California Association of Porcelain Artists, Inc.

I’m sad to report we lost a wonderful artist and dear friend. Tom Charbonneaux passed away at the Queen of the Valley Hospital, Tuesday October 7th, 2007 of a heart attack.

Tom was very active in the Napa Porcelain Painters Club and attended a painting class each Tuesday. His wife, Liz, would joke that he spent his time in the garage, painting, or on the computer doing projects for the painting club since the Napa club is sponsoring the CAPA show in March 2004.

Tom was born on April 4, 1928 in Ottowa, Ill. He would go to Iowa about four times a year to visit two brothers who are ill. He and Liz had just returned from Iowa helping an aunt celebrate her 100th birthday. He was looking forward to a reunion with many relatives and friends he hadn’t seen in years.

Tom was a welcoming committee of one to any new class member and did his best to recruit anyone willing to try their hand at painting. He tried to convince everyone they would be a true artist if they stuck with it for 5 years.

He had a unique way of doing grape leaves that he was very proud of. He has sold many items at the gift shop of the Napa Valley Wine Train. He did oil painting several years ago but gave it up for china painting.

On a personal note. Tom was very supportive when I began painting 5 years ago. He used to fire everything for me, as well as anyone else who didn’t have a kiln. Every class he would encourage me to stick with it.

He was very generous with his time, talent and blank china or anything else one might need.