The Power of Art and Inspiration: Interview with Tofusquirrel
Artists can sometimes be a lot like car batteries, when one artist is feeling low on energy another artist can give them a great jump start to get going again. That’s how I felt when I discovered the work of Tofusquirrel. Not to peel open my fruit of personal privacy, but it’s important to write an addition to the video interview and I feel proud to be open about it. When Miss Squirrel took a walk around the Boston Comic Con convention I briefly talked to her kind partner in crime Alex at her booth. I asked him if he drew too to which he smiled; “yes” and we both gave a nod of understanding that we admired how passionate, dedicated, and talented Miss Squirrel is.
It’s that passion that I find all artists have to be reminded of, it’s an ambient passion. What I mean by that is when you go to www.tofusquirrel.com and her Etsy store you will realize you don’t have to be an artist to get that good jump start feeling and to see that value. What people like Alex and I smiled about is the understanding that passion and discipline go hand in hand and we admire and envy that because it is no easy task to do every day. Tofusquirrel’s work isn’t just about solid use of colors and the results of exploding imagination; it’s also about the ubiquitous brand of her fearless identity. When you have an idea you are truly passionate about and love, don’t be afraid to spread it over every corner of your life, let it touch everything as the pen touches paper and as your breath draws in the air. As artists, writers, musicians, dancers, performers, cosplayers, don’t feel you always need to use your real name, to hide those tattoos & piercings, or over-censor your resume. Take some inspiration from the modern day avant-garde, Miss Tofusquirrel; unleash who you are, don’t keep it in a box or on a website, paint it on everything and anything with bright magic markers and permanent stained black ink.
Splashing chromatic creativity over the many faces of Boston in magazines, posters, promos, flyers, covers, and much more, Tofusquirrel plans to expand her talent to the world of children’s book writing and illustration. I’ll be sure to preorder mine though I don’t have kids I will happily read it to myself and cat as we both enjoy such works of imagination. In the meantime, instead of collaging my office/studio wall of sticky notes with quotes full of text I have instead placed two of Tofu’s works I purchased at Boston Comic Con in their place. They are all the inspiration I need, for no words can replace them, as I hope her work is an inspiration to you as well.
