Daily Inspiration: Meet Tatum Rochin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tatum Rochin.

Hi Tatum, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started The Tucson Type in January of 2020 because I was so inspired by the desert landscapes, colors, and culture of Tucson and Arizona as a whole. My fiancé, Lyndsey, actually came up with the name and it fits so perfectly (plus I love a good alliteration). The idea behind The Tucson Type is to celebrate Arizona through art and community and I think we’ve accomplished that so far. We host art workshops around town and it’s been a great way to meet and connect with people and hear their stories. We’ve also been able to connect with local businesses on a new level since starting The Tucson Type and have come to realize that Arizona has a very supportive community around local art and entrepreneurs.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest struggle so far has been trying to stay engaged with the community through the pandemic. We started the businesses just a few months before everything shut down, so right when we were getting some momentum, stores were closing, which was rough for everyone. The good news is that social media kept us connected to other artists and businesses and the Tucson community, and everyone did a good job at supporting artists through e-commerce and eventually hosting virtual workshops to keep up the community-building and learning going.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a digital illustrator who focuses on Arizona-themed work. You’ll most likely see a cactus in almost everything I do and I’ve really leaned into the desert aesthetic because that’s what I’m surrounded by every day. I love giving my ideas life and then putting those illustration on items that people can see, use, or appreciate daily. It’s fun to show off what you love and where you’re from, so I’ve been putting my designs on stickers, totes, prints, etc. I like to think I have a simplistic and minimalistic style. I do like to use color, but I think one thing that sets me apart from other artists are the clean monolines I use to portray the places I’m drawing. I’m most proud of the fact that I really keep my love of Tucson and Arizona at the heart of everything I do and I hope that shines through in my illustrations.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I haven’t really thought about what the next 5-10 years might look like. I think what’s on a lot of people’s minds are how to do things efficiently with fewer resources, so it will be interesting to see what that looks like. What’s great about my business and vision is that I’m focusing on community building and creating new things, so as long as there are people around who appreciate art and want to gather, I will keep The Tucson Type alive to be a facilitator of that gathering space and keep putting my art and ideas out there.

 Contact Info:

• Email: thetucsontype@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.thetucsontype.com
• Instagram: thetucsontype
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheTucsonType

Image Credits
Susannah Lynn