Today’s Artist Interview Is With Toyism From Emmen, Kolhoopstraat, Holland.

Whopple:  How long have you been an artist?
Toyism: When I was three years old I knew I would be an artist. I drew my first comic book when I was 5.

Whopple:  Tell us about your first attempts to be creative.
Toyism: As long I can remember I drew. Drawing is something I grew up with but it took many years to practice, to become an artist. On the Art Academy I learned a lot about the past – different styles and their specific features – and technical aspects like color balance and contrast, depth and composition.

After my study in 1990 I started my own Gallery at Gallery Dejo, showing and selling art of different artists. On September 5 in 1992 I wrote the manifesto for Toyism and on February 24th 1993, the Toyism art movement was first introduced to the Dutch public. With the introduction of Toyism, the initiators reinstated structure in the art world, long dominated by individualism which had already celebrated its heyday for many years.

The manifesto has however been rewritten in 2001, making it more accessible for other artists to join.

Whopple:  Do you make a living with your art?
Toyism: Yes, we are selling Toyism pieces worldwide and make a living from it. Our prices (in Euro’s) are consistent no matter where we sell the art. I believe that prices should be the same if the collector is buying from the artist or the gallery. That’s the only way it works for us. We do not make a lot of paintings a year, because of the simple fact that each painting (for example – size 40 x 40 inches or bigger) takes at least one month to finish.

Whopple:  How many hours a day do you create?
Toyism: Creating never stops. It’s like the oxygen in your blood. It’s always there and it keeps you alive. Besides being an artist, it takes me a lot of time to manage things as well, but I enjoy that. In the past I worked as a Financial Advisor in a bank for some years, so that helps me a lot doing business

Whopple:  How did you pick your creative medium?
Toyism: It’s by natural course. From drawing to painting is a logical step. Though I am not just only a painter. I like to work in other disciplines as well as sculpturing, writing, and making music.

Whopple:  What are your inspirations?
Toyism: Everything around us, can be worthwhile painting. I just pick the things who interests me which can be almost anything. I consider the world to be my Oyster, all in a small shell just ready to be explored.

Whopple:  How do you recharge when your creativity hits the wall?
Toyism: I do not know about having painter’s block, because I work on public relations and marketing for the movement as well. This keeps me focused and gives me a lot other opportunities, getting inspired by other people and their vision. As an artist you’re always alone, almost stuffed in your studio. I like to meet other people, talk about mutual and all kind of things, learn and absorb, enjoy. For me as being an artist is having the greatest “job” there is, having the absolute freedom of spirit and mind.

Whopple:  What was your first job?
Toyism: My first job was selling mortgages at the bank, it paid the bills but it took a lot of energy as well. After working for several years in finance I quite my job and went on a world trip for 6 month, traveling trough Russia – China – Vietnam – Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. This was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Whopple:  What are your favorite snacks when you are creating?
Toyism: I drink a lot of coffee, just eat whole meal bread and fruit when creating, like orange or kiwi fruit. Sorry, nothing interesting actually

Whopple:  What gives you hope in the world?
Toyism: Hope is the positive feeling that can be turn out for the best. For many people hope is all they got. Life is certainly unfair. I am a positive thinker. I try to enjoy every day. One should choose to feel good about life and make the most of it but it’s easy to say, I know…..

Whopple:  What do you wish you could do?
Toyism: If I had the ability to change the world I would say nobody should starve to death. The physiological needs should be obvious for human survival. For anyone in this world!

Whopple:  What are your artistic goals?
Toyism: Our artistic goal is becoming known as a movement in art where the Ego is less important. Toyist art reveals a strong consciousness of not only the issues that globally afflict our times, but also the joy we experience in life. From ecology and environmental pollution to our love of the earth and animals From conflicts of war, yet the hope for world peace From the inner struggles of the individual to the quest for self-improvement.

These contrasts are expressed through symbols, vivid colors, and meticulous detail. Toyism clearly places itself against the Ego that our society has over-developed. This is also the reason why all the Toyist artists paint under a pseudonym; we appear as anonymous, yet are part of the whole of  Toyism, which we represent through our paintings, and the cartoon-type figures we typify.

The Toyism movement is certainly open to new artists and will be limited to 26 before no more pseudonyms can be assumed.

If we can make a small contribution in art, that would be just great!

Whopple:  What has been your most exciting moment as an artist?
Toyism: The transformation of the 22-meter high GAS GLOBE (called The Dot) in Emmen, Netherlands into a large work of art is by far the most interesting and challenging thing I did and still do actually. Toyist artists from within and foreign countries will manage the tough job till May this year. A unique work of art with a theme of “live with energy” – Of fossil fuels and oil to the possibilities that lie within the future of the territory of sun, wind and water. The revelation will be on June 4 2010, it’s nice of not knowing what will happen next.

To See More Artwork By Toyism Pleas Visit The Following:

Toyism.com

These Interviews With Artists Are Copyrighted To Whopple.com

Classifications:  Toyism, Toyisme

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