Age, Biography and Wiki

Don Tompkins was born on 1933 in United States, is a Jewelry artist. Discover Don Tompkins's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 49 years old?

Popular As N/A
Occupation N/A
Age 49 years old
Zodiac Sign
Born 1933
Birthday 1933
Birthplace N/A
Date of death 1982
Died Place N/A
Nationality United States

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 1933. He is a member of famous artist with the age 49 years old group.

Don Tompkins Height, Weight & Measurements

At 49 years old, Don Tompkins height not available right now. We will update Don Tompkins's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

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He is currently single. He is not dating anyone. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. According to our Database, He has no children.

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Don Tompkins Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Don Tompkins worth at the age of 49 years old? Don Tompkins’s income source is mostly from being a successful artist. He is from United States. We have estimated Don Tompkins's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
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Source of Income artist

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Timeline

1933

Donald Paul Tompkins (1933–1982) is an American jewelry artist known for his witty and satirical works based on objects, photo etchings, cast elements, and gemstones.

He is most closely associated with the Pacific Northwest and the metalsmithing community that coalesced around Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington, where he taught for many years.

Don Tompkins was born in Everett, Washington on November 1, 1933 to two teachers.

1947

His sister Merrily, who would also go on to become a jewelry artist, was born in 1947.

Tompkins studied jewelry at Everett High School in Everett, Washington, where he was a student of the influential metalsmith Russell Day.

1950

His most famous series Commemorative Metals keenly reflected Pop Art and the artistic concerns of New York City-based artists in the 1950s and 60s.

1952

In 1952 he married Marilyn Hopkins.

1953

From 1953–1954 he took classes with Day at Everett Junior Community College, and also worked as his teaching assistant during that time.

Day served as a mentor and supporter of Tompkins' interest in jewelry, providing him with his first set of tools and materials.

1954

With Day's encouragement, Tompkins submitted work to, and was accepted by, the 1954 Northwest Craftsmen's Exhibition.

Tompkins' jewelry in the exhibition reflected the Modernist aesthetic of the time which prioritized organic shapes for bracket watches, necklaces, brooches and rings.

That year, Tompkins transferred to the University of Washington, Seattle to study with Ruth Pennington, another influential Pacific Northwest craftswoman.

1956

He received his B.A. in Art Education in 1956 and his M.F.A. in Design (metal, jewelry, and sculpture) from Central Washington in 1958.

From 1956–57, Tompkins taught crafts at Edmonds High School in Edmonds, Washington followed by a part-time instructor's position in art education at the University of Washington, Seattle from 1957–58.

1956 B.A. in Art Education, University of Washington, Seattle

1958

He then returned to Everett Junior College to teach design, jewelry, and drawing from 1958–63 while simultaneously making jewelry and exhibiting in local exhibitions.

1958 M.F.A. in Design, University of Washington, Seattle

1960

In 1960, Tompkins attended a summer session of graduate work at the School for American Craftsman in Rochester, New York.

Three years later he moved with his family to Syracuse, New York to attend Syracuse University for graduate work in art education.

1960 Summer graduate work at the School for American Craftsmen, Rochester, New York

1963

1963–66 Graduate work at Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York

1965

It was during this period that Tompkins created his most famous series, Commemorative Medals. Made between 1965–75, the series consisted of portraits of contemporary artists, musicians, political and cultural figures, and writers including: Hans Hoffmann, Claes Oldenburg, Norman Mailer, Pablo Picasso, and Henry Miller (1968); Janis Joplin, Minnesota Fats, Martha Mitchell, and Jack Zucker (1971); Jackson Pollock (1972); and Ivan Karp (1974).

Each provided social commentary on the figures through Tompkins's incorporation of found objects and evocative cast silver elements.

Pop Art was a large aesthetic influence on these pieces.

Tompkins is often credited as being one of the earliest artists to incorporate the style and found objects in American jewelry.

1966

He remained there until 1966, exhibiting his jewelry in the shows American Jewelry Today (1963 and 1967) at the Everhart Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania and Jewelry 64 at the State University of New York, Plattsburgh.

In 1966, at the request of Ramona Solberg, a fellow jewelry artist and former student of Ruth Pennington, Tompkins joined the faculty of Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington and remained there until 1972.

There he taught jewelry, wood, plastics, design, sculpture, art education, and aesthetics.

Ellensburg became a center for Funk art and jewelry made from found objects in the Pacific Northwest.

Tompkins's sister Merrily was one of his students during this time, and later students included Ken Cory and Nancy Worden.

1970

The medals were exhibited throughout the 1970s in exhibitions at the Museum of Contemporary Crafts in New York; the World's Fair in Spokane, Washington; the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; Barnard Baruch College in New York; Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington; and the Xerox Corporation in Rochester, New York.

Tompkins' medals often incorporated photographic images of the subjects, either through his use of newspaper clippings or photo etching.

Tompkins often experimented with materials and processes until he became proficient.

At other times, he sought out expert advice as he did when he learned photo etching by contacting Eastman-Kodak for assistance.

His use of images was executed in a collage or assemblage tradition, helping to focus the viewer on the person as well as the narrative.

Often, Tompkins used these images in a reverential manner but at other times used them to signal loss and pathos, two emotions often seen in jewelry that incorporates photography.

1972

Tompkins and his family moved to New York in 1972 when he became assistant professor of art at New York University.

1975

He taught sculpture, three-dimensional design, and jewelry there until leaving in 1975 to establish a business called Jewelry Loft in Soho.

The business failed and he moved back to the Pacific Northwest.

1976

Tompkins made little jewelry between 1976 and his death from a heart attack in Seattle, Washington, in 1982.