Todd L.W. Doney
Todd's L. W. Doney’s gallery work includes one person shows at the Morris Museum in Morristown, NJ., Broadfoot & Broadfoot, Soho, NY, Gallery MacEgan, Morristown, NJ, the College of Saint Elizabeth, Morristown, NJ, New Jersey City University, and at the Brickton Art Gallery, Park Ridge, Illinois. His paintings have also been exhibited at the Paterson Museum in Paterson, NJ, The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, The Arts for the Parks National Competition in Wyoming, and the Society of Illustrators Annual Exhibitions in New York among others. Currently, Todd's work is being represented by Broadfoot & Broadfoot in Soho, NY and Boonton, NJ. His works are in public and private collections worldwide, including the Morris Museum, US Golf Museum, and in the collection of comic icon, Joe Kubert. Todd received his M.F.A. in Painting from New Jersey City University. Currently, he is an associate professor of art at the County College of Morris in Randolph, NJ, where he teaches drawing, painting, and foundation classes. Prior to that, he has held positions at New Jersey City University, Seton Hall University, The College of Saint Elizabeth and the American Academy of Art in Chicago.
Q&A
Q: What town do you live in?
A: Gillette, NJ.
Q: Where is your studio/place of work?
A: My studio is in my house.
Q: What is your art background/education/
training?
A: I graduated from the American Academy of Art in Chicago (where I am from) and started my career as an illustrator. After many years of illustrating, I made a switch to Gallery work and teaching. I teach Art at County College of Morris and my artwork is being represented by Broadfoot & Broadfoot located in Boonton, NJ.
Q: How do you balance your time in the studio/in the workplace with other commitments?
A: I just do. When I need to paint, I paint.
Q: Has your practice changed over time? Why/How?
A: Of course, the change from being an illustrator to that of a gallery artist is considerable. The actual process of applying paint to canvas is similar, but choosing the subject was very different. Going from creating art for an editor and creating art for myself was very liberating.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: A few new paintings for my Boonton Gallery.
Q: What is your favorite thing about being in the arts? Least favorite?
A: My favorite thing about being in the arts is that I have a job that I love. Even when I’m involved with painting an image that I might not be thrilled with, a commission for instance, I’m still painting, and painting is great fun for me. My Least favorite thing is that Art is a tough occupation. It is very hard to make a living from just painting.
Q: What inspires you? Who are your favorite artists/ artworks? Favorite museum/ gallery (outside of Morris County)
A: Some of my favorite artists are George Inness, John Singer Sargent, Claude Monet, John Henry Twachtman, John William Waterhouse, Edwin Austin Abbey and illustrators Mark English and Bernie Fuchs. Just looking at art from any of these artists makes me want to paint.
Q: What are a few of your big artistic career goals? What is your dream project?
A: A few years ago, I had a solo exhibit at the Morris Museum. I would love to do that again. Maybe even at a bigger museum.
Q: How do you stay connected and up to date with the art world?
A: I am always looking at art – in person view art in galleries and museums and online, I like to see what paintings have sold at auction or who is making noise at the art biennials
Q: When you are working through problems in your arts practice, who do you talk to? What is the best piece of advice you've been given? What advice do you have to give other artists?
A: Usually my wife. She is also an artist. If she doesn’t like something in a painting, she will let me know. Then we argue about it, but she is usually correct.
Q: What memorable responses have you had to your work?
A: Oh, I don’t know. If you hear of something, let me know.
Q: Do you have any exhibitions/events/
performances coming up?
A: Broadfoot & Broadfoot gallery has a few of my paintings on location and I am scheduled for an exhibit soon, but we don’t have exact dates yet. Also, my work can be seen on my Web Site – www.todddoney.com
Q: Where is your favorite place to find visual arts in Morris County?
A: Broadfoot & Broadfoot Gallery, County College of Morris’ Art & Design Gallery and the Morris Museum.
Q: What do you want others to know about your art practice/artistic themes/stylistic choices/materials you use?
A: I consider myself to be a neo-impressionist/neo-realist. My work looks representational from a distance, but up close, the brush strokes are clearly visible showing the process. For my gallery work, I use oil on linen. However, I love many different media. My teaching demos include watercolor, pastels, colored pencil, charcoal, and gouache.
Lightning Round
Q: What was the weirdest/worst “survival” job you ever had?
A: Cleaning the drains in a butcher department of a grocery store. Not fun.
Q: What is the perfect food?
A: Chicago Style Pizza!
Q: As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: An artist or a baseball player.
Q: What is your most treasured possession?
A: Original paintings by illustrator Bob Peak and Watercolorist Irving Shapiro.
Q: Are you an early bird or night owl?
A: I used to be a night owl and I was never an early bird. So now, I think I’m a day guy.
Q: What place would you like to visit?
A: The countryside of Ireland. But it would be nice to see Venice again.
Q: What superpower would you have and why?
A: To fly. Then I wouldn’t be so nervous being on a plane.