Meet Tawny Fritz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tawny Fritz.

Tawny, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in New Orleans, LA. After high school, I spent eight years in the US Army as an Intelligence Analyst before separating and becoming a government defense contractor. I married my husband in 2008 and we welcomed our only child into the world in 2009. In 2012, I was laid off along with the rest of my department, so my husband encouraged me to go full time as a freelance illustrator. I have worked with Paizo, Fantasy Flight Games, and a few other small game companies to create characters and creatures for tabletop RPGs. Now, I am a moderator and workshop coordinator for One Fantastic Week and The Fantastic Workshop while I also create personal work that I sell directly to the public at conventions and online. I have a coloring book available on Gumroad called Femme Florale, which is a collection of witches and their herbs.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road. I have faced a lot of challenges from parenthood to mental health disruptions. I have struggled with finding my style and my voice, and with being taken seriously when I work in “just” black and white!

Please tell us about your art.
I create black and white drawings of goddesses, witches, astrology, and mythological characters. I am most proud of the path I’ve taken to get where my art is now and for never apologizing for what I create. I think what sets me apart from others is that I am passionate about helping other artists and creators succeed by providing guidance and motivation when they are struggling.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Easter Egg hunts with my family! I’ve always loved searching and finding things. Even now, I enjoy those hidden item games as well as finding interesting items on clearance!