Meet Tom Lamb | artist and illustrator / owner Tom Lamb Maps

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tom Lamb and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tom, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I was born in Cambridge, MA, then moved to England, then Montreal, and then back to the Boston area where I graduated from Mass College of Art. After graduation, I spent about 20 years working in Hollywood as a visual effects artist. I found much inspiration and encouragement from my father, Derek Lamb, who was an award-winning artist and animator. I started drawing at a young age and gravitated toward drawing maps when I was a teen. I’ve always been interested in my surroundings and the sense of belonging in various places. My interest may have stemmed from living in different cities as a child, and it’s fulfilling for me to provide that sense of place for others with my artwork.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The first map I created as a young adult was soon after I moved to L.A. from Boston, and I continue to sell the original lithographs of that L.A. map to this day because I enthusiastically ordered about 7,000 even though my career at the time was in the film industry and Tom Lamb Maps was more of a side gig than a business. I learned my lesson and thankfully did not print such large quantities of other maps and illustrations I created soon after the L.A. poster. A few years later I was living in Silverlake, and on my way home one night I wondered if anyone had ever created a map of that area. At that point I was still working in the film industry and had become a visual effects artist. As with my earlier work, I started drawing the original black and white Silverlake map during my free time on weekends and nights using illustration board, a pencil, an eraser, and a rapidograph pen, but the Silverlake area inspired a more realistic and sophisticated style and perspective compared to my earlier cartoon-style work. Months later when the Silverlake map was finished, I showed it to a few friends but generally kept it under my bed.

Fast forward a few more years when I realized from my VFX work that I could scan the Silverlake map and add color using Photoshop rather than using colored pencils as I did with the L.A. poster. It was now a digital file and easier to get prints. One day when I was furloughed from my job, I decided to approach a small gift shop in Sunset Junction and see if they might be interested in selling my Silverlake print with its blues and greens inspired by the area. The owners liked it and asked for 6 prints which soon sold and led to requests for maps of Echo Park and Los Feliz and so on. So while being furloughed from my job wasn’t entirely pleasant, it did give me the opportunity to plant the seeds for what would become my new career as owner of Tom Lamb Maps.

I think the main challenge I faced early on was trying to find the time to create my maps while working long hours as a VFX artist. I did find that even doing a little bit of work on the map every day helped and was good for the soul. I had the feeling that I was keeping my dream alive. Working in the film business did provide some valuable lessons that I continue to use for my own business, such as meeting deadlines, client interactions, coping with the fact that things can go wrong but being prepared and willing to deal with potential problems helps. I worked with many fun, talented artists and co-workers over the years in the VFX world and think it’s beneficial for artists to surround themselves with other artists and creative types.

My business has grown significantly over the last ten years or so and I’m grateful to now have a variety of sales outlets in retail as well as custom commissioned maps. I enjoy creating the artwork and since I do not yet use fulfillment companies, I also manage quality control, packing and shipping, stocking my products in about 15 independent boutiques around the US, along with customer service. My wife helps maintain my web site and is there when I need extra hands, and I rely on quality local printers for silk screen printing my designs on garments as well as archival quality prints. Most importantly, through all the busy times as well as slower times, I do what I can to keep my art process fun and something I enjoy doing and there are always new maps to create.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Most of my favorite places don’t exist anymore. However, top of the list would be to go to Griffith Observatory and gaze at the city (day or night). I’d also look at the views of the city from different vantage points on the trails in Griffith Park.
2. Highland Park. I would take an out of towner to York Blvd and Fig St. Great restaurants, cool shops, and people watching.
3. Boyle Heights. Lunch at El Tepeyac (a Manuel special burrito) and make our way along Whittier Blvd/6th Street for a spectacular view of downtown. Walk around the arts district, see some old warehouses. This area was always inspiring to me and I’m old enough to have seen a few punk shows at Al’s Bar.
4. Of course, any out of towner needs to see the ocean. I’m not really a big beach person but we would head west and probably end up in El Segundo! (I know, I need to make a map of it). Stop in at Slice & Pint. My friend Rob introduced me to this place recently.
5. More hiking in the Santa Monica mountains, then head east and stop in at Book Soup on the Sunset Strip, Rainbow Bar and grill, and end up with an authentic empanada and coffee at my old go-to spot Cafe Tropicale in Silverlake.
6. The valley. I could spend days driving around the valley. Lots to see. I would take a friend to Valley Relics Museum.
There really isn’t anywhere in L.A. County that I would go and not feel inspired. L.A. is the most entertaining and dynamic place I’ve ever lived. I feel lucky to have been able to have called this city home.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Tom Lamb Maps succeeds only with the support of all the independent small businesses from local printers to retail shops (along with a few larger companies) who enable me to sell my work. And a heartfelt shoutout to my wife and our two daughters for their love and encouragement and sometimes even hands-on help!

Website: https://tomlambmaps.com

Instagram: @tomlambmaps

Other: https://etsy.com/shop/tomlambmaps

Image Credits
San Bernardino mural – courtesy of Viva La Boba, San Bernardino, CA.