We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Trevor Toney a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Trevor, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I think this is a really interesting and broad question that can mean different things to different people. For me, the meaning of “finding your purpose” has changed greatly over time and has taken most of my life to “figure out”. I used to think my purpose needed to be some lofty ideal that expressed itself though great change or impact, but this always felt daunting and contrived. As I became older I started to focus on where I wanted to be in life and what I wanted to do with my numbered days. Once I found what I currently do, I realized that you can’t search for purpose. It was then that I understood your purpose is always lying dormant waiting to exist once you do something that exposes the best version of yourself. It doesn’t matter what that something is as long as it’s an extension of yourself and makes you the best “you”. I believe this is when you’ve found or more accurately uncovered your purpose.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a visual artist making wall hung and free standing sculpture and paintings made from plywood, wood veneer and acrylic paint. My work varies in terms of visual complexity but leans towards the minimal. I use wood grain, object shape and color to express my ideas and enjoy the specific physical parameters of my chosen mediums. I respect wood and always use ethically sourced and sustainable materials in my art. My work is very process driven and I try to experiment with some aspect of my work with every new piece. My objects are unique because they blur the line between art and craft. My processes are pulled directly from the craft of furniture making (plywood construction and marquetry) but are paired with fine painting techniques and sensibilities. I enjoy playing with formal aspects to create visual interest but also like to create seemingly simple compositions that play with illusion and perspective. I’ve recently received a material needs grant to make three 6 foot sculptures incorporating more complex furniture making skills utilizing methods to minimize material waste. The three pieces will have similar themes as my smaller work but will add the problems inherent with a larger scale format. I’ve been busy designing and problem solving for the deadline of Fall 2024.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think the three most impactful qualities are honesty, persistence, and independence. You need to be honest with yourself. If you really want to succeed at something and you know deep down that it is the truth, you’re already half way there. If you’re kidding yourself, you’ll fold as soon as things get challenging. I think persistence is also really important, but it will come naturally if you were honest with yourself to begin with. Once you know you truly want something then you will keep trying until it becomes a reality. And the last quality that I think is really important is independence. If you’re trying something new or different, it’s probably new and different to those around you. And there are probably going to be a bunch of opinions, some good, some bad. Have the independence to think for yourself. You are the only one who knows what you honestly want and although you might get help along the way, it is ultimately your own journey.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching has played a huge role in my development. I like it’s simple practicality and profound vastness. There are countless lessons but the three that have impacted my work and life recently are clear. The first is the concept of non-action action. I believe this to mean not to force things. A simple example would be choosing colors to paint on my wood objects. I try to find colors that interact with the colors in the wood, instead of using colors that really don’t have any connection to the the natural material. The second bit of wisdom that I’ve gleaned is to approach every task as a series of smaller tasks. Once you take the time to do this, each smaller task becomes manageable and if not, make each of those a series of even smaller tasks. And the last is somewhat tied to the former. Every journey starts with a single step. Or even more plainly, just start. Sometimes I don’t know how to proceed on a new piece or I’m less than inspired to get to work. The first thing I do when I feel this way is to go into my studio and start doing something. It usually doesn’t matter what I start to do, but just getting in there always leads me to working on the thing that was preventing me from progressing. Lao-Tzu shares credit for this one with my wife. He might have written it first but she taught me this before I ever read the Tao Te Ching.
Contact Info:
- Website: TrevorToney.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TrevorToneyinColor
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TTFurniture
