Xan Tolbert is a 20-year old traditional artist from Kansas City, MO. She creates realism portraits of bands such as Ready the Prince, Fury in Few, cleopatrick, Twenty One Pilots, and more. Her artwork is as beautiful as she is kind. Down below is an interview with the artist herself:
1) Where are you based?
I like to say Kansas City, Missouri but in reality it's more like an undisclosed location about 40 min away.
2) What genre does your work fall into?
I'm a traditional realism artist!
3) Who are your biggest influences?
Well for one, my friends, old and new. They're all so supportive and caring and creative and talented, I love them so much. Cassie (@cassiehw) is a big one though. I've always looked up to her in a way even though I'm 98% sure she has no idea who I am haha. But her art is phenomenal and I feel like seeing what she put out in the world really got me into wanting to draw the way I do now.
4) How long does a piece normally take you
to create?
A full realism piece takes anywhere from 10 to 40 hours which can take weeks or a month. Full sketches take about 5 to 15 hours, they only take a day or two or a week.
5) What bands do you listen to and love?
Oh god, I could write a novel. My favorites right now are hometown & young, Captiva (who are a lovely little KC band), Bay Faction, Ready The Prince (of course), and Dead Poet Society.
6) Do you sell prints of your art?
Yes!! On Etsy. I make them all myself and just recently I feel like I've finally gotten into a groove with making my prints look JUST LIKE the original drawing, I'm very proud of them.
7) When did you start drawing in this style?
Probably about 3 years ago. My first "realism" piece was of Patrick Stump in 2015 and it was on a grid. The first free-hand one I did was on Bryan Dechart in 2018 I think. But the one I really credit for getting me into my style with the thick outer lines and dramatic shading is the one I did of Brendon Urie later that year. It's still my most popular piece on IG.
8) What are your top four comfort albums — albums you put on repeat when everything is bad, albums that give you a sense of safety and calmness?
Now, Not Yet by half•alive is a huge one for me. It always makes me feel like I'm not alone in whatever I'm feeling and that where I am right now is where I'm meant to be no matter how hard it seems. After that are... This Is All Yours by alt-J, Origami by Vinyl Theatre, and Vessel by Twenty One Pilots.
9) Where would you like to go with your art?
Honestly... I have no idea. Up until some time last year I didn't even consider myself an artist, it's not something I wanted to do let alone pursue, I didn't even consider it an option. So who knows!! I'm not entirely sure yet!!
10) Lastly, what inspires you to create?
Pretty much anyone who makes the music that I've fallen in love with. It does a lot for me and keeps me going so I feel like drawing these people who create is kind of like paying them back. Also Steve DeCiantis like as a person.
You can find her artwork on Instagram, @xtdraws, and buy her prints here on Esty. Also, listen to the guest playlist she made for us here, on our Spotify.
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