We had the good fortune of connecting with Tom Hill and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tom, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Ever since I could remember, I’ve only wanted to live a life where I could be creative. My earliest memory was when I was super young I would watch a television show called “Pappyland” and the host was a prospector character that you could draw along with. Kind of like Bob Ross for kids. That was a huge impact. That mixed with a family who was incredibly supportive of Me being creative.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Most of my clients are podcasters and stand-up comedians, anything they need art or design wise I make and I feel incredibly fortunate with the work I’ve gotten. I struggled to get consistent work for a long period of time. At some point, I decided to take extra time and make designs and illustrations based on subjects I enjoyed with the hopes of maybe getting discovered and getting more work that way. I’m a fan of stand-up comedy and so I’d make art based on comedians I liked and at the very least hoping someone in that world would like what I made. There’s an artist who does a lot of art for comedians whose @comedyartwork on Instagram, I asked his opinion on how to get work making art for comedians and he gave me some advice which was cool of him to do.

After months of posting, and getting noticed I was hired to make poster designs, podcast art, and merch designs from all different comics. At some point I was hired to make a poster design for Desus and Mero’s live show at the Hulu theater, which was given out for everyone in attendance, it was very cool and surreal being in that room with everyone owning a poster I made. I created the podcast art for “The Always Sunny Podcast” and continue working for that show making illustrative components, merch designs, and a lot of promotional art. I’m still blown away I’ve gotten to create stuff for them.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When I lived down there I enjoyed taking people to eat at Coyo in Wynwood and Pita Plus in North Miami Beach and Wine Garden in Fort Lauderdale. If someone’s looking to go see live music, I enjoyed going to shows at the Culture Room and Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale and Gramps in Wynwood. Walking around by A1A in Fort Lauderdale can be fun, being at the beach and going to random restaurants and shops out there.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Dan Mumford is an artist out in England. He did the album art for “Homesick” by the band A Day to Remember. In my senior year of high school, I had a school project where I got to interview him. During that time all I want to do is make album art, so it meant the world to me getting to interview him.
He’s an amazing artist and a very cool person for doing that.

Website: Tommikehill.com

Instagram: @tommikehill

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