the sierra drift studio
A California studio where mountains and deserts meet the sea
In
Artist founded
Tom Applegate’s Sierra Drift Studio is a working studio built around material discipline and long-term construction. Paintings, panels, and built objects are produced side by side, each shaped by the same attention to structure, durability, and environment. The studio operates as a unified practice rather than separate product lines.
Portfolio & Available Works
This is my personal portfolio—a curated selection of my artwork that reflects my ongoing studio practice. Pieces shown here may be available; for availability, pricing, or commissions, please contact me directly through the site.
Inspired Landscapes
Inspired works from my adventures in the mountains, deserts and other landscapes.
Snow Patch Spire
Summer
Abstract Places
Abstract worlds exploring imagined environments.
Surfboards
Original paintings on repurposed surfboards.
Tom Applegate
My work is shaped by a lifetime of disciplined practice—both in the studio and in the field. Years as a climber, surfer, wildlife biologist, outdoor explorer inform a visual language grounded in observation, structure, and restraint. In addition to my art, I create a line of professional art panels for myself and other artists.
Sierra Art Panels
Hand Crafted, Slim profile. Light weight. Greater stability.
Sierra Art Panels are handcrafted one by one in my studio, in the California foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Each panel is a collaboration between engineering, tradition, and a painter’s instinct. I build my cradled panels using a hybrid cradle and internal truss system. Each panel has a traditional perimeter cradle, but inside I add an internal cross-braced structure that distributes stress across the entire surface. This allows the cradle to be slimmer and lighter while improving stiffness and resistance to warping over time. The result is a thinner-profile panel that stays flat, feels solid, and holds up beautifully—especially in larger sizes. Please visit my website sierraartpanels.com to learn more, or buy panels and art created on them.
