Tom was born an artist. He recalls drawing football players and baseball players (with both hands) on the walls of his home before he even enrolled in kindergarten. His parents were quick to wise up, and his father, a newspaper advertising director at a local newspaper, began bringing home rolls of newsprint paper for Tom to draw on. Tom earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts at The Pennsylvania State University where he was the Penn State’s Daily Collegian graphic artist and editorial cartoonist. Upon graduation, Tom became the Creative director of Happy Valley Promotions at State College for 2 years.When offered a position as illustrator/designer for a sport magazine, Tom turned it down and instead became the Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Club’s Pirate Parrot Mascot. Tom, who was a cheerleader at Penn State, used the free time this fun job offered him to hone his artistic work. He became a full time free-lance illustrator and painter in 1996 and remains so today. In December 2005 Tom was selected to receive the “Illustrator of the Year” award by Harvard Magazine.-Tom was commissioned in 2007 to design and render a 180’ x 30’ mural at the new Prudential Arena in Newark Jersey. (See “Prudential Project”)-In his spare time, Tom enjoys his exercise passions such as running, lifting weights, biking, power yoga, as well as following sports news, and numerous other forms of the arts.Specialties: visit www.tommosser.com to view portfolio