Luminosity : Tomye Roots | Too Wings to Light

Gouache and Luminous Paint, 2026
16 x 20

My artwork, created with gouache and luminous paint, interprets “Luminosity Within” as the embodiment of three very glowing womens’ length of living 101 years, 96 years and 85 years respectively. My oldest friend is represented by the armchair; the knitted vest cuddling the back of the chair represents my Mom; and the colorful pillow represents a friend slightly older than me. Intuitively, I draw upon my African cultural belief of honoring, giving light to the deceased. Each presence lingers within the personal items I’ve depicted. Their essence emits brightly as a spiritual connection. Viewing or sitting upon the items everyday, allows absorption through my eyes and skin. Their combined luminosity boosts my physical and mental well-being. Certainly, as darkness tries to minimize visible light, I know to direct attention to Luminosity

BIO

Back stories seem to captivate. This is about the character Tomye:Living Artist.

Her formal education advanced, obtaining a BFA degree and MFA certification.

Each summer during college breaks she gained professional skills of candid photography, gouache painting and silk screening, Tomye stayed committed to an artist’s life. Her parents’ support never wavered, imparting what’s of most value, cultivating friends. This happens, she smiles, during 1978 while on the job training in a SF frame shop. By 1992, when she became Director of Center for Visual Arts (CVA) in Oakland, Board members, participating artists and volunteers became friends and more from 1996 -2014 while she was employed as a Visual Arts Specialist teaching Basic Drawing /Figure Drawing to adults and fun arts to youth within Studio One Arts Center, a City of Oakland Parks & Recreation facility.

During non-teaching hours at the center, Tomye learned stained glass and glass fusing, and metal working, while professional artists in these classes told her about difficulties having their art purchased. Enduring similar challenges as a participating artist in group exhibitions and rare

solo exhibits, starting in 2019 she leveraged her skills with other Steering Committee Members collaborating with the Richmond Art Center staff, to achieve shared goals for the Art Of The African Diaspora (AOTAD) Annual exhibits’ success. Tomye started vocalizing support for Living Artists. Incidentally, Tomye almost whispers, she shares her insight with artists whose

artwork(s) aren’t accepted in an exhibit; “chosen Artworks selected as cohesive may outweigh the worthiness of your art.”

Embracing having become a “Sage” she talks of the various workshops she’s lead for

seniors; creating, a mural in Oakland’s Davies Stadium; another in the basement of the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts; a Wellness Gate for the Prescott Joseph Center in West Oakland; serving on committees as a Volunteer, such as The Mayor’s Commission on Aging, a juror for “Trash to Treasure” and other Oakland events; Curating and Co-Curating exhibits.