Thomas J
Thomas is the creator of the webcomic, "a wish that bloomed in fall." He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with a concentration in animation, from William Paterson University of New Jersey in August 2020.
He was born in the Philippines. His passion for art began during his childhood when he was exposed to Japanese animations like Pokémon. He would often draw animals and mythical creatures in his sketchbooks every single day. His love for anime grew after watching films made by Studio Ghibli, Kyoto Animation, Makoto Shinkai, and many more. Some time after college, he fell in love with storytelling and spent more than a year writing his own webcomic. By the end of 2023, he had published more than eighty episodes on Webtoon and Tapas. He hopes to create a narrative that can inspire others to see all the little wonders around us and tell the world that life is worth living. |
Artist Statement
The world of dew
is a world of dew.
And yet, and yet--
This is a favorite haiku of mine by Issa Kobayashi. In Buddhism, a dewdrop symbolizes the fleeting nature of human life. What I like about this poem is that in the first two lines, Issa is aware that life is indeed short and that we must not cling to our desires. But by writing the last line, "And yet, and yet—" he reminds us that it is okay to be human and feel our suffering.
This is something I want to explore through my art because it is what makes life beautiful and meaningful. It is beautiful because in times of sadness, we remember the little things that bring us joy. It is beautiful because in times of hardships, our bonds grow stronger. And it is beautiful because in times of despair, we find hope in the most unexpected places. I want to show that reality can be beautiful even amidst hardships and heartbreaks.
is a world of dew.
And yet, and yet--
This is a favorite haiku of mine by Issa Kobayashi. In Buddhism, a dewdrop symbolizes the fleeting nature of human life. What I like about this poem is that in the first two lines, Issa is aware that life is indeed short and that we must not cling to our desires. But by writing the last line, "And yet, and yet—" he reminds us that it is okay to be human and feel our suffering.
This is something I want to explore through my art because it is what makes life beautiful and meaningful. It is beautiful because in times of sadness, we remember the little things that bring us joy. It is beautiful because in times of hardships, our bonds grow stronger. And it is beautiful because in times of despair, we find hope in the most unexpected places. I want to show that reality can be beautiful even amidst hardships and heartbreaks.
Meet the squirrels!
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