Be Ready For:
Identity
Community
Intention
Before the interview began, I had a good, long talk with my uncle, Jimbo Tamoro. It was less about art and more about food - something we've always bonded over. We were spewing cooking stories left and right as I finished scarfing down the chorizo tacos I'd made. I told him about my half successful attempts at carbonara (his favorite style of pasta), where the sauce was just off. He recommended emulating a consistency not so different from hollandaise. Then, I told him about the time I tried making omurice and how, despite its football shape, it was overcooked. We both laughed, knowing that it wasn't about getting everything perfect - it was just about enjoying the process.
JJ: Let's start with who you are.
Jimbo: My name is Jimbo Tamoro. I'm a local Columbus artist.
JJ: What first drew you to art? Was there a particular moment or influence that made you realize this was the path for you?
Jimbo: No, I mean, I've always loved it since I could hold a utensil, you know? As far back as I can remember, I wanted to do something with the arts, even against my parents' wishes.
JJ: And what were some of the things you were creating when you were younger?
Jimbo: Other than endlessly scribbling on the margins of my notes, definitely comic book characters. Not really sequential art yet, but everything from kindergarten to eighth grade was just me drawing comic book characters.
JJ: Was there a character you drew the most?
Jimbo: That would be my own comic book characters. I liked Spider-Man and all that, but it was more about my friends and me coming up with different superheroes and drawing them.
JJ: What about your Filipino heritage? Has that influenced your art over time?
Jimbo: Probably not at all. I could explain it more with cooking - another creative outlet for me. Identity wise, it's tough. I'm a Filipino who doesn't speak the language, so I often feel like an outcast. I'm not white, I'm not Asian. It's hard to delve into that culture when I feel like I don't fit in.
JJ: How about Columbus, then? Has that shaped your work in any way? Do you feel more accepted there?
Jimbo: Oh, for sure! I remember seeing a Craigslist ad, maybe 15 - 17 years ago, for a show at 83 Gallery, just showing out of its basement. They were accepting everyone. I went for it and painted, like, 7 pieces in a month to have a portfolio. They took it and the rest is, well not history but I remember thinking if I sold a painting, I’d keep going as an artist. Then, a motherfucker bought a painting, and here we are!
JJ: So then, how does Columbus compare to other places? I know you were in California. Were you involved in the arts there?
Jimbo: Not really. My family pushed me toward the medical field, so being an artist was just a fantasy in my brain until I got here. Columbus is definitely more accepting of artists than places like Cincinnati or Cleveland. I remember being in a show in Cleveland, and people complained about my prices, like $150 or $200. Those pieces of shit hadn’t a clue about supporting artists. Columbus is awesome in that way, but I do realize it’s more about the bottom dollar here, sometimes over creative expression.
JJ: How about your pieces themselves? Are there any recurring themes or ideas you explore, or is it mostly about that bottom dollar?
Jimbo: The bottom dollar? That’s just money, man. I want my technique to shine. I want my art to look cool at the end of the day. I don’t want to tell some buyer a story about my painting; I want them to look at it and say, “That’s amazing!”
JJ: Can you tell me about a recent piece that you feel is perfectly representative of that?
Jimbo: Yeah. It's not super recent, but about three years ago, I did this piece where I worked in a larger format: 18x24.
I was building shapes and colors through endless scribbles. My tattoo buddies and I would get wine drunk on Tuesdays and talk art after hours. One piece was just five of the tattoo dudes from High Street Tattoo playing with lighting and throwing their shirts off. It was more than I thought I could do at the time, and it impressed the hell out of me.
JJ: Do you know where this piece is now? Was it bought?
Jimbo: No, the larger ones are hard for me to let go of. I don’t not price them to sell, but they’re in the thousands. It’s in my wife’s office now.
JJ: How did you stumble upon your scribbling style?
Jimbo: Easy one! In my first couple of years at the tattoo shop, I did paintings, but I wanted something I could do anywhere. I could take a piece of paper and a Bic pen and just go for it. The tattoo guys labor over every line; I wanted the opposite—liberty in my art. I’d get raging drunk and do it while watching TV. I thought that process was not only romantic, but fucking awesome.
JJ: So is the Bic pen now a ritual for you? A bit even?
Jimbo: I hate to think of it as a bit. Some people don’t see the appeal, and I have to explain, “Oh, it’s a Bic pen!” I prefer to be amazing without the need for justification. But that being said, I like drawing more than painting. It’s my way of using color and expressing what I know with the tools I have.
JJ: What does your creative process look like? Do you have any routines that help?
Jimbo: I just have to bust it out. There were times when the drunk stuff was cool, and I’d work in my underwear, but these days, it’s simpler. Sometimes I’ll smoke a bowl, brew some tea, and listen to podcasts. It helps me keep track of time better than music does.
JJ: Who or what inspires you the most nowadays? Has that changed?
Jimbo: I’m not a believer in heroes, especially in art. There are artists I admire sure, but I don’t try to emulate them. I loved comic book artists growing up, like Jaime Hernandez and Jim Lee, but now I’m trying not to be influenced by others.
JJ: Do you ever worry your art might become dated because of that?
Jimbo: Of course. Relevancy is a fear all artists have. What is art without appreciation? I love doing it, and I’d draw without income, but I also think about what people will buy.
JJ: How do you deal with creative blocks? Do you switch genres or go cold turkey and take a break?
Jimbo: I never take a break; I just switch genres. The last couple of years have been tough for me, but creating constantly is the cure. I switched to portraiture for a while, focusing on technique. I want to challenge myself and create other stuff on the side.
JJ: Does that portraiture feel taxing for you at times? Does it become a job, or do you still get that creative high from it?
Jimbo: Yeah, it can be super taxing. I was doing commissions and making a decent living, but it was frustrating to see that most people just wanted pictures of themselves. It drove me crazy! So, I just decided to lean into it and used it to improve.
JJ: How has being a full-time artist changed your relationships? Do you have a strong network with other artists?
Jimbo: That’s my whole world now. I used to dread small talk. Talking about sports and the weather... But now I can talk about my interests; color saturation, composition, and the difference between rendering with a pencil or a pen.
JJ: What’s one of the biggest personal lessons you’ve learned through your art?
Jimbo: It’s hard, man. Staying true to yourself without outside influences is key for personal fulfillment, but that doesn’t always translate into money. Finding that balance is the best advice I’d give to younger artists.
JJ: If you could change one thing about the art world, what would it be?
Jimbo: That people would stop just wanting pictures of themselves! I want them to appreciate art and artists more, instead of just focusing on actors, athletes and influencers. But that’s the reality we live in.
JJ: Do you think that could ever change?
Jimbo: Not really. It’s not up to artists; it’s up to the people with money. They decide who gets put on a pedestal, you know? And unfortunately, I don’t get to control that.
JJ: Last question. What’s one artist’s style or technique you wish you could fully replicate?
Jimbo: Ooh, that’s a good one! For sure Salvador Dali. That dude was a genius. I’ve even got a giant tattoo of his work on my back. And there’s this street artist from Dublin
I follow on Instagram, his user is @achesdub. He’s insane!
JJ: Wow, I’ll have to check that out! Thanks for chatting with me!
Jimbo: Anytime, man!
/ / / / / /
Thank You!
Comments