Tiffany Royrock is an artist based in Vancouver, BC. Her work merges traditional Western art with a neon palette inspired by her Japanese youth. She’s always making something because if she stops there’ll be a worldwide catastrophe for the cast of LOST. Ricepaper interviews Tiffany as part of its profile of the magazine’s talented team of illustrators and artists.
Ricepaper: Can you tell us more about your Asian Canadian background?
Tiffany: Culturally my background is Japanese, Scottish, and Dutch. My dad taught me how to draw by seeing and copying what was in front of me in the traditional Western way. My mom had us watching VHS tapes sent from Japan of daytime animes like Anpanman and Cardcaptors. At my grandparents’ home, my Scottish grandma would teach me how to crochet and knit. Later we would watch our grandpa’s saturated and observant home movies of tulip fields and bobbing ocean horizons. To this day I take turns incorporating all of these creative outlets wherever I can.
Ricepaper: What does your work aim to say?
Tiffany: It’s gonna be alright.
Ricepaper: How have you developed your career as an artist?
Tiffany: I don’t limit myself to one medium because I’m always trying to find out what works best. I know the saying is ‘Jack of all trades, Master of none’ but I’d like to try to and become a micro master of whatever it is I’m into. So far I’ve learned how to illustrate, dye leather, engrave wood, sew dolls, paint windows, alter clothing, and crochet soft sculptures. Currently, I’m learning how to tattoo. I want to be like a creative tradesman.
Ricepaper: What is your most important artist tool? Is there something you can’t live without in your studio?
Tiffany: Any adequate brush pen will do, hopefully, there’s some paper around.
Ricepaper: Which current art world trends are you following?
Tiffany: Rug-Tufting. Looks super neat.