Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tim Palin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Tim, thanks for joining us today. Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

I don’t think my ideas come to me in a typical way. Often, though, there are times that an event can spark the NEED to make something. For instance, one of my favorite drawings is a David Bowie portrait. The moment I saw the news of his passing, I paused everything I was working on and started drawing that minute. I wanted to pay tribute. Similarly, I found myself doing the exact same thing on the day of Sinead O’Connor’s death. This was a tough one for me. She was such a misunderstood genius and protector of children. I immediately got to work on a very layered digital collage wherein I added a crown to her head while she sheltered and screamed for the protection of a boy. Around the same time, without the intention of creating a series, I’d just finished a piece celebrating Frida Kahlo…adding a crown to her head as well. This was the beginning of a project I’m embarking on this year. I have a list (a mile long) of incredible women from from Marsha P. Johnson to Tina Turner to AOC to the Sufferagettes to the Sexual Assault Whisteblowers. I want to honor these women in a way that is meaningful, beautiful, and important. Central to the project, “Queens and Goddesses”, will be the crowning notable and inspiring women in a context that shines a light on to their work, art, achievements and lifelong impact on the world.

Other times I think, “I’m thinking about whales today…” and off I go to create imagery of a whale being carried by butterflies over the Boston skyline. I actually made this image with no plan at all. I just needed to make something that day.

Tim, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I studied communications and and 2-dimensional art in college. Not completely sure what the plan was, I had a short (VERY short) career in public relations. From there, I bounced around the greater Boston area working for a variety of marketing-based companies creating everything from brochures for insurance companies to posters for Simon Malls to artwork designed to wrap a vintage ice cream truck for Hawaiian Punch! Thrilled to be making work that was being seen out in the world, I forged ahead. My job at a Boston-based promotions agency, launched me into a new endeavor as Promotions Art Director for ELLEgirl Magazine, moving my (now) husband and me to NYC for the next 10 years. It was a thrilling job that was NOWHERE on my radar. One day I was in our little apartment in Melrose, MA watching my favorite tv show, America’s Next Top Model…a few months later, I was directing photoshoots in New York for that very show! WHAT?! After a couple more exciting magazine gigs, something even more unexpected happened. I landed my literal dream job as a Senior Designer at Disney Publishing. As if I wasn’t nervous enough hours before my interview, my mother excitedly recalled that I always loved Disney books and wanted to make them one day! And then I did for the next few years.

This is what landed me in the book publishing world. Since then I’ve become an independent book designer, illustrator and producer. I’ve been fortunate to see all of these experiences lead into the next. While I am a workaholic and have a fierce hustle, it’s not lost on me that stars align sometimes. I like to think that I bring that positive energy to my work, and its what gives me the optimism to keep going and trying new stuff.

I love my publishing work. I get to make books for giants like Scholastic Books and Penguin Random House. I draw pictures for children’s books! But once I moved into my space at Western Ave Studios in Lowell, MA, I was inspired to “do more”! Being surrounded by people dreaming and creating, I found myself making new work. While the digital collage and editorial illustration is new for me, it just feels so right while I’m doing it…like it was there waiting for me. I feel like I have a specific voice as a collage artist that compliments my work as a publishing professional, and vice versa. While I am always grateful to be making work with big brands and celebrity personalities, I truly love making art for myself.

Regarding my brand? Simply put, “Make stuff every day” is my daily mantra and tagline!

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

This is an easy one. Put yourself out there. As creatives, we are surrounded by innovation and people finding new ways to be noticed. Pay attention to these trends. Show people who you are and what you do.

Basically…brag.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Yes, push myself and do stuff that I don’t think I can do.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.timpalincreative.com
• Instagram: @timpalincreative
• Facebook: Tim Palin Creative
• Linkedin: timpalin

Image Credits
Studio shots are Henry Marte