Tom Browning started publishing his Santa images in 1985 with "Friendly
Visit," which portrayed Santa Claus feeding some geese. In his book,
Santa's Time Off, Browning presents the
playful side of Santa after the work is done when he goes out with a few of the
elves. Tom's unique Santa designs along with his painting style earned him the
reputation as the premier Santa painter in the United States. Tom Browning
originally published his Santa art under his own publishing company, at first
called Santa's Time-Off, then Arbor Green publishers and finally today through
the Tom Browning Collection.
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| Santa Claus putting seed into a bird feeder. |
Tom Browning has painted more than 150 delightful scenes of Santa since 1985.
These designs are also licensed to manufacturers that feature them on many other
products such as
The Night Before
Christmas children’s book by Sterling Publishing, figurines from Enesco,
gift bags from Jean Marie and puzzles from Masterpiece Puzzles.
Franz Brown, a resident of Hot Springs, South Dakota, serves as Tom’s model
for Santa Claus, the result of a long-term friendship. The two men became
friends while working on an article featuring Browning for
Southwest Art magazine. Browning asked Franz
to do some Santa modeling for him. Franz liked the idea and has continued to
work with Browning ever since. Franz is himself an artist and photographer.
