TommyV

Music is my inspiration for most of my art, I can appreciate almost any form of music... except country...

I have recently picked up the hobby of going to see local bands and live shows. The art that I find on all the different gig posters is inspiring and downright amazing! Some of the bands that I currently am listening to are Acroma, A Perfect Circle, Rise Against, Oleander, Live, Janus, Flyleaf, Flogging Molly, Charlie Parr, Dropkick Murphys, Deftones, Counting Crows, Cage the Elephant, Brandi Carlile, and many more I guess... that's all I could think of right now. I have had paintings inspired by music, and have created characters off of songs that have become reoccurring characters throughout many pieces.

My question to you... what suggestions do you have for me to listen to?

Hello!

My name is Tom, online I go as Tommy_V. I am writing to make sure that everyone knows that I am not a douche. I was told that if I want to gain respect and a good enough rating to play with the good artists I need to "get known". What better way than to tell a little about myself.

Um... Lets see. I am 27... I think. I always ask my wife, she keeps better track of my age than I do. Personally, after 21 years, who cares, you can do everything except collect social security :D I live in Wisconsin and have my whole life, my parents are both from St. Paul, MN. I have two brothers, I have been married for three years, I have a son, Greyson, who is 9 months old, and I don't talk with a lisp. I am currently going to school at Rasmussen College in Lake Elmo, MN and online for multimedia design and technology, so I am getting back into my art groove. I love to paint, draw, sculpt and play video games. I am currently getting into the videography, but that is a slow train since time is always stretched thin. I joined this place because I am inspired by other artists work and love to own original pieces. I figured ATCs are a good way to spread the word that I am here, and it's a good way to meet others! Feel free to drop me a line if you ever want to collaborate on a project, I love that! The creativity that can come from a group can be very powerful, much like a squirrel with and energy drink.

This is an easy one, I love psychological thrillers, dark comedies, and all around evil-like movies. I love the dark side of art, and the images that can come from someones head that you would not expect. Some of my favorite movies are Silent Hill, Requiem for a Dream, He Died with a felafel in his hand, zombie movies, anything by Tarantino, anything by Burton, and generally that side of the film industry. OH! and the movie "Old Boy" if you have never see this movie, it has, by far, the best hammer fight scene I have EVER seen.

Do picture books count?

I collect art books, mostly of artists I have found through magazines like Beautiful Decay or High*Fructose. I have a few of the Weirdo Deluxe books and one of Elizabeth McGrath. Shy of art books and animations... I don't really read much.

Art and art related accessories. I am not a crafter so much as I consider myself and artist. I have a thing against scrapbookers and stampers, but that relates back to my childhood. I realize that I can't escape the possibility that I may one-day get a scrapbookers ATC... but it's a risk worth taking to potentially get a nice piece of art from a "true" artist... hahahahaha, I'm not really that condescending, I just don't like scrapbookers.... looks around and whispers "it's because I like "real" art"

Anywho... on that note... I do make shirts. I have my own silkscreen press and I am currently working on my art abilities to one day start my own business. I have made a few shirts already, I haven't gotten pictures of all of them yet, but if you look at my flickr page you can see some of them.

Clothes. What did you think I was going to say? Someone else's skin? That's just sick.

Online friendships and creative inspiration. I have played in groups on flickr where people would mail items to each other and send post cards along with the item and a picture of the person using the item. However, people would fall off the radar and lots of items disappeared. I can't say that I liked that at all, so I am giving a site that has a rating system, and a secret recon and recover team with trained snipers, a try. I am going to promise right now that I will not drop the ball and short someone an ATC, I am here to get what I send, so I hope people are here for the same thing!

Toodles.