Today we’d like to introduce you to Tori Roman
Hi Tori, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m Tori K. Roman/TOKARO, an artist native to central FL.
I’ve been doing traditional art since I was a child, with some classes and some self-exploration.
When I was a young teen , I was introduced to anime/manga and conventions. My sister got me a basic tablet and Photoshop, and told me if I wanted to seek a career in art, I needed to learn how to do digital art. I then proceeded to teach myself; over the years after that, I developed my own style that borrows aesthetics from anime/manga, western comics, and semi-realism.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In terms of inspiration, I don’t really ever run out of ideas. If anything, I have too many ideas and not enough speed to keep up with them!
The financial aspect is tricky. There’s been times were I was solely doing freelance work, and other times I needed to have another job along side of it. There’s also juggling costs with producing my own products , and what does well with conventions/shows that I sell at.
There’s also the factor of direction. I was encouraged from a young age to try many different art forms , and to adjust myself to different art opportunities. I’m a flexible artist now because of that, but it does make focusing on a certain direction difficult.
Getting people’s attention online with art can be challenging as well. There’s many, many wonderful and unique artists out there, and it can be hard to get attention amidst that. Algorithms also change frequently, which is tough.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a mixed media artist, illustrator, and designer with a background in both traditional and digital artworks. I’ve worked on very diverse pieces from murals, to logos, to animal portraits, even!
The last few years, a lot of my clients have been Dungeons and Dragon’s players who’ve commissioned me to do their original characters. I have a soft spot for all genres of fantasy and geekery! I love that my personal style that I’ve developed over the years appeals to people, and that I can take a character in their imagination and bring it to life. I’m really proud of that!
I’m also passionate about teaching art, and making it accessible to others. You can also find me at many local anime/comic conventions selling my merch!
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
For those starting off into any type of art, I feel immersion is so essential for growth. Looking at different genres of art, even ones at first glance you might not seem interested in, can help spark inspiration.
With conventions, I would say to start with small orders on merchandise. It’s easier to gauge what’s selling well , and you won’t have to worry about sitting on older stock later on.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/tokaro
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokaro.art
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/ToKaRo.Art/
- Twitter: https://x.com/to_ka_ro
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@tokaro-art
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@to.ka.ro
