Today we’d like to introduce you to Toni Taylor.
Hi Toni, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I believe I was born with art in my soul and brought it into this lifetime from many past lives. I’ve identified as an artist from the time I could hold a crayon. Several synchronistic experiences along the way from childhood to adulthood have served to keep me on the creative path even when I doubted myself the most.. a wrong number, ‘chance’ meetings, walking down one side of the street vs the other, lucid dreams.. many situations have played a role. At the core of it all is my love for what I do and the support I’ve received from others, without that, there would be no Starchild Art!
I didn’t attend art school for my craft but I consider myself ‘life taught’. In my early 20s I worked as an artists’ model at the School of Visual Arts in NYC where I often paid attention to the instructors as they worked with the students. I also felt comfortable with some of the teachers to show them my work and welcomed constructive criticism. While there, I met a teacher who was a professional illustrator. He asked me to work as his assistant which I did for two years. I learned about the business of art and improved my skills along the way. Since then I have illustrated book and album covers, painted editorial pieces for magazines and products. When I moved to Florida years later, I worked as a scenic painter at Disney and Universal Studios for 11 years until the toxicity of some of the materials and construction environments affected my health. Most people have no idea what it takes to create these massive entertainment parks from the ground up.. it was exciting though and I learned a lot!
After surviving not one but TWO near-death experiences from severe asthma attacks, I knew I couldn’t go back to that industry so I turned my focus to fine art oil painting which was always my first love. Some of my favorite things to paint are Soul Portraits of my clients where I channel the essence of who they are and bring it to life on canvas. I also enjoy creating Goddess imagery and odes to the spirit of Gaia as subjects. It’s been a struggle at times making a living solely from my art after my ‘rebirth’ and making a move to Georgia where I currently reside but I’m still here on the planet working, playing and exploring my creativity in one form or another on a daily basis.
I have recently paired with a NY designer who creates elegant one of a kind handbags from wood and leather which will feature my artwork. It’s a new collaboration I’m pretty excited about! Our brand is building but for now you can view samples of her work at www.KemasKreations.squarespace.com and www.ShopKema.com. Of course I also invite you to view my site www.StarchildArtbyToniTaylor.com.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it has definitely not been a smooth road. In my prior response, I mentioned how working in the scenic industry was deleterious to my health in a major way. I made a decent salary for very laborious work but it wasn’t worth nearly dying for. Rebooting myself by focusing on fine art after moving to unfamiliar territory has had its challenges as well. Unfortunately I don’t quite live in an area that thrives with culture but thankfully Fedex and USPS work great and my customer base is growing both within and beyond GA borders. I love creating Fantasy and Visionary Art and I’m grateful these genres are gaining more appreciation while breaking boundaries of the tried and true. I’d like to believe my art will leave its mark with those who resonate when I’m long gone!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a full-time artist who works with oils, graphite and charcoal as my primary mediums. I also enjoy creating mixed media pieces integrating paint, wood, copper wire and other natural elements to create one of a kind works of art. I am known for painting realistic portraits in a unique way, what I call Soul Portraits. I’m proud that I continue to follow my path as an artist and not giving up even when going through difficult times. We are all unique, sovereign individuals with our own stories to tell. I’m glad I’m still here to tell mine through my own artistic voice. You’ll see in my site and social media addresses that I use the name Starchild Art. I’d like to share that I adopted the tag ‘Starchild’ many years ago from the song by Level 42 as I felt that I could relate to the lyrics. I have a great appreciation for metaphysics, cosmology and astronomy so if it’s cosmic, it has my attention! Here is a portion:
‘Way up high above the sky all that beauty passes by, whole worlds still unknown.. and out beyond the blue there’s a place for people too, it’s time for us to go. We have time (In my dreams), time and space while we’re young (Floating free) we can chase the stars. Searching for the magic in the universe guided by the stars that light my way, I have seen the sun shine bright in paradise. I am just a Starchild born in space. If you want to go with me I’ll take you there, I’ve been shown these secrets face to face. I have seen the sun shine bright in paradise. I am just a Starchild born in space.’
We are all born from the stars and to the stars we shall return!
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I’d like to give credit to my Mom, Grandparents and other ancestors who have ascended for they were my first and most enthusiastic cheerleaders. I’ve been in the professional realm since 1985, the year I was commissioned to do my 1st cover for Heavy Metal Magazine and I remain thankful to them for the opportunity. I was the 1st woman of color to paint a cover for them (two covers actually) and I’m pretty proud of that! There have been so many people along the way who offered encouragement, positive critique and patronage to keep me going.. friends, family, clients, perfect strangers… I cannot begin to name each one but I offer gratitude to all of them in my heart for being a part of my journey!
Pricing:
- My original oil paintings generally range from $500 to $5000 depending upon size and complexity.
- Graphite and charcoal drawings start at $300 and up depending upon size and complexity.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.StarchildArtbyToniTaylor.com
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/StarchildArtbyToniTaylor
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/StarchildArtbyToniTaylor
Image Credits
All photos by Toni Taylor, the artist
