Okay… it has been a minute, but things have been super weird. This interview started early in the pandemic, and question 20 was only finished a month ago. It took a long time. Both Tressina and I were shocked at how long this interview took (shocked I tell you), but I think it does a great job encapsulating the weirdness that is the pandemic. Anyway… I will throw some editor’s notes in the interview to give context. For example, when we started this, her kiddo was 7 weeks old, and now the little one is rounding the corner on 2 years old.
Here we go….
This week I get the pleasure of asking Tressina Bowling 20 Questions. Tressina is an amazing artist. Her work is tight, well composed, and full of energy. I have been following her work for the past couple of years and she never fails to impress me. I truly only know her from a less than 10 minute conversation at a comic book convention a handful of years ago and through her social media interactions (mainly her conversations with Shawn Pryor, whom I asked 20 questions a few years ago). So, this is my chance to get to know her better.
As many of you know, my first career was in making maps. So it is clear that geography holds a place near and dear to me. One of my favorite things are peoples’ geographic stories. Mine starts in Oklahoma City, where I was born, moves to Montgomery, Alabama for my early early childhood and then moves to Birmingham, AL where I lived until I escaped to college. I went to undergrad in Northeast Ohio and did my first round of grad school in Columbus, Ohio where I settled down and am raising my family, Question 1: what is your geographic story?
My geographic story is a short one, I was born in Lexington, KY and I still remain here in Lexington! Aside from living in Paris, KY for a short time when I was only a couple years old, Lexington has always remained my mainstay. I love to travel but at heart I’m a homebody and I honestly don’t see myself moving anywhere else. Lexington is one of those great middle of the road cities, not too small and not too big. It’s got a fantastic local art scene where I’ve met so many of my life long friends. My family lives here and I’ve been lucky to grow my “chosen” family here too. So I’m excited to be able to raise my new little one in the same place!
Short geographic stories can be just as exciting as long ones. There are just significantly less pins on a map.
Question 2: where is the most exotic place you have traveled?
My husband and I were gifted a trip to the Greek Islands for our honeymoon. It was the first time I had ever traveled outside of the States. Getting the opportunity to see Athens, Mykonos, Patmos, and Rhodes was beyond words incredible. As someone who studied art history in college, it blew my mind to see the ancient architecture and sculptures that seemed to only exist in my textbooks. Aside from the deep history that surrounded us, one of my fondest memories from the trip was riding a donkey up to the acropolis in Rhodes. I mean...my options were to walk it or take a donkey for 5 Euros. It was a no brainer.
That sounds great. I have never been to Greece. It looks amazing (at least the tourist trap places do). Now that you mention it though, I have never ridden a donkey either.
Here comes a question that some dread to answer, but all enjoy reading the answer to...
Question 3: Cake or pie? Which specific kind and why?
Pie all day everyday. I mean cake is great but I never crave it...I crave pie. We’ve got a local pie maker called Missy’s Pies and they serve them at one of my favorite local restaurants called Ramsey’s. All the pies they make are delicious but my favorite is what they call the “Mayday” pie. Gooey center with chocolate chips and pecans to top it off with a buttery crust. It’s actually a Derby Pie but due to licensing on the Derby name they have to call it “Mayday” since the Derby takes place in...you guessed it, May. How Kentucky of me to pick the pie that’s served during a horse race.
I like the definiteness of this answer. No hesitation. That's awesome.
So, you are new to this parenting stuff. It is incredibly daunting to be all parental. Question 4: what is one of the biggest surprises you have had so far being a new parent?
Soooo daunting! No matter how many apps I downloaded or articles I read, there wasn’t much that could truly prepare me for parenthood. 7 weeks in and sometimes I’m still shocked to round the corner of his room and see him sleeping in his crib. I think my biggest surprise so far is that I’m not nearly as grossed out by his spit up or diaper changes as I thought I’d be. That may sound odd to some, but I have a super sensitive nose and can be put off by the smallest aromas. For some reason though, must be because he’s so damn cute, his poops don’t put me off. Check back in with me after the first blow out.
It is amazing how much your world view changes the second you have a kid. You won't be disgusted by blow outs, you will be frustrated by them. That being said, once you add solids to your kid's diet, the smell changes, and not in a good way. We might have more baby questions in a bit, but let's get to some art stuff for a second.
Question 5: when did you know that drawing was your "thing?"
