Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Rickmon.
Hi Matt, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My name is Matt Rickmon, founder of Tuff Luv Creations. That is my art collective piece of my new adventure, A Hope For Better Days. I grew up around theatres and supporting non-profits since I was young. I always had a love for stories and all type of creative play. When I was in college I realized that I loved to write stories and create my own worlds. My love for writing and storytelling became a bigger part of me than I first realized. I got my undergraduate in psychology and found a certification program to be a Certified Therapeutic Game Master. I used storytelling and collaboration to facilitate groups on life skills and social skills. I found something meaningful to me, by creating moments for other people to shine. I also had the pleasure of being a sensitivity consultant and character designer for the most comprehensive disability compendium ever created for a tabletop roleplaying game called Limitless Heroics. I have lived experience with Crohn’s Disease, Irritable Bowel, and ADHD, and it was an honor to be on that project.
Recently, I felt compelled to create Tuff Luv Creations out of a need to create more and to do good. Capturing photos and videos of moments, printing 3D models for people of all ages and backgrounds to laugh over, paint, and create memories. I also run live-performance arts and tabletop roleplaying games to highlight local performers and the fun of tabletop roleplaying games.
At the end of the day, I want to see a brighter light in our community and I want to make sure that I am doing my part. I believes that everyone’s voice matters, everyone’s story matters, and that you always matter. My dream is to simply bring some hope for better days.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road. Although, I have been fortunate to receive initial support from others. However, I created this out of a need to be there for others so they do not feel as alone in this world. People who create can tend to feel isolated from others as they work on their craft, or even afraid of upsetting other creators in their space.
It is also hard in these times right now to find the extra money to support artistic endeavors. I am forever grateful for the small group of people in my life that has continued to push me to be a better artist and better human.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a Certified Therapeutic Game Master and Problematic Gaming Specialist as well as a Master Life Coach. My main focus currently is finding ways to create meaningful stories and make memories with and for other people. I use tabletop roleplaying games and performance arts to help facilitate groups and discsuss social and life skills. Seeing people grow not only on a character sheet, but in their own character, a pleasure to see unfold.
I had mostly done these for non-profits, and help to raise money for charities online. Luckily, this year I have gotten the opportunity to have a physical venue for the tabletop roleplaying games. I am at one local venue and I am hoping to continue that growth into the next projects that I have down the road.
The aspect of storytelling that I would say I specialize in is the ability to make even the smallest of moments matter. It is a specialization in which I figure is more experienced than imagined. Essentially, I am able to focus on the moments in the game and create a memorable and usually cathartic and meaningful experience for the players.
Other than that, I am known currently for my 3D printing and hand-painting locally or do8jg photography and videography for local concerts and events in the Rogue Valley. I have been grateful to take pictures and videos to help support local businesses in the Rogue Valley.
I would initially have to say that the thing I was most proud of is being a part of the Limitless Heroics book. However, looking at my life, I think the proudest I have been are in the moments of tabletop games where I can see I made an impact on their day and that my stories impacted them. My love of writing and love for people go hand in hand.
One thing that sets me aside is that I come from a theatrical, storytelling and psychology lens way before I learned about tabletop roleplaying games. My love for telling stories comes from my love of helping make a person’s day a little bit better however I can. With a theatrical background, I also make sure that every part of the story feels like it is coming to life, including the ability to 3D print their characters and the monsters, but also design the maps and logos for all of it as well.
How do you define success?
I originally would have said that success to me is reaching a pre-determined goal or intended result. For me, success means at the end of the day, I am able to feel like I have done good in the world. For the most part that is still true. I think success is like getting back up after you’ve been repeatedly knocked down. Instead of being upset about the fall, the person smiles and does better in life every time they get back up, that’s how I would define success currently.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tuffluvcreations.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tuffluvcreations69
