize that art was your calling in life?

Believe it or not, pinch pots in elementary school. You don’t realize it because when you are that young you think that everyone loves art class, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and ended up sticking with it until high school when I realized I wanted to pursue it as a career because I had been inspired by one of my teachers. I eventually came back to teach art at South Glens Falls High School under my old teacher and since then we have gone in together on a studio in Glens Falls. Art has now become something more than a hobby to me - it’s my life.

Where do you draw the inspiration for your artwork from?

It comes from a variety of sources like things I observe. For instance, earlier today I was observing the afternoon light and how the shadows of the trees cascade along the buildings. I just see light differently and it’s not hard to get motivated or engrossed in the subject matter because it is all around us. A lot of it also has to do with intrigue and interest.

Which artist(s) has had the greatest influence over your work?

I have found solace in Chuck Close’s work because he used a lot of grids, so one can get a sense of organization from the work itself. Within the confines of the bridge structure there is looseness in his brush stroke and what has drawn me to his style is I can combine both those interests in the same piece of artwork. The post-impressionist artists have also had a profound impact on my work because I like the uniqueness of mark making and the ability it gives me to create a sense of motion or vibration.

A lot of your work seems to have Saratoga themes to them. Why have you chosen those objects as the main focus for your artwork?

I was looking to be inspired by something that shows movement, which led me to the racing and equine themes. When I got involved with the Saratoga Arts Council I started doing Art in the Park and from doing that my inspiration for the themes grew. I eventually decided why not use racing because it is a common subject matter and it’s an icon of Saratoga. Then people started saying they had never seen anything like it before and that inspired me to further purse the themes. Now it has blossomed in to some very important contacts in Saratoga and the opportunity to showcase my work around the city streets

Do you have a favorite piece of artwork?

One year to the next you can often pick out one or two favorite pieces you have done, but to pick one piece out of all of them is tough because through my exploration I occasionally hit on something that I think is really cool and I start to see the transition of my style and growth as an artist. For me, I can look at different pieces and give a reason why I like them, but every painting I do is personal and it can often be tough to say goodbye to it when it’s done. There is no one favorite painting because they are all like a part of my family by the time I am done with them.

What was the experience of designing the logo for this year’s Jazz Festival like?

Exciting! For me going from dealing primarily with fine art to designing the logo was a wonderful opportunity because I have been involved with the festival as a member - showcasing my fine art over the past few years, so I jumped at the opportunity to design the logo. My goal was to design a logo that typifies the jazz festival while incorporating some of the stuff that I have done over the years. I ended up presenting them with a bunch of different options, which made it hard for them to decide what one they wanted to use. During the show I will also be selling the original painting of the logo and reproductions of it as well, which is exciting because it’s something that adds another dimension to the festival.

You teach art at South Glens Falls High School and you also provide private lessons. Why do you feel it’s important to pass on your knowledge of art to future generations?

Education itself is fascinating. I have fallen in love with education and I am fortunate to be an educator and an artist. When I am teaching my painting students I don’t approach it as here is the way it needs to be done - I approach it as I just discovered something - you have to check this out. I am as energized as much about painting as they are and I hope to pass that on. Often times I will give a student a direction in painting only to return and be blown away by what they have done because I would never even have thought of doing it that way - I get as much out of it as they do.

What’s in store for the future?

I opened a gallery three years ago and I am still trying to figure out the challenges that go along with it and learning how to run it. As far as shows go, I am hosting my annual “Saratoga Thoroughbred Racing Exhibit’ on July 18 at my studio. During the show I will be introducing new elements by adding some other racing venues from the Triple Crown run, which will allow me to introduce some unique things and generate something in my style that people have never seen before.

You can learn more about Tom Myott at: www.tmyottart.com