Michael Toti

Artist Statement

Michael Toti
13 Cliff Drive, Avon, CT 06001
[email protected]
860.519.3107

BFA, Swain School of Design, New Bedford, Massachusetts
MFA, Washington University, Saint Louis, Missouri
Adjunct professor of Graphic Design, Manchester Community College
My training began in studio arts at Swain, where I learned drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, and sculpture. I chose a graphic arts major at Washington
University and after graduation worked as a staff and freelance graphic designer in
St. Louis and Hartford, Connecticut. After 35 years as a designer, my focus is now on teaching at MCC and creating art in my home studio.
I approach my work as an artist with a designers eye for detail, intercises, compostion, and interaction.
One of the things I like about collage is the ability to combine images and developing a new interpretation of the orginal form.
Color, texture, pattern, illusion of depth and humor all play a part in my work.
That seems to be the only constant as my work continues to explore different collage and multi media techniques.
For me, the process is about searching, looking at image after image and trying to find the connections between one image and the other. Sometimes there is an epiphany but most times it simply involves time and work to find the right parts to fulfill the vision in my head.