Tom Balderas

Tom Balderas is a painter, writer, musician, photographer, thinker, and creator—a complex blend of social and solitary traits. He is number three out of four boys growing up in his family. Tom’s boyhood was enriched by the carefree, endless summer freedom that SoCal provided to many kids growing up in the 70’s – and for Tom and his brothers, California was the iconic symbol of “cool” before the rest of the USA started learning about it though the export of music, art, technology and the economic boom effect that sent shock waves throughout the world. That was the world that young Tom grew up in …it was COOL! 

Raised in Torrance, California, just miles from the ocean, Balderas found his primary sources of inspiration in nature and his family. At Loyola Marymount University, he immersed himself in film production and art. After graduating, he honed his craft with NBC Productions, contributing to numerous made-for-TV movies. His artistic evolution was profoundly shaped by studying under his father, a photographer, and Joseph Mendez, a master painter. Balderas regards his time with Mendez as the crucial foundation of his development as an artist.

His journey has also been marked by deep learning experiences with a wide array of mentors … a shout-out to his many FAVs: Charles, Anne, Jennifer, Daniel, Sophia, Lynne, Joseph, Harold, Zen, Elliott, Starbuck, Dan, Andrew, Dr. Block, Zinaida, David, E. Charlton, Michael, Rose, Ken, Walter, Selden, Chris, Armin, Joaquin, Edward, Bejar, Valentin, George, Jesus, Steve, Pierre, Rachel, Mort, Marileigh, and Mr. Gregg … to name just a few among many.

Looking back, Tom feels that his existence has been an intense emotional & artistic odyssey from the moment he was born. But it’s that exact intensity which pours through and is clearly in all of Tom’s Artwork.