toni-taylor

The Fantasy Art of Toni L. Taylor

“If you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Wherever you are, if you are following your bliss, you are enjoying that refreshment, that life within you all the time.” ~ Joseph Campbell

Toni L. Taylor is an example of one who follows her bliss. From the time she was a young child, she was aware of what brought her joy and contentment…her art. Born in New York, November 26, 1958, with certain health challenges, Toni had to be isolated quite a bit so as not to aggravate her sensitive system. Time spent alone never bothered her because crayons, pastels and paint were her constant companions. Her budding talent was evident at an early age and was encouraged by her family as well as her pediatrician. Over the years, Toni’s health improved greatly along with her artistic expression. Having had no formal training, she readily acknowledges the foundation of her gift as a blessing from God-dess/The Universe. Studying the works of other artists in addition to much trial and error ~ a continual process ~ helped to hone her skill to the level it is today. Her work has been sought after by various clients such as Miller Brewing Company, MBI-Easton Press, Heavy Metal Magazine, Marvel Comics, U.S. Games, Polygram, RCA and Island Records to name a few as well as private collectors. She has also worked as a scenic artist on projects such as Disney's Fantasyland and Art of Animation Resort, Creative Kingdom's Magic Quest , The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios.
Being a very spiritual woman, Toni is moved to create images that go beyond reality as we normally perceive it to the worlds of fantasy and mysticism. She feels an especially powerful kinship with the mysteries of Ancient Egypt as well as the spirit of Native America. Her fine oil paintings are inspired by her beliefs, desires and inner visions. Always attracted to the unusual, her subjects will range from Angels, whom she deeply believes in, to Dragons…and she will be quick to tell you her beloved Dragons are benevolent and wise, as are the rest of her characters. Toni has a special penchant for Goddess imagery which she attributes to being raised by strong, positive women… her Mother, Grandmother and Sister. One cannot help but notice this energy is infused in her own personality as well.

Bill Moyers asked of Joseph Campbell, a scholar, writer and the preeminent authority on mythology before his passing, “Who interprets the divinity in nature for us today? Who are our shamans? Who interprets unseen things for us?”
Campbell replied, “It is the function of the artist to do this. The artist is the one who communicates myth for today.”