Local artist profile: Tomi McManus

THIS week we chat with Japanese-born local illustrator and emerging muralist Tomi McManus, who describes her style as colourful, playful, whimsical, not very complicated and also influenced by Scandinavian design.

What motivated you to become an illustrator?

All of my family worked in the arts industry.

Both of my parents are designers and my uncle restores old Buddha statues.

He had a big studio which I had access to, which probably wasn’t the safest place to be.

I didn’t really think of it as a choice to not be creative.

I decided to learn media art when I was in high school and that led to art university in Tokyo.

I changed my mind to become a graphic designer and I was still young enough to come to Australia on a working holiday visa, so I decided to come and eventually I met my husband and we got married.

When I had kids I stayed away from any sort of work, but when my second daughter started school I thought maybe I should get back to some sort of creative job.

I was always drawing, I really loved children’s books, so I thought I’d try a career as an illustrator.

How would you describe your style?

Colourful, playful, whimsical and not very complicated.

I’m really particular about the shapes, and composition is more important for me than the detail.

I was also influenced by Scandinavian design.

Their design is very simple and it’s colourful, but it’s not too much.

It’s still cheerful and artistic.

Have you had any mentors over your career so far?

Chris Kennett definitely helped me.

He’s very kind and told me I should do this and do that.

I also did the incubator program through the Emporium Creative Hub.

I met lots of different people that had a great perspective about what I could do.

I also worked with Wes Franklin and Lou Davis – both of them have a background in graphic design.

Wes is an amazing muralist and he taught me how to start painting murals as a job.

I’ve done five so far.

What are some highlights from your time following your pursuits?

One highlight is the Fiesta mural with Wes and Lou.

That was a turning point – it’s really nice to work with someone and I’m physically painting, not inside on a computer.

How can people find your work online?

My instagram account is @billiebuttonillustration and people can contact me through [email protected]

Where do you see yourself in a couple of years?

I would like to work on children’s illustration and also a whole bunch of different publications.

I’m happy to do textiles too.

I’m happy to do anything, even if I can work with Japanese companies or outside of Bendigo.

I’m excited to take any work.

What about in ten years?

Hopefully I’m still drawing because that’s what I’ve been doing my whole entire life.

If I’m still in the industry that’d be great, but I can’t predict the future so I’ll see how it goes.

What would you say to young regional aspiring illustrators who are thinking of making a go of the creative life?

Patience is very important.

You just have to be resilient and keep trying.

Especially if someone wants to do public art, you’re not going to always have the best advice or people won’t give you a cheerful comment.

If some challenges are there, we just have to say, Oh, well, I’ll just keep going.