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Image credit: Claire Tomasi (Aphelion by Ellannah Sadkin in the back)
Tell us a little about yourself
My name is Claire Tomasi. I am a cartoonist from the New Jersey, NY area. I have been using Curina to curate my own little art collection as I decorate and look for inspiration for my creative projects. Currently, I'm working on a couple of upcoming books — one graphic novel and one prose novel.
When / how did you start collecting art?
So I think I stepped into the art collecting world a little bit from the side. I never came in being “Oh, I'm going to collect art”; I actually started out collecting comic books. Overtime I started getting more into collecting bigger pieces.
I like to see how other people's creative influences influence me. And to have that in my home is such a pleasure.
“I really like art that I can relate to; I want a piece of art that I can see myself in”
What do you look for when trying to find art you like?
So my two favorite pieces that I have are of women (Iridescence by Elody Gyekis and Cheryl by Lauren Orscheln). And I guess I just really like art that I can relate to; I want a piece of art that I can see myself in. It also makes me think of the artists who created the pieces and the connection I feel to them. In the art community, we all feed off of each other.
How would you describe your art taste in 3 words?
Bold. Graphic — but not in a violent sense. When I describe “graphic”, I think of things with really bold lines that stand out against the background. Because I'm a cartoonist, I want to see a central figure. And colorful. I really gravitate towards pastels or brighter colors.
SHOP WORKS BY ELLANNAH SADKIN
You have another piece called Aphelion by Ellannah Sadkin. What made you gravitate towards this piece?
This piece is really striking. It's so bright, fun and so colorful. This is what imagination looks like to me. So I put it in my imagination zone, in my office.
Favorite activity you do / place you go for creative inspiration?
I draw on my life a lot. A lot of my inspiration comes from taking a walk in the park, or a conversation I had with a friend. And some of it even comes from my dog, like when he does something funny.
I believe creativity begets creativity. So once the ball really gets rolling, then it's like, okay, we can continue.
“When you're first starting out, you're really just trying to figure out your taste. So it's great to look at things for yourself without having to go through someone else.”
What was your experience using Curina?
It was so easy! I really liked Curina because you can filter by exactly what you're looking for. I was filtering by color and size and that pretty much gave me the exact pieces I wanted. I also love the flexibility the subscription model offers. When you're first starting out, you're really just trying to figure out your taste. So it's great to look at things for yourself without having to go through someone else.
Any words of advice for new collectors?
If you see something you like, just go for it.
When I’m having a hard time deciding, it helps to also think about why I like it. What draws me to it? Where would it go in my home? I would advise people to ask themselves these questions. This way not only do you figure out what you like aesthetically, but you can find pieces that personally affect you. I think art is the mirror and you should pick the pieces that reflect you.
SHOP WORKS BY ELODY GYEKIS
