Terrible Tony

1. Name: Terrible Tony IG: @terribletonyxx Current Location: Indiana, USA Website: hellaignorant.bigcartel.com

2. What inspired you to begin creating art?

I think my biggest inspiration to start creating art would definitely be cartoons and video games for sure. Some of my earliest drawings I can remember were of Doug and Sonic the hedgehog.

3. To what degree does your cultural background/heritage influence your work?

Black culture is a pretty big influence on my art work just as it’s a pretty big influence on the whole damn world if you really look around. I love that I can sneak little things into my art that only black people typically understand. We have our own language and way of communicating with each other and it’s pretty beautiful.

4. What draws you to create with this medium in particular?

Painting is just fun and therapeutic for me. It’s relaxing and nice to just put on an album to zone out and get lost in creating something. The funny thing is that I always hated painting, but one day I just gave it a try and really enjoyed it and haven’t looked back since. I’d love to explore other mediums in the future though.

5. How does the medium help to depict your ideas?

One thing that I love about art is that you can create anything you want. You can make things that don’t exist or distort reality. Using paint kind of helps make that physical distortion come to life.

6. Why do you use the colors/forms/shapes/textures/patterns that you do? (pick whichever matches the visual cues found in the work)

I think I use the bright colors I use because I grew up in the 90s. The fashion, malls, arcades, holographic pokemon cards, blueberry slurpees, fast food logos. Everything was bright af and I think that just kinda stuck with me.

7. How would you describe the current trajectory of your work?

I think the current trajectory of my artwork is to just evolve what I’m currently doing and trusting myself and the process / more. Creating without fear. Living, Laughing, and Loving and all that.

8. Who/ what do you draw inspiration from creatively? Whether it is musical, visual, literary, religious, sources?

To be honest everything is inspiring to me. I get so inspired that it’s overwhelming. It’s a gift and a curse.

9. What do you do to pull yourself out of a creative block?

To pull yourself out of a creative block sometimes you just have to step away for a little bit. We aren’t robots (yet) and we have to take breaks sometimes. Changing your scenery is a good way to get out of a block as well.

10. What is the desired effect that you hope for your art to have on its viewers?

Pretty much my only goal with my art is to make people think and feel. Whether it’s feelings of joy or disgust I want to make people feel.