Tom Mielko was born in Boston, Massachusetts. A natural talent, he drew his first sketches at the age of six and went on to study art at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts School. Upon graduating from the prestigious Art Institute of Boston, Mielko was one of the few artists asked to teach painting there. Since 1968, he has lived his dream of painting as a profession.

In 1974, he visited Nantucket and fell in love with the unspoiled island and has returned every summer since. His gallery, the Mielko Gallery, is the oldest gallery on South Wharf.

In 1980, he moved to Santa Barbara, California, where he now spends half the year. From the Atlantic to the Pacific, Tom Mielko brings the glorious images of the sea to life in his original paintings, serigraphs, giclee prints and graphics. His bicoastal lifestyle adds dynamic perspective and uniquely seasoned dimension to his Romantic Realist style.

Acknowledged globally as a master of visual story telling, Mielko is best known for his finely honed ability to communicate with the viewer in a personal, intimate way. His passion for living and love for his craft radiate from every brushstroke of his work. Tom Mielko makes it easy to believe in the magic of nature and romance.