An important element in Tompkins’ practice is his interest in historical precedents set by other painters.   Tompkins presents new paintings from the Left Over series in which he playfully merges references to the still life paintings of Jean-Siméon Chardin with the experiences of consumerism. Influenced by Chardin’s use of the mundane, Tompkins based his paintings on photographs of priced down “left over” merchandise in major department stores.  Before photographing the objects, Tompkins arranges them on site in the store shelves to loosely resemble Chardin’s still life compositions.  He then presents the paintings according to seasons in which each season is given a special character through the colors of the chosen objects. In a world of consumer excess and over abundance, the marked down "left over" object represents a final, desperate attempt at gaining the consumer's attention.  While Chardin’s objects communicate a sense of permanence and speak of a human presence just outside of the picture frame, Tompkins’ objects do not yet have that life. These are objects meant to be consumed, discarded, and replaced. Inexpensive goods made from inexpensive materials, they have to subsume to the psychology of their environment: that of constant change and limited satisfaction.  And yet, in each of the copper cauldrons, vases, bowls and artificial flower bouquets lies embedded the potential for permanent personal attachment.

Timothy Tompkins received his BFA from Otis College of Art and Design, in 2003.  He has shown at Studio la Citta, Verona, Italy, and has been included in “Rogue Wave ‘07” at LA Louver, in “The Eclectic Eye”: Selections of Fantasy and Illusion from the Frederick R Weisman Art Foundation, Contemporary Art Center, New Orleans, La Nuova Pesa,

Centro per L’Arte Contemporanea, Rome, Italy and in exhibitions at ACME, Los Angeles, the Creative Artist Agency, Los Angeles, DCKT Contemporary, New York and White Columns, New York.  He lives and works in Los Angeles.