Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tori Roman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Tori, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
With traditional art, I’ve been playing around with different mediums since I was a kid. I did a lot of self-exploration, and took a few community classes as well.
When I was a young teen, my sister introduced me to anime/manga, and I was obsessed! She then gave me my first tablet (a Wacom Bamboo Fun) at around 14 along with Photoshop. She told me if I wanted to be a professional, I needed to learn how to do digital art. I was very intimidated at first, but I eventually taught myself.
Since I did a variety of self-teaching starting at a young age, I’ve thought a lot about the process of learning. I also started teaching art privately at 18. Because I was pushed to do so many different types of art, I sometimes wish I had focused more on one genre to make learning more efficient. At the same time, I’m a pretty well rounded artist today because of that.
I think immersion and dissection are the best skills for growth. I was taught by my whole family at a young age to be appreciative towards art, even art I wasn’t personally interested in. My sister started bringing me to anime and comic conventions in middle school; I also went to art museums with my family and with my high school. Seeing so many different types of art, knowing the basics to break down and dissect what I was seeing, and being able to talk to artists about techniques was so fundamental and impactful to me as a young artist.
Honestly, I don’t think for me there were many obstacles for me to learn. I was getting exposed and surrounded so much by art, and the expansion of the internet during my youth only aided that.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m Tori K. Roman/TOKARO, and I’m an illustrator, designer, and mixed media artist native to Central Florida. I have a background in both traditional and digital art, and have worked on many different projects ranging from murals to animal portraits to logos.
I’m a geek and nerd enthusiast; you can find me in the artist alley of a lot of the local anime and comic conventions selling my own merch (which I also sell on Etsy). I started selling my own work and fanart at 17 at conventions. My own personal style is heavily influenced by both anime and western comics that I’ve refined over the years. I have a soft spot for digital painting and fantasy elements. Many of the commissions I’ve been doing the past few years have been clients’ original Dungeons and Dragons characters, which I love!
I’m also passionate about teaching art, and making it approachable for everyone! I’ve taught art privately on and off for the last 13 years, and I’ve been an artist with Painting With A Twist for over a year now (I’m at the Orlando/Hunter’s Creek location). If you see me at a convention or follow me online, please feel free to ask me art questions!
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I’ve been very open about my mental health struggles throughout the years. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorder at 21 after suffering for years without knowing. Before the counseling and getting on medication, art was (and is) my escape. It’s something I’ve always been able to come back to, focus on, and pour myself into. I feel like my dedication to my craft and the skills I’ve developed over the years is a testament to my resilience. My hope is that I can be an advocate to others to prioritize their mental health journey and well-being.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Firstly , I think it’s so imperative to not take art out of public schools, and to give it funding. Kids need to learn from an early age that the arts have always shaped culture, and it’s always been interconnected with society. Children having easy access to the arts is integral to their growth and well-being.
Second, AI absolutely cannot replace human artists. I feel AI definitely has a place, especially in medical research and development. However, AI takes sincerity and intentionality out of art. People forget art isn’t just about results, but about the journey of learning a craft and finding joy in the process.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/tokaro
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokaro.art?igsh=em8xcmt4MTJycTl3&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1B4pSt8LDP/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tori-k-roman-54b462103
- Twitter: https://x.com/to_ka_ro?s=21&t=rssNSQUDrVQzzcqBGeTTOg
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@tokaro-art?si=Edy_Lz1hEmI7ELR8&sub_confirmation=1
- Other: TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@to.ka.ro?_t=ZT-8tyLcOPEcYt&_r=1
