Howdy! Thanks for visiting this site. My name is Tom Vadakan & I'm an illustrator/painter based out of Long Beach, CA. I currently churn out all my "art" from the Urbancowfolks studio, which is basically a section of my kitchen in my home. I still do my illustrations the old fashion way, most of it is hand crafted. The usual process is to pencil the design, then ink it with a brush and pen, and then I'll use the convenience of modern technology by scanning the inked piece into Photoshop or Illustrator to be colored. I also still paint quite a bit, and try to exhibit a few times a year.
My professional story is that I worked in the music merchandising business for 11 years. I did everything from tour account managing to art directing merch projects for bands. It was a wonderful 11 year run, but things eventually ended when the company decided to get out of the music merch business. I've always drawn and painted, and my past work experience gives me a great deal of insight as to what works for specific clients and their demographic. That brings me to my current state of trying to make it as a freelance artist. With a love for creating art coupled with my merchandising experience, it makes sense for me to pursue this line of work. My main motive for freelancing however, is to maintain a great quality of life, being able to work from home and seeing more of my family.
I appreciate any freelance work that is out there. Help me live the dream, so yes, please feel free to contact me.
Regards,
Tom Vadakan
tom.vadakan@mac.com
