Artist Spotlight: Tom Agnetti

This month, we get to explore the amazing world of Tom Agnetti—a fun-loving artist from Brooklyn, NY, who shows us what a life of inspiration can offer to an artist. His artistic style is the product of endless curiosity and an eye for finding magic in places you might not expect.

Early Life

Agnetti’s passion for art started early. He reflects that growing up surrounded by striking architecture and museums had a strong influence on him. Watching his father sketch classic characters from comic strips contributed to a spark of interest in drawing as well:

“My dad would draw from Comic Strips out of the newspaper like Hagar the Horrible, Snuffy Smith, Beetle Bailey, Flash Gordon and others. That inspired me to start drawing from the comics.” -Tom Agnetti

Sources of Inspiration

Tom Agnetti knows how to use his creativity to its fullest! He can find something to draw just by asking himself:

"Wouldn't it be cool if X thing existed?" -Tom Agnetti

He looks up to a ton of incredible artists, including Frank Frazetta, Donato Giancola, Alex Toth, Franklin Booth, Hal Foster, Al Williamson, Alex Ross, and Peter Paul Rubens. Of course, there are plenty more, but this cast of creatives gives us insight into the styles of art he admires most.

Agnetti pulls material to work with from his own life experiences. A drawing can be inspired by anything from a sense of nostalgia or places he’s visited, to books and movies:

“[...] somehow it is rewarding to spend a little extra time in those worlds.” -Tom Agnetti

Creations

Agnetti doesn’t limit himself to just one theme, which offers him plenty of artistic freedom. Among his many works, his Gandalf oil painting is a pretty special one. It has hung on his wall for over two decades, moving with him wherever he goes. He enjoys creating art for himself, using whatever comes to mind in the moment as inspiration. However, he doesn't shy away from projects when the opportunity presents itself:

“I was accepted to be an artist at a Horror Convention near me and in the last month, I have drawn over 20 new illustrations for that.” -Tom Agnetti

Agnetti is currently active on social media, sharing both recent work and older pieces he’s held onto. It’s pretty amazing to see this digital archive of masterpieces. He refers to his collection as ‘Fridge Worthy Art’, a playful way to express the goal of creating work good enough to be put on mom’s fridge!

A Cozy Setup

This guy is all in when it comes to his craft. When he isn’t working his day job as a designer for the Navy, he’s drawing at home. With six adult children, he now uses his downtime to focus on his artistic pursuits. Agnetti proudly identifies as an “armchair artist.” His setup is cozy and efficient: a recliner and a padded lap board angled towards him with the help of a small pillow. With all of his tools within reach and an audiobook playing in the background, he is able to create in comfort. As for what ends up on the page, his favorite medium is pen and ink.

“I really enjoy Pen and Ink. It has always appealed to me visually as I grew up loving and collecting Black and White magazines with amazing artwork like Conan, Eerie and others. I like how permanent it is and you just have to go with what you put down and don't waste time making things so perfect.” -Tom Agnetti

Words of Wisdom

Agnetti believes the arts are a vital part of any community. He describes art as a personal language everyone uses to express themselves—something that should be universally encouraged.

His advice to fellow artists is heartfelt:

“Create for you and not for what you think other people will like. For me the process of creating has always been what brings me the most joy and I don't like people having that taken from them, in hopes of pleasing a certain group or person.” -Tom Agnetti

Keep up with this amazing artist on his socials!

Instagram and TikTok: @fridge_worthy_art

🌟Bask in the Spotlight🌟

If you have a story to share or would like to nominate an artist you admire for an upcoming Artist of the Month Spotlight, send your inquiry to Quil Castro via email: bewilderingwalls@gmail.com