Tom Tonkin is a full time artist / illustrator in New York City who has made a name for himself as an artistic pacesetter with talent in several areas of the visual arts. His artistic path has gone from apprenticing in the highly competitive, automotive art studios of Detroit to developing and illustrating character concepts ,storyboards and illustration for critically acclaimed television programs, advertising, publishing, film and Broadway shows. His most recent notable commissions include storyboards and blocking shots for the Tony Awards' presentation of Broadway musical “Avenue Q” and designing shots and storyboarding the opening title sequence for the soon to be released feature film “The Devil Wears Prada.”
Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Tonkin took graduate illustration courses at The Detroit Center for Creative Studies after receiving his B.F.A. from Eastern Michigan University. As an artist apprentice at Perry & White Studios, Tonkin developed into an artistic chameleon, finding it necessary to learn a wide repertoire of styles and techniques. With a developing range of abilities, his first job an as a full time illustrator was at McLean and Friends Studios.
The ability to draw and illustrate cars was essential to the success of an artist working in Detroit . Tonkin soon began learning how to become fast and technically efficient designing and drawing car storyboards and finished car paintings for such agencies as Jay Walter Thompson Detroit , Doner Advertising and Campbell Ewald.
He later moved to New York and landed an illustration position at a trend setting boutique ad agency Levine Huntley Schmidt & Beaver. In New York, a city rich with culture and opportunity, Tonkin began searching for an even more fulfilling careers an artist. Marvel Entertainment would prove to be his stepping-stone toward his professional and creative goals. He soon began to land assignments painting comic book covers and promotional posters for such high profile releases as Galactic Storm and William Shatner's Tek World.
With the advent and expansion of the game industry Tom was soon also being called on to develop characters, concept designs, cinematics and storyboards for Rock Star Games, Electronic Arts and Ubi Soft working on titles such as Myth III/The Wolf Age and Zoo Tycoon.
Tonkin 's experience and ability to utilize and integrate styles keeps him busy working on an array of projects. His current commissions involve anything from taking meetings with directors on a film set to “rough out” a shooting sequence or working with game designers and art directors. He currently lives/works in a 150-year-old former pencil factory that has been converted to lofts, nestled in the “5th Borough of Manhattan,” Jersey City, New Jersey. Living twenty minutes from Midtown Manhattan keeps Tonkin in the heart of the industry.
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