I’ve been asked a number of questions over the years about my approach to my artwork. And with some of the ins-and-outs in ordering artwork. Here’s a place for some of that information.
Let us know if you have any questions for Thom that we could answer on this page. Please go to our CONTACT US page to submit your question.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How long have you been at this?I’ve been making artwork forever it seems, in one way, shape or form for a long time. As a kid I was always crafting and drawing, making gifts for relatives and materials for my mom’s bulletin boards (she’s a retired elementary school teacher).
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Did you have a defining moment that made you realize that art was in your future?I did actually. I remember being in third grade and having an assignment to draw frogs for a science project, and the best ones were also going to be displayed as part of an exhibit at the Racine Art Museum. I did not get chosen to be in the exhibit, but it did was drive me to some day “win,” “be chosen,” “make it,” “get recognized.” I’ve always been competitive, always entering contests as a kid, and that spirit means I’m always striving to be the best, then and now.
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What is your approach? How do you come up with your designs?For what I’m doing now, my contemporary urban assemblage (collage art), I’m always doodling and writing notes. It’s not uncommon for me to come home from work and have numerous scraps in my pockets or in my tote bags of the ideas (both good and bad) that have popped into my head. I will draw them out and write them down before I forget them! And I’m a list maker anyway. And a drawing saver. I’ll refer back to scribblings from years ago, and they often stir a dormant thought in my head.
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You’re so prolific. How is that possible? How often do you work on your art?I’m working on my artwork and my business every single day. Rarely a day goes by that doesn’t include something related to Thom J. Ertl Designs, even when I’m sick or tired. It may not always be something huge, but it’s always something, whether in a creative or business-related vein. Creation-wise, I’m often working on anywhere from three to seven pieces at a time, in varying stages of “done.”
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Do you have a studio? Where is it?My home is my studio. I basically live with my process, which I’m okay with. The advantages with that is that it gives me the opportunity to create when the mood strikes, like late into the evening or during the middle of the night when I can’t sleep anyway. The evil aspect of that is that I get overwhelmed sometimes when I’m in between shows (I call it “the kids are home from camp”) or when I have too much sprawled out at one time. But I do what I can, and it motivates to “send the kids back to camp.” I often wish I had one extra room in my house where I could have my stuff and have the ability to close the door when I need to get away.
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You find some really interesting things. Where do you get all your stuff?I get my supplies from so many different places. There’s always the practical need for basic materials like adhesive and hardware from common sources. I like combining the old with the new, so I will also get a number of materials from discount variety stores and simply places like Walmart or Target. The more unique components come from periodic visits to resale shops, rummage and estate sales and antique stores. I’ve been a resaler for 35+ years. I have shop owners, sweet people always on the lookout for me, who call when something quirky comes in, as I’m always interested in looking at anything that’s off the beaten path. Another resource (always such a nice surprise) is through tips from friends or people giving me things. “Hi Thom, I’m cleaning out my garage, wanna come over?” is like music to my ears!
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Where do you store your supplies? How much stuff do you have?I’ve become an expert in organization and the best use of my living and work spaces, converting dressers from clothing to storage for beads and smaller items. I also fill decorative containers the same way. Corrugated cardboard cartons have also become my best friend, as I will group tchotchke by color and mark each box accordingly. They’re all of the same dimensions and fit in my attic very nicely, and they’re easy to use when I’m seeking a specific items of a specific size and color. I do have a lot of stuff as I’ve been collecting bric-a-brac forever. But it’s mostly put away but accessible when needed.
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What’s your all-time favorite piece of artwork? What piece of artwork is most reflective of who you are?That’s like asking me which child is my favorite! Let me just say that my comfort zone (and my living space) has always pretty much been black, white and red, with a touch of silver.
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I want something customized! How can I get that?I’m more than happy to create something just for you! Leave me a message in the CONTACT US section and we’ll start from there. Think about things like interests, favorite colors, colors to compliment the space you live in, just to name a few. And please understand that, based on my workload and the number of projects I have going on an regular basis, your Thom J. Ertl Designs artwork could be delivered to you in four to six weeks. It could be sooner—you never know!
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Oh drat—the item I saw on the website is no longer available...Think about something customized with the same look. Customized art pieces are often the same price as what you viewed there. Just remember that there is a four to six week period between placing an order and receiving your artwork.