www.mostlywanted.com
Illustrator | Bath (UK)
Hello Tom! Could you describe yourself in a few words and tell us how you started drawing?
No idea how to describe myself, that’s better left for others to decide. I’ve been drawing for as long as i can remember but i moved over to painting digitally about 8 years ago.


How would you explain your style of illustration?
I really have a couple of styles of working, my highly rendered work is more influenced by traditional fine art, then theres a more commercial side that is favoured by the editorial, publishing, fashion market. But either way i tend to focus on figurative pieces, specifically the female figure.
What are your creation processes? What part in the work process is the most difficult?
I tend to work up rough thumbnails to gauge composition then jump into photoshop and refine the drawing to a point where i can pass the client a more complete idea. Usually after a couple of changes i can then go ahead and continue to work up the high resolution image. The most difficult part of the process for me tends to be getting the figure right, i can spend way to much time worrying over it!


I loved the illustration “Sweet Mercy”! Tell us a little bit more about the creative process.
It’s one of my favourite pieces too and it seems to get quite a lot of attention, i try and document my working process quite thoroughly via my blog check out the ‘process’ category on tombagshaw.blogspot.com but heres a direct link to the ‘Sweet Mercy’ process: http://tombagshaw.blogspot.com/2008/10/sweet-mercy.html
Tells us about your most special projects and the reason why it’s so important for you.
I think its always important for any artist to do self initiated work, primarily for yourself to grow as an artist and experiment with doing the stuff you like, whether thats traditional media or digital, but secondly and an often overlooked point, doing self initiated projects of the work you personally want to be doing and then putting it out there, is actually a way of marketing yourself to people and getting in work that you ‘want’ to be doing!
Do you think the university is important for who is in the beginning of design? And what the message you could say to the young professionals?
Personally i dont think that going to college or university is massively important, it’s certainly not going to be the end of your learning curve! Perseverance and determination, passion for what you want to do, those are far more important.


In which point do you think technology can help an artist?
I think that technology can help out in so many ways, even if youre not a ‘digital artist’ in terms of a creative who uses photoshop, painter, 3d, vectors etc on a day to day basis, then the internet is an invaluable research tool, email helps stay in contact with clients more readily and transfer of traditional works into a digital format either by photography or scanning means that artwork can be color corrected and sent as press ready artwork all over the world in minutes. Not to mention using the web as a method of advertising yourself!
Which draw was the most difficult to do?
Every new work throws up challenges, i dont think any particular one really stands out as a real problem though.
What would you tell for those who are starting in this area?
As in all forms of artistic endeavour do what you want to be creating, dont consciously follow a particular style or fad. Use tutorials as a means of understanding techniques not as a way to replicate a style. If youre doing what you love it shows and people will notice it. (eventually ;) )


What programs do you use to create your illustrations?
Artrage / photoshop for sketching and drawing, painter ix.5 for the most part then back into photoshop CS2 for the final stages of comp and color correction etc. But i also employ Illustrator, 3D software and indesign.
Your favorite artists?
Way to many to list! There are so many amazing artists and creatives working in a variety of fields that i admire but i have to admit to being partial to anyone who works with a certain level of realism, i’m not so into abstract expressionism.
Your computer?
It’s about 5 years old now but still going strong, a custom build, AMD athlon 64 X2 dual core, 5200 processor and 2x 250gb HD’s, 4gig or ram. I use a dual screen setup, 24 and 22″ lcd’s. A 500 gb HD for backup and archive and an A4 Wacom Intuos 2 which i bought on the day of it’s release and it’s never failed. Sadly tech reply i know.
How much time are you sitting in front of a computer during a day?
11+ hrs most days.
What kind of music do you like?
Anything that doesn’t distract me from what i’m concentrating on.
Do you have any hobbies outside of art and computing?
My family cant really be classed as a hobby ;)
Any final comments?
Thanks for the interview and for reading it, check out mostlywanted.com / my behance folio, blogs or go find me on facebook!