Today we’d like to introduce you to Travis A. Thompson.
Hi Travis, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been drawing since a very young age, and Art has remained a large part of my life. After graduating high school, I decided that I would use my love for it and become an Art teacher. I was an art teacher in the public school system for about 13 years before deciding to venture off on my own. I was able to do this because in 2017 I wrote and illustrated my first children’s book titled “The Color Wheel Kids”. After it was released, I made a YouTube video detailing how I went about writing, illustrating and self-publishing the book. That video now has over 100K views and it was from that video that the first author I illustrated for found me. Since 2020 I’ve worked with new authors on over 30 books and illustrated over 20 of them myself. As my clientele began to grow I found myself overwhelmed by the demand of being a full-time teacher and a part-time artist and this lead me to step out on faith, leave education and pursue being a full-time illustrator.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The largest struggle was balancing my time between teaching, illustrating and being a husband and father. Early on I tried to use time after work to get illustrating done and found myself illustrating in bed. After a conversation with my wife I laid out a schedule that helped me to balance everything much easier. I started getting up about 2 hours before it was time for me to go into the school to work on materials for my clients. This allowed me to be fully present in the evenings when I got home. However, as time passed and the projects kept coming simultaneously, the time that I did carve out in the mornings still wasn’t enough. I realized the 8 hours I was spending teaching would have to now be devoted to following my dreams.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an illustrator specializing in children’s imagery. I love to create inclusive works featuring African-American children. I’m most known for my vibrant depictions of children through story illustrations and small doodles I like to call “Afro-mations”. They are positive affirming messages that children of color can see and repeat to themselves to get their day started. It’s something that I began doing with my daughter who just started Pre-K. I’m most proud of my growth as an artist over the past few years. Since I began learning how to do digital art I’ve used that knowledge to create my own line of Christmas wrapping paper and gift bags! In 2022 it was picked up by Belk to be sold on their website! And it is also available on mine as well.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Most clients reach out to me via my website, www.thesivartgallery.com. They can fill out a short form to describe the project they have in mind and then I’ll set up a video conference or phone call to discuss how to bring their vision to fruition. I can be supported by sharing all the awesome work I’m releasing as well as buying the books I’ve released.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thesivartgallery.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travisathompson/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesivartgallery/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TAThoughts?app=desktop
Image Credits
Photo of Travis A. Thompson provided by P. Lens Photography
