Monday, December 07, 2009

TOM RUBALCAVA: Root Branch Profile #9




To the untrained eye, Tom Rubalcava is calm, collected, the epitome of the cool artist guy. However, buried not far beneath the surface is a giant gorilla, the tragic antihero, surrounded by flying, half-naked fairy ladies, gently caressing his furry head. Oh wait... that's just the art.

For reals, Tom's 2d art is a testament to the flawless style of traditional comics and the man can sculpt anything! As President of Maverix Studios, Tom share many traits with our nation's fearless leader, President Obama. You'll have to ask him what those are when you see him at the show.

BIO

Tom Rubalcava has been an artist since he won a contest in a local newspaper when he was 7 years old. He spent the ensuing years dreaming and drawing comics until in high school he saw King Kong and the Seventh Voyage of Sinbad. With a new passion to see his art move, coupled with newly discovered sculpting abilities Tom went on to work in Television and Motion Pictures as an animator, sculptor and designer of prosthetic make up and physical effects. He is a skilled digital artist but continues to work with traditional mediums to keep his work grounded.

Check out Tom's more extensive bio here. Amongst other accomplishments, Tom worked as a director at Colossal Pictures (earning a Clio Award) and co-founded Way Out West Productions. Tom started out in animation doing special effects for the Rats of Nimh (classic!)

When did you first start to draw/create and what inspired you to do it?
When I was a kid I was fascinated by the art in Mad magazine - Mort Drucker was the best.

What is your favorite color and why?

Azure blue. It's a color that drapes the distant horizon and reminds of vast landscapes that I've been privileged to see and always keeps me hoping to see more.

What kind of music (or other aural environments) do you listen to when you work and why?

Oddly enough, I get distracted by music when I'm working - thinking about what next to play. I'm actually more productive in quieter surroundings. I relax with music - I don't relax so much when I work. That's bad - isn't it.

No Tom, great work requires great concentration and NO RELAXATION ALLOWED!! I just wonder how you survived being in the same room with Disco Vaughn for so long.



No comments: