First Impressions: Tiffany Turrill
Competing with a fellow school pupil helped this illustrator step up her art game
Competing with a fellow school pupil helped this artist to step up her art game.
Where did you grow up and how has this influenced your art?
Gonna get heavy here! I grew up in Texas in a tumultuous family, and didn’t have the best childhood. There were many threads of mental illness, abuse and economic hardships, but ultimately the environment pushed me towards escape in books, movies and telling my own stories. My doggedness to leave that environment draws a direct line toward my career.
What, outside of art, has most influenced your artwork?
I originally set out to be a concept artist for film because I loved Star Wars Episode I so much. Film and special effects has been hugely foundational for me. Other than that, I’m one of a million illustrators who dreamed of going into marine biology or paleontology. Basically I’m a horse girl, but for dead things in the ocean.
Does one person stand out as being helpful during your early years?
There was one other art kid in grade school with whom I had a silent competition. It made me try to draw better. Although my family didn’t understand me or my artistic bent, my grandmother made sure I went into art education. The kind words and support of professors, illustrator friends, and co-workers really keeps me going some days!
What was your first paid commission piece?
An extremely 00s job, two pages in a ‘Bush Countdown’ calendar during my senior year. I received $300 and cut my teeth on uncomfortable conversations with nightmare clients! Yikes.
What’s the last piece you finished, and how do the two differ?
Just wrapped my first comic cover with DC/ Vertigo! It took considerably less time, the composition and rendering are much more confident. The business experience was better, too
What are your painting rituals?
I am a reference FIEND. I will collect images for hours, familiarise my brain with anything I can find, then just draw. I use tracing paper like Photoshop layers, tweaking the forms slightly until the forms and correcting with each layer. Also, tea.
How is your art evolving?
In many ways I’ve become much more myself during my time freelancing. I learned digital painting on the job and have never felt completely comfortable with it, so leaning into pencil and watercolour felt very natural.
What advice would you give to your younger self to aid you on the way?
Trust your gut. When you aren’t committed to a project or a style, the work suffers. If a would-be client seems difficult or unprofessional, thank them and move on. Explore styles but don’t chase trends. Learn to advocate for yourself. Develop a life outside of art, and put in the work with people you care about.
How has the industry of fantasy art changed for good since you’ve been working in it?
I’m a relative newcomer to fantasy art, as I spent 10 years doing concept work for video games. Fantasy is very chill and welcoming! There’s a bit more professional bandwidth to suss out a personal style, which is refreshing. It takes a bit more time, though; I went full-time freelance in 2015 and am just gaining traction.
Tiffany is an illustrator working in publishing and games. She specialises in dark art, folklore and creature design. See more at www.tiffanyturrill.com.
I set out to be a concept artist for film because I loved Star Wars Episode I so much