Who are you?
Tompop, aka Tom Langfield, a graphic designer and artist from Manchester, currently based in Sunderland, UK.
When did you start making art?
I got a cracked version of Photoshop 6 in 2007 and started there. It took me a while to find my own voice though, lots of false starts and trying different things out.
When did you get into NFTs?
I first came across them around October 2020, and was fascinated seeing people selling GIFs and digital artwork, something I’d been wanting to do myself but wasn’t sure how. I observed the space from a distance until April 2021, when I joined HEN and minted my first piece.
What’s is it like being a dad?
It’s both exhausting and magical. I have two girls, one who’s 5 and one who’s 7 months. The lack of sleep is tough, but they light up my life, along with my partner.
What inspires your style?
Bauhaus, pop art, Sophie Taeuber-Arp, op art, Saul Bass, psychedelia, Radiohead, Josef Muller Brockman, Peter Saville, Joan Miro, Wassily Kandinsky, mid-20th century corporate design, Lego.
What is your favorite part about art?
Creating something from nothing. I try to create little worlds with my collections, and when it comes off it’s very satisfying.
What is the process for creating one of your pieces?
I’m very much about feel and vibes, so I rarely sketch or prepare, and enjoy the spontaneity of working on the fly. That said, I feel that when I create a theme for a collection that’s where my best work grows from.
Are there any creations you made that stand out the most?
I really enjoyed making the Rainbow and Marble collection. It felt good to be able to come up with new ideas on a shared theme, and it reminded me that art is most fun to me when it feels like play.
What advice would you give to younger artists?
Find your own way, find your own style, don’t think you need to do what’s fashionable, or what you see other people selling. Your work might not sell at first, but so much of the NFT space is about timing and luck. Just do the work. That’s the most important thing.
Is there anyone you’d like to shoutout?
@BilndArt @erdyillustrate @telha_art @mikart_NFT @StudioCaptain1 @platformmmm @rickacrane @407Atelie @Damian_Kidd