The Jigsaw Journal
What's your name?
Tomek
Where are you from?
London, England, but I'm originally from Poland
When did you start puzzling?
I’m sure it is surprising, but I started puzzling... during the pandemic. Back in 2020, when I was experiencing a lot of anxiety over work and health I randomly came across an Instagram Live of someone putting a jigsaw puzzle together. I immediately thought it would be a fun and relaxing thing to do, I ordered a puzzle online and when I finally got it and started working on it I… hated it! The puzzle I got was very dark in colour and involved a lot of looking for specific shapes of the puzzle pieces and tabs… it was the opposite of fun. But somehow I didn’t give up, I got a different puzzle, which was bright and colourful, that relied more on finding different colours and textures and I really got into the puzzling. This time it was relaxing and calming, and I felt like I accomplished something after finishing it. I was hooked! I’m glad I wasn’t discouraged and I now know what kind of puzzles bring me joy.
What is your favorite piece count and why?
I think it depends on my free time. I work on 1000 piece puzzles more often, but I do enjoy a 500 for a quick relaxing evening, or a bigger count whenever I have a spare weekend or when I’m on holiday. It’s hard for me to rip myself away from a puzzle once I start, so I try to manage my time well and not jeopardise my other commitments.
What is your favorite type of art?
The art I enjoy the most on puzzles is modern illustration, especially hand drawn, that can be digital, but has that imperfect aspect to it, colourful and textured, so I can focus on the picture itself, and not look for the clues in the puzzle shapes.
What makes you keep puzzling and how often do you puzzle?
I like returning to jigsaw puzzles, as I love the feeling of being in a bubble, forgetting about the world and worries and focusing on the only one task at hand - finishing the puzzle. And when I do, it makes me happy and accomplished.
What is your go to drink/snack when you puzzle?
Interestingly putting together a jigsaw puzzle grabs my entire attention and often I forget about eating or drinking. When I realize about my thirst or hunger I step away from the puzzle and have a glass of water or a proper meal. I try not to snack during the puzzling itself, as I try not to accidentally damage the pieces.
Tell us a little bit about your other joys.
I love listening to music, and I do it whenever I can, especially during puzzling. An entertaining podcast is always a good option too. Besides puzzling I love going to a cinema and I try to do it at least once a week. At home I enjoy catching up on all the franchises of RuPaul’s Drag Race. I like being creative and have art projects - illustrations or photography. I created The Jigsaw Journal as it encompasses all the things I love and helps me express myself creatively.