Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Fischer-Tonks.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Christine, and I am an “out-of-the-box” multimedia artist in Central Florida who expresses, explores, and embodies the wonderfulness of life through my artwork. My mission with my art is to spread smiles on the faces of others.
Since I was young, I always wanted to be an artist. I was encouraged to “get a real job” first and then do art on the side. I got the “real job”, but, sadly, never got around to doing art. About 15 years ago, I came home to raise my kiddos and started homeschooling them. My kids are probably the biggest reason I finally got back into art a little over four years ago. My kids started asking what I wanted to be when I grew up, and when I told them, they asked why I never pursued art. They also wanted to start doing more “real art” in our homeschool instead of the cute kiddie crafts. I tried my hand at painting on my own at home, and then my husband encouraged me to take a class here in town. My teacher has pushed me out of my comfort zone and into many different mediums, styles, and subjects.
I have only been back doing art for a short while, but I am absolutely loving doing it again, it is my release. It is my therapy. Some days it is even my sanity. Which medium or style or subject I choose usually depends on my mood, but I love switching things up, constantly learning and playing as I create.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
While I would not say that creating art has been rough, there are always struggles in life I suppose. One of the biggest obstacles seems to be having the time to paint or draw while staying balanced with the rest of life. Pushing through creatively during the craziness of 2020 and 2021 was tough at times, too. But, overall, I feel those struggles have made me stronger and deepened my commitment to creating and hopefully sharing some smiles with my work.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
One thing that sets me apart from other artists would be my inability to be “boxed” into a specific medium, style, or subject. I know most artists have a specific niche, but I just love playing around with so many different mediums and styles, it is tough for me to choose just one. Some of my favorite paintings are done with palette knives. I love the expressive vibe and the amazing texture that comes from palette knives. I also love using watercolors for many of the same reasons – they are so fun and loose and tough to control at times. I feel these mediums challenge me as an artist.
Recently, I started sculpting with air-dry clay. I have been creating gnomes which has just been so much fun. I enjoy the whimsical, playful feel to them. They put a smile on my face every time, and I love hearing that they put smiles on the faces of others, too.
So maybe we end by discussing what matters most to you and why?
In the list of things that matter most to me, family would certainly come first, followed by my close friends – which is just kind of an extension of my family. They ground me and remind me what unconditional love is. Their love, support, and encouragement has meant so much in this journey of life, as well as this creative adventure I have found myself on. I love their feedback. And I love when I hear that something I create puts a smile on their face.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fischertonksart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinemfischertonks/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christinemfischertonks
Image Credits
James Cole
