Artist Spotlight of the Month: "Andres Tam"
Welcome to Dot Editions “Artist Spotlight” series, where we’ll be interviewing one artist a month and sharing a little about them with you. The team of artists at DOT Editions have collaborated to bring you a monthly celebration highlighting local artists we’ve had the pleasure of working with through the studio. By these artists sharing a bit about themselves we hope to inspire the artist community to keep pursuing their dreams.
Artist: Andres Tam
Medium: Acrylics, metallic paint and India ink over wood board
Experience: My whole life
1-Q: Where are you from?
A: Born and raised in Mexico. with Mexican and Chinese descend. Naturalized American in 2014. I’m a mutt.
2-Q: How did you end up in Asheville,NC?
A: I moved here from Orlando FL in 2017, after living there for 21 years. I’m here for the mountains, nature and the arts. Love them all.
3-Q: How many cities have you lived in and how hard or easy was it to get into the local artist community?
A: (Veracruz, Puebla, Mexico City, Lancaster PA, Columbus OH, Fort Worth TX, Orlando FL, and now in Leicester NC. I don’t really consider myself to be in the local artist community. I just enjoy painting wherever I am.
4-Q: What do you like to listen to when creating? Do you have any suggestions/playlists to share with us?
A: Music. I cannot paint without music and it plays a big role in how my painting turns out. For instance, I finished one of my paintings, "The Bouquet", listening repeatedly to the Victor Victoria soundtrack and the OMD Singles (Orchestral Maneuvers In The Dark).
5-Q: Do you have any kind of routines that help get your creative juices going and ready to create? Please share with us.
A: Surrounding myself with things that bring me joy put me in a creative mood for painting. I love having plants and flowers and my paintings in the art studio for inspiration, and of course, music.
6-Q: What’s your best advice on how to not procrastinate and get rid of creative blocks?
A: Don’t put down your brushes if you are feeling creative, just keep painting until you have had enough.Sometimes good ideas for painting that I may be workin on come to me while Im busy doing other things, so I have to take a moment to write it down on my phone or sketch it on a piece of paper.
7-Q: What does your creative space currently look like? Show us a photo! Tell us what you're working on, if you’d like to share.
A: My art studio is currently not being used as my husband and I are getting ready to go on a vacation to Mexico. When I come back though, I will be painting as much as I can, that’s for sure.
Home studio
8-Q: What is one thing that most people don't know about you?
A: That I am not a 100% Mexican as I am part Chinese. This throws some people off. They can’t quite figure me out.
9-Q: What advice can you give to the artists that are just starting their creative careers? What can they do to help get their work out there?
A: First of all, I’m one of them. Exposure is important, especially if you want to sell your artwork. Any exposure is good. I have done a couple of art exhibits, I paint at the River Arts District on Saturdays and have my artwork online on Etsy and also have it on my Instagram account. I think that’s the least an artist can do.
10-Q: Did you go to art school or are you self-taught? If you went to school, where? If you didn’t, how did you start and what has helped?
A: I’m a Graphic Designer by profession. I studied graphic arts and art history in college and always enjoyed drawing and painting since I was little. Looking at art in general is a great way to learn and expand your horizons.
If you’d like to know more about Andres Tam check out his social media and shop links below.
See you next month for our next featured artist!
Website: Etsy Shop
Instagram: @andres.tam
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