About

Tom Moore’s personal definition of art:
Is that a cumulus cloud or a bunny rabbit kicking Elvis?

Tom Mooreʼs cartoonish, personality-driven Scribblehead illustrations have been appearing for years on post-it notes, napkins, index cards and all sorts of flat objects he can take a pen to. Now, on t-shirts.

A commercial photographer and film director, he doodles while he works; editing film, processing photos, and during boring meetings.

The expressions come from his own feelings and from people he remembers and sees. There is about 500 in the collection now, but hundreds more that were given away to strangers in bars and restaurants. It was a thrill watching people react to the characters and smile.

Sometimes as he draws, the lines come to life he often finds himself creating the voices and acting out the personalities. Almost all of the characters are only heads - no bodies. His concentration is with the expressions on the face, plus he tends to run out of room drawing on post-it notes.

“They are some of the funniest, most angst- ridden, expressionistic characters on the planet,” he says. “When people look at them, I want them to laugh, ponder, and giggle.” Many people feel they reflect an emotion inside of them or they remind them of someone they know.

He's currently exploring how to bring them to life through animation, with stories and voices.

Bio:

Iʼve been making pictures all my life. At an early age drawing was my voice to the world. In my early teens my father built a darkroom. I discovered how an empty white page can evolve into a beautiful image. I was hooked on the process, the impact of photography, and how it could move the viewer. I continued to work with this medium through school.

A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and Art Center College of Design. I took a hiatus from photography and studied graphic design and advertising. I had a brief stint working in the design and creative fields, but was drawn back to photography and film.

During my career Iʼve directed a few short films, TV commercials and music videos. I like capturing drama, concepts and quiet landscapes. I especially like working with artists and actors who can create a feeling and a story within a gesture, an action or a look.

Similarly I direct the lines of my pen when drawing Scribbleheads to convey an emotion or expression. Scribbleheads allow me to find my original creative voice and let go a little.

I currently reside in a quaint little carriage house in Beacon, NY.