I'm afraid my answer to that is the cookie cutter "Since I was child I knew I loved art above most other things!" But it's true, even when my dad would cart me along to his animal science classes he was taking at UK (Editor’s Note: the University of Kentucky to all my United Kingdom and Commonwealth readers) on my days off school, I remember drawing mad scientists to pass the time or trying to replicate the look of Looney Tunes characters. It wasn't until my late 20's though that I began making it more than a hobby, so I was a bit of a late bloomer on that front.
I took a 15 year hiatus from drawing. I am alarmed at the amount of skill and ability I lost and have never been able to completely regain. Coming to work professionally in the art community in your late 20's is not late at all. Don't sell yourself short.
Question 6: Who do you consider to be your major influences?
Influences for myself are pretty wide ranging. I could just simply list other artists I go crazy over, but I’m sure readers' eyes might glaze over at the sight. So I’ll give ya other forms of influences. First and foremost, movies seem to inspire me the most. There’s been countless times I’ve seen a movie in the theater and gone straight home to draw something from it. My house is nearly wallpapered with movie posters and I love collecting “art of” books for my favorite flicks. They’re a constant source of reference for my art. Then there’s music, a good song or album can put me in the zone and I’m constantly looking for that next artist to listen to that I haven’t heard before. Being a child of the 80’s/90’s I was big on making my own mixtapes for different moods and I still today have an unreasonable amount of playlists I’ve created on Spotify. Lastly, my biggest influences are my friends who I see as family, they know who they are. Especially during this past year it was so vital to keep in touch with them since we couldn’t do live arts anymore or go to conventions. Having a constant text thread where we checked in with each other, encouraged one another to keep going, stay creative, take much needed breaks, was s driving force on difficult days.
That was a long answer...readers may still get glassy eyed from that one lol
Artistic communities are often the best. I was part of an online one for a long time, but it closed up shop as social media started to remove the need for it. I miss it greatly. (Editor’s Note: It has become a Discord Channel now: I will have a link to it in the recap)
Question 7: Is there a mainstream comic book that you would love to work on?
I’m gonna be honest, I’ve fallen waaaaaaay behind on reading comics, especially mainstream titles. But if I had to choose, keeping my style in mind, I’d love to do a Sabrina the Teenage Witch book. I think it would lend to my brightly colored style but I could also tap into the creepier side of my work. Best of both worlds!
oh, I would definitely buy that. You would be a perfect fit for you.
Question 8: So, we are in the midst of the pandemic here in the US, what content have you consumed that you would recommend to others?
Oh wow...soooo much was consumed! Not only was I furloughed from my day job for 6months during 2020 but I was also pregnant. It was a mixed bag of feeling lucky and unlucky during that time. At least I didn’t have to deal with morning sickness while at work! But my point is, I consumed a lot of TV, movies, music and podcasts. Sadly I didn't get a lot of reading done because it seemed to make me even extra sleepy during pregnancy.
I opened commissions wide open during that time at home to make some extra money and I binged podcasts like Last Podcast on the Left and My Favorite Murderer. So, you know...light stuff! The podcast I’d recommend to anyone though would have to be Reply All. It’s deemed a “podcast about the internet” but it’s much more than that. Definitely start from the beginning if you can.
I think the things I’d recommend the most would be shows that made me happy no matter what happened in the “outside world”. So Schitts Creek, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, Super Store, and New Girl are some of my pandemic top picks!
Yeah, I have blown through so much content as well. It really is alarming.
Question 9: What, if anything, are you planning for post COVID lock-down? (Editor’s note: we are talking about the first COVID lock down)
I assume most people who’ve been sticking hard to the guidelines to stay healthy right now have a good running list of things they plan on doing once it’s “safer”. I definitely have one! Mine might be even greater than some since I’ve been in extra lockdown with a newborn. Honestly, the simplest of things are what I’m looking forward to. Having dinner with my family so they can spend quality time with their new grandson. Visiting the new cat cafe that opened nearby with a friend and her daughter. Attending a Live Art for a movie release...THEN seeing a movie in the theater!? So many things I once took for granted. The biggest one, giving my friends a big long hug. I can’t wait.
I need to get out of this city. Not going on vacation at all this past year has taxed me and my family fairly roughly. (Editor’s Note: I did get out of the city for a bit) That being said, I know I, and my family, have had it easy. I and the kids' mom have jobs, we have been healthy. I don't want to minimize anyone else's experience.
Question 10: Fill in the blanks: I find that I am mostly ______. Others think that I am mostly ______.
I find that I am mostly behind on my craft for my age (she says one day after her recent birthday). Others think that I am mostly younger than I appear to be, so they believe I'm ahead of some or "on par".
I think I've channeled my imposter syndrome for that answer. :)
I would challenge your imposter syndrome to a duel, but then everyone would find out how much of a fraud I am.
Question 11: Are you happy? (mostly happy, I understand that there is a typical fluctuation of happiness from day to day, hour to hour, and minute to minute.)
Yes, I’m happy. Could I be happier? Absolutely. If this pandemic would end or even subside already I would be a lot happier. Again, I just wanna spend time with family and friends. Artistically, I’m happy as well. I feel like I’m in a good place with my art, and excited for current work that I unfortunately can’t speak of yet. Again, I’m forever growing as an artist but I don’t feel like I’m in a place of struggle and that makes me happy.
It is amazing how simple a question "Are you happy?" is and how much introspection is necessary to answer it truthfully. Turns out that when most people stop and look at it, they are, in general, happier than they thought.
I know from knowing your work for a while that llamas are a thing for you. Question 12: Why llamas?
Ha! Ok, get ready for the dumbest story. I mean I’ve always thought llamas were wonderfully weird but it was a dream I had that kinda spurred the enthusiasm for them. I won’t bore you with the whole dream story because I know no one wants that. But in short I had a dream years and years ago about a two headed llama with Pegasus wings. It had the most glorious eye lashes and I remember being in awe of it in my dream. I asked it “who are you?” And it responded “We are the nobody”. Must have been that cheese plate I had before going to bed that night. Anyway, I couldn’t get it out of my head, I drew a small comic of it for 24 hr comic book day. Then the next year I created Dracullama for the same 24 hr event. And now I get a lot of llama themed gifts. They’re just goofy and it’s one of those things that never ceases to make me smile.
LLamas are fun, because they look weird and their word is fun to say. A friend of mine in college wanted to create an small theorem in math so we could call it the Llama Lemma... but we weren't smart enough.
Here we are at unlucky 13. Question13: do you have any superstitions or rituals in your life? It doesn't have to be anything major like "black cats crossing paths" or "walking under ladders." It could be something like a meditation mindfulness practice or just something you do to get yourself in the correct mindspace to draw.
Nothing to get into the headspace to draw. I mean...aside from absolutely needing music or a podcast in my ears to get started. I guess that counts? As far as superstitions or rituals, the only one I can recall off hand is that I have a small handmade llama plush I always carry with me to conventions and place on my table so only I can see him. He’s gotta be there. I probably have a lot more micro-superstitions that I don’t even notice I do and could honestly be labeled as OCD tendencies. Like...I gotta think about getting into a car wreck every time I drive because then maybe it won’t happen because I thought of it. Sorry that got dark.
Dark is ok. Most rituals and superstitions have to do with dark things.
Question 14: what is one thing (aside from pandemic restrictions) that you are hoping to happen for you in 2021? (Editor’s Note: wow that was a good long while ago)
What am I hoping will happen to me in 2021? Hm...that’s a hard one. There’s a list of personal goals/hopes that I always have sitting in mind. I guess maybe the most appropriate right now would be to find a new home for us to grow in. We had planned to do this last year but of course like so much it was put on hold. With the new little one we’re in need of not only more space but somewhere that cuts my daily work commute down. I’d say that’s the big 2021 goal at this time.
In Maslow's hierarchy of needs, shelter is reeeeeeeally super fundamental. So, I wish you all the luck finding a new residence.
Question 15: Do you plan to or have you gotten a COVID-19 vaccination? CDC guidelines are now saying that once fully vaccinated, pretty much normal interactions can take place between similarly vaccinated people.So, those big old hugs with your friends might be just around the corner. (Editor’s Note: Wow… so much wrong info)
As of tomorrow I’ll be hitting my two weeks post 2nd dose! Thankfully most of my family and friends are now fully vaccinated as well. Kentucky has been fantastic in getting the sites and doses to as many areas as possible. We’ve actually already planned a “hey we’re all vaccinated!” get together with friends and I can not wait to squeeze them until it becomes uncomfortable and awkward.
