Toni Danchik Artist |
Toni was born in 1961 and lived in South Africa until 1994. The desire to create was there since early childhood. She had the opportunity to study her BA Fine Art at WITS University in South Africa. After two years she switched to the Johannesburg Technical College where she majored in Printmaking.
After college, Toni worked at a graphic design agency as an account manager. This lead to a position as an in-house graphic artist for a non-profit organization where she spent the next ten years buying print, designing catalogs and record sleeves, planning advertising campaigns and running their in-house newspaper and monthly newsletters. During these years the desire to be an oil painter was always nagging in her subconscious.
It was only after moving to the United States in 1994 that the artist within was able to emerge. She started off taking a few watercolor classes, knowing that working in oils would eventually be her medium of choice. She eventually enrolled in a class at Coastline College under the tutelage of Chris Gwaltney. There she learned about the East Bay artists like Diebenkorn, Hopper and others. Chris gave her a good foundation in color theory and design. Several years later she was introduced to Ruth Hollis, who taught her figure drawing. Meeting Jove Wang was the major turning point in her career. He was able to unlock the true artist in her by teaching her certain procedures and techniques. He laid a solid foundation in composition, rhythm, color harmony, warm and cool color values, how to mix and master her grays and to trust her first instincts and feeling while she is painting. He also taught her how to paint the human form and to look for the underlying structure of the figure and not to just “paint the light”. She truly considers Jove to be her mentor and teacher. Toni was fortunate to go with Jove Wang who led a group of artists to Russia on a Painting Workshop in St. Petersburg and Moscow during 2003. Toni was greatly influenced by the work she saw in the Russian State Museum, Repin’s Studio, The Hermitage, Tretyakov Gallery and the Academia. In 2005 she had the privilege of attending a 15 day intense workshop with Jove Wang at his private studio in Jillin, China. She is constantly honing her skills by taking drawing and painting classes and workshops with accomplished artists.
Artist Statement |
I enjoy a sense of spontaneity and looseness in my work and still maintain a respect for accuracy and honesty to the subject matter. I love to explore the versatility that the medium of oil painting offers through expressive brushwork and sound design.
Memberships/Associations |
Oil Painters of America (OPA)
California Art Club (CAC)
Southern California Plein Air Painters Association (SOCALPAPA)
Competitions & Shows |
2005 Juried into the OPA Fourteenth Annual National Juried exhibition of Traditional Oils, Chicago
2006 Juried into the OPA Fifteenth Annual National Juried exhibition of Traditional Oils, Montana
2008 Zonta of Newport Harbor Invitational Exhibit, Newport Beach
2008 OC Magazine Arthouse, Ladera Ranch
2009 Mission San Juan Capistrano
2009 Paint San Clemente
Gallery Representation |
Studio 7 Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
Charity |
Toni and her husband, Paul have a heart for the HIV/AIDS orphans in South Africa and are very involved with Acres of Love (www.acresoflove.org), an organization that rescues these abandoned children and gives them a home and hope for the future.
