Tom McLaughlin

I’m sort of all over the place with my artistic venues—a true ADHD creator! I “doodle”, almost exclusively digitally with my iPad. I started on paper when I was barely double digits, but I gave it up in my teens. I got into music while in high school into my early 20’s, playing bass guitar in local bands. I was laid up at the beginning of quarantine in March 2020, and that’s when I bought an iPad and a stylus with my stimulus check. I’ve been back into it ever since.

I take pictures, but don’t consider myself a photographer. I have a Polaroid instant film camera, and recently was gifted a digital camera. I’ve occasionally painted rocks and left them outdoors for others to discover. My dog Jackson “Pawllock” even creates art with my assistance! I’ve recently began to cross stitch as well!

I’m into weird, surrealism, but also everyday reality. I’ve heard my work described as “dream logic”—familiar things that are simultaneously bizarre. The uncanny valley of sorts. I’m way into horror movies/stories/comics, all of which appear in my work often. Same goes for my pets, past and present. Art is a major source in exercising my grief, and those I’ve lost manifest in my work.

Art-A-Whirl

Art-A-Whirl Main Page

Tom McLaughlin is open on Friday, Saturday & Sunday of Art-A-Whirl weekend.