We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tom Wrenn a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Tom thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I’m very happy as an artist. It took me a while to find my way. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Studio Art in my early twenties from the College of Charleston. Ended up working lots of different jobs some art related but mostly worked as a cook in restaurants. I was often asked when or if I wanted to open my own restaurant. The answer was always the same for me, “Why? I’m an artist.” So when I was 30 I went back to school and got a Computer Animation degree from the Art Institute of Atlanta. I’ve been happy as an artist ever since. But I will say having a regular job for so many years gave me the drive and discipline to maintain a career in art. It also gave me a structure and organization to how I work on and produce my art. As a line cook I would have never thought of it that way but as an artist I catch myself organizing in my head how to draw octopus tentacles as I would cooking a grill full of burgers.

Tom, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I was born In Tallahassee and raised on the Space Coast of Florida. I spent most of my youth watching rockets launch into space from the Indian river. I moved to Atlanta in the late 90’s and lived there for 17 years. But I missed Florida for many reasons. So I moved back to Florida in 2015. And I currently live in Sanford, FL.

I have two degrees in art. One is a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts Degree in Studio Art from the College of Charleston, SC and the other is a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts Degree in Computer Animation from the Art Institute of Atlanta. As I said before, after I got my degree in Studio Art I spent most of my twenties working in kitchens. When I was 30 I went back to college and got my second degree in computer animation and have been working as an artist since.

I spent several years working as a 2-D animator/illustrator for a company called August House Publishing. We did a line of children’s book, called Story Cove, that had accompanying animations online. The books had a focus on education and can be found in elementary school systems all over the southeast. From there I transitioned into a freelance artist where most of my work was making websites, animations and illustrations. I spent a few years as an illustrator for one of the early on-demand self publishing companies. They were bought by Amazon and a few months later Amazon cut all the illustrator services. It was unfortunately a month after I had moved back to Florida. I tried teaching art. I got a elementary art teacher position. I only lasted a year. I loved the kids but wasn’t a good teacher. I was fortunate to find a new job the week before the new school year started. And I’ve been working there for the past 7 years.

I am currently working as a graphic artist for a wholesale souvenir company, Jaco of America, in Longwood, FL. Most of my days are spent drawing anything from mermaids and starfish to black bears and the grand canyon. We make a wide range of products and designs that are sold all around the country and the Carribean in gift shops, zoo’s and national parks.

About the same time I started working for Jaco I was looking for a new avenue for my personal art. I’ve always enjoyed being an exhibiting artist. Throughout my professional career I’ve sold a decent amount of my personal art. But I needed focus and was looking for something new and something that was all my own. I have tried many different mediums over the years but most of all I love drawing. So I started a pencil drawing. My first piece was a sugar skull. It was dark and creepy. I loved it! And about the same time I learned about sublimation printing on wood and I tried a print of my sugar skull drawing on wood and I was hooked. It looked awesome. But it was dark and creepy. My sister saw the print and thought it was cool but dark and creepy. She suggested I make color versions if I wanted a bigger audience. That’s exactly what I did. I started scanning my drawings into my computer and colorizing them using Photoshop. Now I’m doing art festivals and events all over Florida and Georgia and having a blast. My subject matter is pretty diverse but it usually involves wildlife of some kind. I dig drawing birds, sea life and skulls. I’m also big on patterns these days. I like to utilize patterns from different cultures around the world to my wildlife pieces. My style is unique, somewhat surreal and heavily influenced by growing up in Merritt Island on the Space Coast of central Florida.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

I tried to understand and even looked into trying to sell my some of my art as NFTs. I learned that NFTs are not for me. The process was complicated and confusing. I highly recommend not getting involved financially with things you don’t understand or fully grasp.

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

I have always strived as a working artist to make my employer or boss happy and proud of the work I do for them. I believe it gives them the confidence to sell their product. As an exhibiting artist my goal is a little different. I strive to make myself happy and proud of what I am doing. For some artist they find their passion early. Some find it later in life but I believe when you do find your passion you should embrace it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.tomwrenn.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artbytomwrenn/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tomwrennArtist
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomwrenn/