Today we’d like to introduce you to Jo Tomsick.
Hi Jo, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in Cleveland, the birthplace of Rock n Roll, as the only visual artist in a family of extroverted musicians. I spent my youth escaping into books and video games, and finding companionship with imaginary friends. My sketchbook became my playground, where I imagined all the weird and wild environments and creatures I might encounter in my own made up stories. In high shool, I was one of the lucky few to take part in my school’s rigorous art program, which unlocked the skills I needed to help my burgeoning love of sketching to flourish.
I met my husband in college, and his career in the Army has taken us all over the country. In those years, art was put on a back burner in favor of what I thought were more stable career options. I tried pursuing work in education, psychology, and museum studies, but my love for art kept pulling, eventually yanking, on the threads of fate. In my late 20s, I began to gradually trade office work and the occasional pet portrait commission for a serious art practice, and began building the runway for my art career to take off.
In 2023, I presented my first solo, Of a Feather, at the Hastings Gallery in Pinehurst, NC. I have gone on to enjoy participation in a number of shows across the country, including with the Cleveland Museum of Art (OH), Surreal Salon (LA), Pullen Arts Center (NC), Flying Horse Gallery (OR), Hive Gallery (CA), Modern Eden (CA), and Poetic Tiger gallery (online). I currently work out of the Bay Area as an illustrator for clients such as Wizards of the Coast, and continue to explore my love of myth, mystery, and fantasy through my gallery work.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t think I’ve ever met another creative who has had a smooth road. I’m eternally grateful for the opportunities that have come my way, for my incredibly supportive husband and my parents, and overall for the stars aligning in a way that I’m not sure I even deserve. Whether you call it luck or a blessing, I’ve been given so much scaffolding to help me reach the heights of an art career. On the other hand, there is no easy road to get to where you want to be. There is a staggering list of practical considerations, why not to pursue a creative career. Paycheck, benefits, stability, etc. I often beat myself up for not staying in one of those cushy office jobs or pursuing something more lucrative. I was left with exorbitant student loans after finishing my degree, and for many years it was critical for me to have a regular paycheck. For that reason I kept putting off “serious” art year after year. It would have been very easy to keep on that trajectory, and leave art as a sometimes-hobby.
Another challenge has been figuring out what my niche is, and battling for a spot in the lineup. There are more working artists today than ever before, by an exponential factor – due in part to social media, the pandemic, and the rise of the gig worker economy. But there are also more opportunities than ever before. I used to spray and pray at all the galleries and competitions under the sun, until I realized that curating that selection to what felt like the right fit for me and my work meant fewer, higher-quality opportunities for success.
I think the biggest roadblocks that I’ve had to overcome, and continue to run into, are the self-imposed ones. Making art is such a personal pursuit that as a career, it can sometimes feel like your life is on the line – i.e. what if people don’t accept my work? Are they rejecting me? Most creatives I know enter a never-ending war between self-doubt and self-belief the moment they decide to pursue art seriously, and the relentless volley of psychological threats like “I can’t do this”, “I suck at this”, even, “I’m not an artist”, are like nasty weather battering you on the road. In the beginning, I didn’t have much in the way of community or mentorship, and so it was quite a lonely battle to face.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I consider myself to be an illustrator & fine artist, which can be vastly different – the former answers questions and interprets narratives for an audience to visualize, while the latter is more inclined to ask questions and let the viewer draw their own meaning from the work.
On the gallery side, my work is what you’d call imaginative realism. For inspiration, I like diving into the stories and imagery that inspired me as a kid. Myth, folklore, and themes in literature are frequent sources for new ideas, as well as symbology and metaphor. On the other side is my work as a fantasy illustrator, where I’m tasked with interpretting ideas and stories in a way that thrills, fascinates, and leaves the audience eager to know what happens next.
I think I’m most proud of where I’ve landed, rather than any specific body of work or painting. I’m constantly learning and applying new skills, such that every piece right now just feels like a stepping stone to the next thing. It’s taken so much time, effort, sacrifice and reflection to figure out what kind of art I like to make. I’m both proud (and relieved) to feel firmly rooted in the surreal & fantasy genres. Of course that could change at any time, but the fact that I truly love and hunger for what I do every day is something I’d be overjoyed to share with my ten-year-old self.
I’m still figuring out what sets me apart as an artist, but I think my ability to meld the surreal and uncanny with real narrative and context is a special skill of mine. Pursuing both fine art and illustration means the two often blend into each other in unexpected ways – which, I’m finding, is really weird and exciting for the audience to try and interpret!
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
As someone who has lived all over the country in different landscapes and types of settlements, I can confidently say the Bay Area is one of the absolue best places to land. We’re dealing with the strain of a high cost of living coupled with inflation, and maybe overcrowding – but until you’ve lived in the middle of nowhere, it’s very hard to appreciate what that high cost of living really nets you. I’ve been here about a year, and stepping out of my apartment thrills me every day. I’m someone who craves constant input and stimulation, and I like to joke that you can point your finger in any direction here and never run out of things to do. There is diversity in every aspect of life – the landscape, culture, people, food, even the weather. Above all, it’s truly unique, quirky, and welcoming, in ways that various up-and-coming cities in the US sorely lack. There are few places in our country that still feel unironically special and one-of-a-kind.
I’m sure I’m not alone in citing the traffic as my least favorite feature of the Bay! Sometimes it can feel daunting to embark on those mini-adventures when getting anywhere takes so much time and frustration. But, it’s easy to take the roadways for granted, and the fact that you can see so much on foot or bicycle is immensely satisfying. We didn’t even have sidewalks in our last neighborhood…
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jotomsick.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jobotfineart/?hl=en
