What got me started -

My elementary school art teacher Ms. Marie Goss (R.I.P.) convinced my parents to allow me to participate in professional life drawing classes with adults at the Delaware Art Museum school in the affluent section of my hometown. She recognized my artistic spirit and exposed me to art museums, the Renaissance, African Art & so, so much more.

"Artoni's art is like Visual Music"

Artoni understands the dynamics of color theory & how certain colors correspond to musical notes and applies those principles throughout his artworks.

Artoni has conducted successful painting and drawing workshops in Central America for the Instituto Nacional de Cultura (INAC) in Panamá City, Colon City, and David, Chiriqui in the Republic of Panamá.

He has exhibited at the University of Delaware, Cordoza Law School, Yeshiva University, NYC and internationally at the University of Panamá, Instituto Nacional de Cultura, David Chiriqui, Colon, Panamá City, Republic of Panamá to name a few.

His work is in the private collections of the Schomburg Museum in New York City, Naturhistorisches Museum Wien(Vienna), Jean-Michel Basquiat, Will Downing, Nancy Wilson, Dr. Lenetta R. Lee, R. Errol Ger, MD, Lula Cooper, George Duke, Kendall Minter, Maurice White, T. C. Thompkins, Nicole Fortune-Seaforth, Varnette Honeywood, Danette Boone, Ed. D., Gary Bartz, Diane Reeves, CBS/Epic Records, Michael Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Elaine Valentine, Mtume, Diane Stout and many others throughout the USA, Central America, the United Kingdom, Australia, Istanbul Turkey, Japan, and Ghana West Africa.

Creating art is all about locking into and respecting a spiritual relationship with a higher Power.

My ideas come from dreams, visions, daily life and sometimes from Pop culture. Through my use of design and color theory - I enable the viewer to experience a unique perspective of the life Journey.

Painting on canvas and linen with oils generates the greatest joy for me. It’s actually on the same fulfillment level as great sex. It has its beginnings in my early childhood when I was first introduced to the medium and began developing a process for creating.

I was one of those fearlessly artistic kids from the inner-city, that had an amazing visionary public school art teacher who decided that I should be bused to a local private art museum school two(2) days a week for exposure/development. Around the age of 8, I was the only child getting on & off of a big yellow school bus to participate in adult life drawing classes.

Using charcoal, kneaded eraser and a rather large newsprint pad - I was tasked with capturing the beauty of a fully nude voluptuous woman. When I share that bit of my history with people they find it hard to believe, but it is true. I was also the only person of color in the classes also.

To me my work looked like every other student’s, but to the professor and the other students - it was exceptional work indeed. When I look back on that period of my development, it feels like it was all just a fantasy.

Honestly, I never really know what my creations will look like. My creative process encourages constant invention and discovery. Many times I start off with one idea and during development ideas surface that yield a greater clarity of expression.

Being introduced to some of the old masters like Salvador Dali, Abdul Mati Klarwein, Michaelagelo, Rubens, Rudolf Hausner & Picasso early on - continue to fuel my aspirations.