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Todd' paintings are
captivating, demanding a second look, often invoking humour or
thoughts of familiar feelings-- “I've been there, I know them.”
Above all the work is infectious and has caught the attention of
the public (Galleries cannot keep enough of Todd's work in
stock) as well as celebrities (Vin Diesel, Hugh Hefner, Macauley
Culkin, Eric McCormack, Ryan Stiles and Joe Roggin are
collectors of Todds oil paintings). But who is the artist behind
the art and where did his unique style come from?
Todd began in at Warner Brothers Studios while working on the
popular series, Tiny Toons. Through character clean-up and
development, Todd began to forge his own artistic style. Shortly
thereafter, Todd became part of the lead animation team for the
internationally renowned cartoon, Sponge Bob Square Pants. Over
the next three years, Todd sharpened his eye in storyboarding,
illustration and character design.
Throughout this period, Todd privately experimented with style
and concept, eventually arriving at a process which guides him
through every piece. The impact is apparent in his paintings;
Todd's rat-pack meets Picasso style results, in part, from his
desire to reveal his characters' innermost thoughts and emotions
on their faces. Todd likens his portraits to his favourite
episode of the "Twilight Zone" in which people wore asks that
later became their faces and revealed who they truly were.
Fast forward ten
years later, and until Todd can conceptually see the story in
his head, he refuses to paint a single signature knuckle curled
around one of his famous martinis. “I
actually name my pieces first and then visualise each face and
its personality. Then I develop each person's story."
The stark, unblemished delivery of his subjects is very much
intended: “Whatever isn't necessary to the story, isn't on my
canvas. I don't waste alot of time with backgrounds because they
don't interest me. They aren't necessary. Instead I focus on
what is essential. For example, the hands.”
Hands are a focal point for Todd, reflecting the subjects state
of mind as much as any body language or facial expression.
“Everyones hands are full of personality” he surmises. “Take Al
Pacino. Without his hands he's not nearly as interesting to
watch.”
In addition to more obvious influences, such as Austrian
Expressionist Egon Schiele, Todd credits Frank Sinatra, Audrey
Hepburn, Bridget Bardot, Nat King Cole and the style and feel of
"the age of cool".
However, Todd's flirtation with the "Cool Cats" begins and ends
on the canvas. On any given afternoon, you'll find Todd's paint
stained hands not reaching for a fresh cigarette or a third
martini, (Todd doesn't smoke and rarely drinks anything stronger
than iced tea), but rather scooping trail mix to feed wild
rabbits or throwing a well worn rubber ball for his dogs.
Todd keeps his afternoons free because of the one trait he has
in common with Ol' Blue Eyes: Todd feels he does his best work
"in the wee small hours of the morning".
Todd resides in Southern California, with his dogs, Katie and
Brittany . . . and a few local rabbits.
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