Thea Torres on Tumblr, Collage Art, and Resources for Copyright-Free Images
Escapade Case Artist, Thea Torres
Hi, I’m Thea Torres! I’m a graphic designer from Bacolod City who dabbles in a bunch of other hobbies that challenge my creativity. Other than graphic design, I love working on traditional collages, digital illustrations and am also a writer whenever the mood comes!
I like to take inspiration from mundane, nonsensical things and turn them into something else. I’m also a big fan of movies, TV shows, and books with a goal to always finish what I start.
A Depiction of Women Doing Yoga
HOW DID YOU GET INTO ILLUSTRATING?
It kind of came out of nowhere actually! I wasn’t the designated artist/creative kid when I was in grade school and even up to highschool. But around my highschool years, I got really into Photoshop as a hobby. That came about I think because I was a very avid Tumblr user and wanted to make my own designs for people to reblog!
I think that’s where it started and what opened the doors for me to consider and take Multimedia Arts as my course. Even during my first year as an MMA student, I honestly didn’t know what I was doing. But eventually I discovered collages and was surrounded by so many creatives that I learned to love what I was learning and doing!
A Collage Designed for a Friend
HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOUR ART STYLE?
I think that’s where it started and what opened the doors for me to consider and take Multimedia Arts as my course. Even during my first year as an MMA student, I honestly didn’t know what I was doing. But eventually I discovered collages and was surrounded by so many creatives that I learned to love what I was learning and doing!
A Collage Designed for a Friend
HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOUR ART STYLE?
Honestly, I have no idea! I like to play around with so many styles because I’m still discovering myself as a creative. I think I’ve dabbled in many different styles, but one thing I always come back to is some kind of simplicity.
I like negative space with a sense of organization and calmness. Even when I try to make work that’s more on the fun and expressive, I tend to always narrow it down and make it feel a bit more quiet.
A Poster for the Film, Straight Outta Compton
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE DURING A PANDEMIC?
I like negative space with a sense of organization and calmness. Even when I try to make work that’s more on the fun and expressive, I tend to always narrow it down and make it feel a bit more quiet.
A Poster for the Film, Straight Outta Compton
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE DURING A PANDEMIC?
With all the horrible things going on, I feel like I have to be creative so I don’t go insane. I have to keep busy during these times and to cope with it, I tend to just make a bunch of random things.
Most of my free time is either spent making something—whether it be art, food, writing, or just cutting up paper that don’t even get to see the light of day—or taking in some kind of creativity like books, movies, shows, or other artworks. That way I also don’t allow myself to run out of motivation.
Thea's #SunHandsSelfie with her Escapade Case
WHAT TIPS DO YOU HAVE FOR SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO START MAKING COLLAGE ART?
Most of my free time is either spent making something—whether it be art, food, writing, or just cutting up paper that don’t even get to see the light of day—or taking in some kind of creativity like books, movies, shows, or other artworks. That way I also don’t allow myself to run out of motivation.
Thea's #SunHandsSelfie with her Escapade Case
WHAT TIPS DO YOU HAVE FOR SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO START MAKING COLLAGE ART?
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes! What I love about collages is that they’re so forgiving as an art form so embrace the no-format format, the messiness of layers, the rough edges, and random cuts.
Be experimental. Don’t just play around with the textures, sizes, colors, etc. Play around with body parts, with nature, light, patterns, technology, and so many different things. Trust the process and be okay with diving in without a plan.
A Piece Featuring Floating Limbs and Body Parts
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE RESOURCES FOR FREE IMAGES?
Be experimental. Don’t just play around with the textures, sizes, colors, etc. Play around with body parts, with nature, light, patterns, technology, and so many different things. Trust the process and be okay with diving in without a plan.
A Piece Featuring Floating Limbs and Body Parts
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE RESOURCES FOR FREE IMAGES?
You’d be surprised at how many no copyright images there are on the internet!! The ones I frequent are Flickr Creative Commons, the Heritage Library, and Europeana. But there’s still soooo many more out there. Check out museums online because they usually have a whole library of images that have no more copyright.
Stay in the loop with Thea and her art by following her on Instagram and Behance.
Stay in the loop with Thea and her art by following her on Instagram and Behance.