Welcome to a new season of the award-winning Hill Country Authors Podcast, sponsored by Stoney Creek Publishing. In this podcast, Hill Country resident Tom Fox visits with authors who live in and write up the Texas Hill Country. In this episode, Tom visits TD Motley about his book, The Art of Farming—Sketches on Life in the Country.
Dr. Thomas Motley is a devoted illustrator and cartoonist whose artistic journey began at the tender age of three, fueled by his fascination with the funny papers and Sunday funnies. Inspired by early heroes like Pogo and Mort Drucker, his passion for illustration was further cultivated at 14 through mentorship with his favorite editorial cartoonist, Bob Taylor. Despite facing discouragement from his high school counselor and principal, Thomas pursued art in college, championing the idea of staying true to oneself and following one’s dreams. Today, he draws upon his childhood influences and admiration for illustrators like Tom Lee to encourage aspiring artists to carve out their unique styles and tackle personal challenges with creativity and perseverance.
Key highlights:
- Visual Artist’s Evolution into Storytelling Author
- Illustrative Inspiration: Tom Lee’s Influence
- Engaging Sequel Expanding Farming’s Artistry
- Embracing Dreams: Fueling Artistic Journeys
Resources:
TD Motley on LinkedIn
TD Motley on Instagram
Art Spiel Contemporary Art and Culture
Bookmark interview with Christine Brown, KAMU/PBS, Sept, 2024
Interview with Etty Yaniv, publisher, Art Spiel, posted Monday, Feb 10, 2025
The Art of Farming: Sketches on Life in the Country on Texas A&M University Press
Tom Fox
