Umbrella Fall/Winter 2020

Page 22

Layering passion into his paintings

Fine Arts

By Janet Jarrell

R ober t

Tokley was born in

Bannockburn, Ont. in the back seat of his parents Pontiac. As a toddler, he put that same car into gear, fell out of it and ran over himself. His childhood growing up in the small old mining town of Madoc, Ont., is riddled with adventures, accidents and near death mishaps that are almost unbelievable until you talk to his mother. Every time Tokley found himself recuperating, he turned to art; his recovery time was spent drawing and painting. Tokley can tell you about his many adventures, and from each one of them come new excitement, inspiration and a renewed desire to create. After high school, his adventures led him west to Alberta where he spent time working in the oil fields. “While working in the oil sands, I entered a logo contest for the company I was working for and took second place, ultimately changing my views on my ability to convey and express my talent in art,” says Tokley. Then he was injured on the job. He found himself out of work, out of money and homeless, living out of his car and subject to the violence, drugs and alcohol that accompanies life on the streets. “I got back into art, donating a painting of an Adirondack chair for a charity auction. Then a 12′x12′ mural for a non-profit organization who provided housing and support for men with addictions,” says Tokley. Eventually he headed home to Ontario, and spent his recovery time painting. Umbrella, Fall / Winter, 2020 - 20


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