Toyin and Pavel

Written by Saturday studio volunteer, Pavel

You would struggle to find an artist as hard working and passionate about producing art as Toyin, who I have been working with over the past few months. Her signature style involves using gel pens to create an array of pieces, many of which are influenced by African masks. Toyin’s work pays tribute to various cultures from the round the globe, both past and present. Her regular trips to the British Museum have no doubt played their part. What I love about Toyin is that she never struggles to find the inspiration. As everyone at Artbox knows, Toyin is on track to producing a thousand pieces of work!

Last term Toyin branched out from her distinctive style and tried some new techniques. I particularly loved her monochromatic portrait inspired by a workshop run by fellow volunteer Jake (number one). Toyin and I have also had fun challenging each other to do a piece of art using each other’s preferred mediums. Toyin took up watercolours and I gave the gel pens a go for the first time. We both enjoyed the experience of trying something new and it made me appreciate what Toyin does in a whole new light.  That is what Artbox is all about - artists and volunteers challenging and inspiring each other to explore new ideas and techniques.

Toyin's monochrome portrait