Meet Tim Furlow | Visual Artist

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

Hi Tim, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I’m not entirely sure I chose the arts. I’ve had very little interest in anything outside of creative endeavors for as long as I can remember. When I was around 3 my auntie sent some of my drawings to a famous mouse-eared network, and to everyone’s surprise, they showed them on the air, along with my name. I’ve been chasing that rush ever since. I’ve been working independently as an artist for 7 years now. Previously I was involved in retail and retail management, for 12 grueling years. Due to a calamity beyond my control, I found myself unemployed at the holidays with mouths to feed. So, I bit the bullet and went full-time with painting. I’ve never looked back. In recent years, I’ve branched out from painting some, and experimented with other forms of visual art. I made a short horror film with some close friends that is now available to stream online through Troma Films, as well as taking a stab at performance on stage. Art is something far more than a career to me. I consider it a way of life. Artists move to their own rhythm. It’s something I’ve had a life-long love affair with, and in a perfect world, I’ll keep creating the rest of my life.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My work is a mix of pop art and pointillism. I specialize in portraiture, comprised of tiny dots made with a 20/0 brush. I feel like my art is primarily about recording information. Things that may otherwise be forgotten. My paintings get written off at first glance as being stenciled or silkscreened. Once the viewer comes closer, they begin to see the intricate dots. It’s a practice of patience. Along the way, I’ve learned that perseverance is the only real constant in this industry. Galleries shutter, but artists have to keep working regardless. Andy Warhol is one of my biggest influences, and he once said something to the effect of, “don’t worry about whether someone else thinks it’s good, just keep working.” I try to keep this in mind when work isn’t selling, or the galleries aren’t emailing. Just keep working. It’ll pay off. SOMEONE out there digs what you’re doing.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Colorado Springs is a land of hidden gems. You can grab great ramen at Rooster’s House of Ramen, see amazing artwork at Gallery 111, and then go catch a punk rock show at The Black Sheep. Bar K is also an amazing spot that can go overlooked at times, but they have great art, great shows, drag and variety events, and super cool people. If you’re bringing folks from out of town, Garden of The Gods is a must-see, and also a great place to get out for a low impact hike around some beautiful geology. Our nature is really the big draw here. Pike’s peak overlooks the entire downtown area, and outdoor activities are huge here year-round. Bring your boots and watch out for snakes!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Where to begin? I came to Colorado 6 years ago. I grew up and began my career in St. Louis Missouri. After a few false starts, I fell in with Joshua Coates, AKA Josh the Curator, and Jon Bataille, who were curating for The Gallery Below here in Colorado Springs. Since that time, Josh has put me in so many shows and venues I’ve lost track. He’s also introduced me to some of the most amazing curators and performers in the area. Robin and Angel at Gallery111 were some of the folks he introduced me to, and that’s led to some amazing opportunities. Beyond that, he’s introduced me to some of the top drag and burlesque performers in the area, namely Alexandre Valentino Skye. Through them, I was introduced to the Antici-pations ShadowCast, and had the honor of appearing in Rocky Horror Picture show, playing several roles. The Colorado Springs art community isn’t huge, but we’re extremely tight knit and supportive of one another. These folks make it what it is.

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