By Kelly Carmody
AT the youthful age of just 16, Tony Nardella’s love of all things art flourished into something he could not contain; he describes the feeling as an ‘art addiction’, and that when painting, he can easily lose track of time and feels as if he is in heaven.
July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong was the first man to step on the moon and just three days after watching this event on TV, Tony’s first piece of artwork was created. The piece is called The Surface of The Moon and it depicts the way he envisioned the moon to look.
In Tony’s earlier years as an artist, he used mostly acrylic and oil products, fast forward 53 years and he is now one of the only alcohol ink painters in our region, and his vibrant colour explosions of work are truly remarkable.
Paintings using alcohol inks, showing different techniques is a tricky art form, and Tony said it took him about three years to perfect.
“I almost gave up, being self-trained meant my work was a bit hit and miss but then suddenly, I developed a style and before I knew it my wife Jeanetta was telling me to create a business and head to the markets, so I did,” said Tony.
Tootsie Art, named after Tony’s school nickname, now can be found at the Tocumwal and Girgarre markets on a regular basis where an impressive selection of his fine art, where no piece is the same, can be purchased at a very affordable price.
Tony also creates commission pieces and can be contacted via phone on 0448 210 909 for all enquiries and for home viewings. To view more of Tony’s unique, vibrant, and absolutely stunning artwork, head to his Facebook page ‘Tootsie Art.’
