Toni Daley: The Artist

 

Name: Toni

Age: 30 (ssshhhh!)

From: Toronto, Canada

Profession: Business Analyst and Artist  

KiK: Hey lady. When did you first realize that you wanted to do art?  

Toni: I've always enjoyed creating art. As a kid I would sketch on anything and everything which sometimes found me in trouble. LOL. When I was in my early teens a friend and fellow art lover from my youth group at church introduced me to paints. When I discovered that I could bring the images from my sketchpad to life in vivid color, I was hooked!  I felt like i could finally show people what i saw in my mind's eye.

KiK:   Great. Having encouragement is always great. We need that sometimes. So how long have you been an artist?

Toni: I think artists are born so I would have to honestly say i've been an artist all my life. The creation of a piece can be sparked by a thought, an emotion, or an image in day to day life and once it's in my head I usually spend as much time as it takes to get it out.  I can spend anywhere from 1 - 12 hours on a painting in one sitting.

KiK: Interesting. Were you formally trained?

Toni: Other than highschool art classes, i've received no formal training.  I just paint from my heart.

KiK: Some people think that's the best way because your work is more authentic and raw. Toni, you are definitely a popular artist amongst the natural hair community. Your work can easily be described as afro-centric but how do you describe it.

Toni: I LOVE the natural hair community. I feel like it is my new found home so i am only thrilled that my work has found a place there too.  I guess my work could be descibed as afro-centric although i've never thought of it that way...art is often a reflection of the artist themselves and my work simply depicts the world around me as I see it. I would describe my art as an urban surreal kind of feel and I prefer to use acrylic on canvas.

KiK: Nice. A lot of people don't see the world with beautiful natural haired women in it. Anyhow, do you have any favourite artists?

Toni: Yes, of course I have a few...I love Justin Bua. He creates these surreal characters and backdrops with his work that just makes you stop and get lost in the story. My favourite artist has to be Kevin Williams (WAK). His imagery is stunning and his characters are beyond beautiful, on top of that he is the best selling artist in the print market of black arts....and why not? Why shouldn't our art be sought after, widely collected and in high demand.  

KiK: True. Why do you make art though? I see you're also a business analyst so what is your artist goal?

Toni: I make art because I want the world to see what I see.  My goal is that every Black household have a "toni daley" on the wall.

KiK: Big dreams! Where do you see yourself professionally in 10 years then?

Toni: In an ideal world, I see myself retired from my "9-5"  and pursuing my art full time.

KiK: I hope you are able to realize that dream girl. What advice would you give to the new aspiring artist?

Toni: I would encourage new artists to try to find subject matter that they are passionate about. That is when you will see your work will blossom and get noticed.

KiK:  Just to be nosy, what do you do when you're not creating art?

Toni: Many things occupy my time outside my art... I work my 9-5 in the corporate world, spend time with my friends and family, make jewelry and of course and I can spend hours on end vlogging on youtube.

KiK: Hahaha. I'm sure about the Youtube vlogging. Where can your art be found and how can people find you online?

You can view all my past and present pieces on my online album at : http://www.fotki.com/tonidaley . Many of my prints are available to purchase on my online shop at : http://www.afrodisiacs.etsy.com. I also create some painting vlogs on my youtube channel at: http://www.youtube.com/tonidaley80. 

Contact Toni by email at toe_knee_20@hotmail.com