It has been a few months since (Editor’s Note: it was 3 months) I sent the last question. Sometimes that is how these questions go. Sometimes it is due to the schedule of the person I am asking questions, and sometimes (this time in particular) it is because my schedule goes all haywire. "Return to the office" or RTTO as my workplace calls it has been quite the thorn in my side, and taking up lots of mental space and effort. That being said, since the whole fam has gotten their second doses of the vaccine and life has changed. I remember weeping openly when my youngest got her first dose. It was such a release of tension. Question 16:.... what has changed for you in the last few months?
No apologies needed, life has been hectic and I might not have answered very quickly if you sent it any earlier. I’ve been so busy with the process of selling/buying houses. As of last week, we’re officially moved into our new home. Thankfully our little one seems to be the most unaffected by the change. Outside of the home buying, the newly updated restrictions surrounding Covid have changed my work life too. We began giving more tastings and now tours have started back up. So my 9-5 has gotten busier as well. Who needs a break, huh?
Breaks are for the weak, I assume.
Question 17: In this new found ability to congregate, and be around people... if you could have dinner with anyone alive or dead and talk about anything at all with any one of those people, what would you eat?
What would I eat…well since this is hypothetical and the fate of my bowels don’t matter, the creamiest chicken fettuccine Alfredo. :)
Chicken Alfredo sounds amazing... It sounds like you cannot have dairy... and gluten is a bad thing for me... that is quite possibly the worst meal we could have.
Now it is time to turn the tables... Question 18: Do you have any questions for me?
How long have you been doing the 20 question format?
Halloween Cadbury Eggs… yes or what is this abomination?
Excellent questions.
Question the first: I have been doing 20 Questions Tuesday is some way shape or form off and on since August of 2005. Interviews started a few years after that.
Question the second: As a kid, I absolutely loved Cadbury Cream Eggs (Thanks Easter Bunny! Bock! Bock!), but I tried one a few years ago and it was too cloyingly sweet. It was just straight sugar. No flavor, just sweet. It hurt my teeth.
Here we are at the penultimate question. Question 19: What are you taking from these 20 Questions that you did not bring in with you?
That I didn’t bring with me? Well, obviously I brought my habit of opening and email, reading it, then thinking “I’ll answer that later”, then suddenly realizing it’s been nearly a month and I haven’t answered yet. My bad.
But to actually answer the question, we started way back at the start of the year right? And the progression this year has taken because of the pandemic has been surprising. Definitely not all good surprises but there’ve been some moments that were life changing for the better.
I think this is a habit that I have picked up as well. This panini we are in at the moment has been hard on the old brain box.
It took some time, but here we are at Question 20... Let's close this puppy out.
Question 20: What's next? Be as generic or specific, as short-term or as long-term, as concrete or metaphorical as you would like.
What’s next? I’m currently finishing up work on a DC collection called Deadman Tales. I believe it’s set to release in October. After that I’ll be working on something new for something old? I don’t think I can go into any more detail than that at the moment. But needless to say, fall of 2022 is looking to be very eventful.
Is this the weirdest and broadest set of answers you’ve ever received? We started at the beginning of 2020 pandemic and then ended nearly 2 years later with HOPEFULLY the ending of the pandemic.
This is the perfect answer to this question for this particular conversation. It has been quite a journey to be sure.
I’m super excited for your work, and I am very intrigued by the “something new for something old.” I’m just going to guess “Conan the Barbarian” comic book reboot.
You are a goddamned delight and I am very happy that you struggled through this long and laborious conversation throughout the “Panini” (as the podcasts and YouTubers call it).
Thank you so much for bearing with me.
So, Tressina is a badass of highest proportions, and so damn patient with me and my slow ass style of interview. You should check out her website here: TressinaBowlingArt.com (se’s soooo damn good), you should follow her on twitter: @tressabolwing and the Instagram: @tressabowling. Join her patreon as well: Patreon.com/TressinaBowling
She is a goddamned delight and I know many people who will back me up on that.
To recap:
Pandemic is hard, yo!
My youngest got it, but she sailed through really well
I’m engaged
So that happened
This summer is going to be crazy
“Little Man” (my eldest, and reason I started blogging years and years ago) is going to be a freshman at George Mason University this fallI am sooo proud
So… anything interesting happen in the Supreme Court?
Nothing like living in the a theocratic autocracy
Okay, I still need to format this post and hit publish before it gets to be Wednesday
All you artsy people, join up with Ten Ton Studios on discord
Link should be good for a few days, at least
Have a great week everyone