News Summary
San Diego artist Tommy Turner, known as SAVO888, shared his journey and childhood inspirations at TwitchCon. His story highlights the importance of encouragement in pursuing art, evolving from early sketches to showcasing his work in the gaming community. With a background in theater and a passion for comic books, Turner advocates for diversity in the arts while celebrating the support of his followers and buyers.
San Diego – Local artist Tommy Turner, widely recognized as SAVO888 on Instagram and Twitch, recently shared his childhood inspirations and professional journey at TwitchCon. The event highlighted Turner’s progression from a young boy sketching to a well-regarded artist showcasing his work within the gaming and creative community.
Turner’s earliest artistic memory stems from replicating a popular painting of a sad little boy with a teardrop, a scene commonly found in many Black households. This formative experience was met with encouragement from his mother, who praised his talent upon viewing his artwork. This early support played a crucial role in igniting his passion for pursuing a career in art.
Currently based in San Diego, Turner showcased his artistic creations at the artist alley section of TwitchCon. His educational journey in the arts began with three years at community colleges, including San Diego Mesa College and San Diego City College, where he focused on theater studies under instructor Lyman Saville. Eventually, he transitioned from teaching theater at Logan Elementary School to a radio career at Z90.3.
As a child, Turner frequently found himself grounded for being overly talkative, which inadvertently led him to spend more time reading during these periods of punishment. He leveraged his grounded time to foster his interest in comic books, which played a significant role in developing his skills in art—starting with tracing comics before progressing to creating his own. His artistic exploration continued with an interest in graffiti, and ultimately, Turner’s work evolved into fine art and pop art.
Among his various influences, Turner’s favorite comic character is Silver Surfer, whom he admires for his powerful and “cool” persona. Throughout his career, Turner has dabbled in radio and stand-up comedy, showcasing his multifaceted talents.
Turner discovered Twitch while searching for gaming content, where he stumbled upon the creative community and began sharing his artwork through live streams. His debut painting on the platform was of rapper Biggie Smalls, which received substantial attention and contributed to growing his follower base. The canvas used for his painting came from his neighbors, who had discarded old canvases outside his door, highlighting a resourceful beginning to his venture in streaming art.
Turner expressed appreciation for the buyers and supporters of his art, stating that they provide valuable validation for his work. He views the rise of AI art as a complement rather than a threat to traditional art, believing that different markets can coexist harmoniously. Furthermore, he advocates for increased diversity within Twitch’s workforce to better reflect the community and its creators, noting his observation of a lack of Black Twitch employees at the event.
Supporting his views on diversity, statistics from Zippa reveal that minorities hold 51% of executive roles in the industry, while women account for 44%. In connection to local demographics, the Latine community constitutes 49% of students at City College, where females represent 53% of the student body, according to a recent census report released by SDCCD.
Turner’s journey from childhood inspiration to a prominent figure in the creative community at TwitchCon serves as a testament to the importance of encouragement and representation in the arts. His story exemplifies how passion, mentorship, and community support can shape an artist’s career.
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Additional Resources
- San Diego City Times: Local San Diego Artist Shares Art Journey to TwitchCon
- Wikipedia: Twitch (service)
- San Diego Magazine: Local News
- Google Search: San Diego artists
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Artist
- Google News: Art community Twitch
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