ARTIST FEATURE TODD WHITE

Todd White was born in Texas in 1969. As the son of an artist, he admits, “I can honestly say, it’s all I’ve ever done. I grew up in a painter’s household. The earliest memories when I think of my mom, is a darkened room with a lamp that she used to paint by… and I would wake up, and my mom would be painting in the mornings.” His artistic talents flourished into a career as a Hollywood animator, most notably as lead of the character development team for SpongeBob SquarePants. The cartoon sensation hit in 1999 and still continues to air new episodes on Nickelodeon. It is with this foundation that the artist evolved and refined his signature style. White’s transition into fine art has catapulted him into the spotlight, prompting gallery representation throughout the United States and international exhibitions in the United Kingdom and Canada. “I have so much respect for creators, builders, and people who create something from nothing,” states White. He studies body language—hand gestures, postures, facial expressions. The artist replicates the physical interactions between characters, subsequently developing a complete story within his own composition. His subject matter often reveals the way that people express intimacy and attraction, both in what they attempt to promote as well as what they wish to hide. Sometimes a simple flick of a cigarette, the delicately balanced martini glass, or hastily applied lipstick give away more than any word or look. Todd White’s paintings attract many notable collectors, including Sylvester Stallone, Joe Rogan, and Vin Diesel. He was selected from a competitive process as the Official Artist for the 2007GRAMMY® awards, and collaborated with both Warner Bros. and Coca Cola on special projects. In 2011, Todd White donated a portrait of Princess Diana to the Diana Awards charity, and consequently received the Diana Princess of Wales Gold Medal. White is the sole American recipient of the award. White has announced several projects in the works, including a new sculpture and fine art paintings to be released. He also founded a charity, The Todd White Art Project, which continues to lay dear to his heart. Each donation benefits public school students across the United States by providing classrooms with a year’s stock of art supplies. “Supporting arts just isn’t about supporting an artist. It isn’t about supporting someone who’s going to paint, sculpt, draw,” explains White. “It’s about supporting creativity.” Knowing that all that children need is a little encouragement and the right environment in which to let their inherent creativity take flight, White’s goal is to simply give children “the tools to be creative”. To learn more about the Todd White Art Project or to donate to the cause, visit www.artofwhite.com.

“Whenever I sit down to bring one of my paintings to life, or when I want to get the idea out of my head, and I sit down and I start drawing on that canvas, my thinking is,‘this is going to be the greatest painting that has ever been painted.’”

Top Right: “Intoxication at the Flower Lounge” Fine Art Limited Edition 31” x 22.75”

Right: “Craving For You” Fine Art Limited Edition, 16” x 28”

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