ART OF HOPE, INC.
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA

 shows that we all have the chance and same Ability to Give and Offer others help, Tony wishes that the word “My desire and hope is to earn my own way through life, with whatever abilities and talents God has given me.  During my preteen years, I noticed how my brothers and sister had to earn their own personal money for things like movies, games, fast food etc...  By mowing yards or babysitting.  Our parents taught us a strong work ethic from early childhood.  They had an impact on my longing to earn my own way through Life.  Obviously, I could not earn money doing the same thing as my siblings and friends, so my search for jobs that I was capable of doing, began. 1974 proved to be a pivotal year in Tony’s life.  While he noticed, his brothers and sisters were establishing their futures and careers.  He couldn’t help but observe how many other disabled people were struggling and some to the point of giving up!  Seeing how society leaves little alternatives for Independent living, for those lacking a strong spirit and voice.  This was Tony’s first reality check about the real world.  It deepened a desire to have some kind of stable career that would give him as much freedom from our great country’s government assistance program as possible. (Yes, even with all the imperfections and problems this country has, I feel that the U.S.A. is still the greatest country in the world.)    His quest and lifelong Goal for independence began, Tony became one of the first quadriplegics ever attend mainstream public school.  This challenge was necessary for his development in society with the public along with furthering his education.  While at Paxon Jr high school, Tony made its first sale, there was an exquisite detail pencil drawing of a Seminole Indian head which sold for $50, this was equal to his brothers mowing at least 10 yards, this dates back when there weren’t any self-propelled mowers.  So a so a career was born. Soon his art was selling and competing successfully in many fine art shows, where even the judges and purchasers had no idea of his physical impairments. Whenever possible he would try to adapt things to make himself more independent to always get closer to things he wanted to do his way.  Tony adapted a 35mm camera so that he could take pictures on his own, just sometimes help changing the film.  Now in this digital age changing memory cards are less frequent but still needing some help. Constantly searching for ways to express his life experiences he paints and draws endlessly usually from his own photographs and memories, like those fishing adventures were composed into elaborate detailed drawings one of them was called The Fishing Story, one of his first serious major undertaking, with well over 240 hours bent over a drawing table constantly drawing and erasing and making thousands of adjustments in shading and composition until Tony felt it was  Right.  It’s important to Tony to capture the pictures as his majoring in fine arts, gave Tony a higher education with experience, practice, and confidence in his increasing abilities.  He will always have special memories of the great instructors from the University.  Finishing college with a degree in fine art and wanting to eventually teach art is a lifelong goal of Tony’s, but even with plenty of tuition funds there wasn’t nearly enough money to live on while attending college.  So, the only way Tony believed he could be independent, with as little welfare help as possible, was to hit the road and participate in as many art shows and sales that he was physically able to do.  Family and friends helped a lot with supplies and transportation needs, selling at the local art shows which eventually expanded to weekend shows in other states throughout the country. Working with determination and tenacity that  few understood, it’s always back to the drawing board even to this day it’s not uncommon for Tony to spend over 95 hours a week even straight through the night working on his Art of Hope and Dreams. Tony says ”she’s the 24 hour physical attendant, which in itself is a full-time job.  Not to mention my love, helpmate, driver, artwork framer, manager, organizer, cook, and then a Mother (GrandMother).  In addition to everything else she also fulfills her commitment as a loving wife, she was truly sent from Heaven in Tony’s Mission in Life of The actual making of Tony’s (Art of Hope) and Dreams  All of Tony’s work represents poring over 40 years of his heart and soul, experiences to create this Art of Hope.  No matter how long it takes, there is a part of Tony’s Heart in all his creations.  If you look real close, you can actually see thousands of tiny strokes.  Here's a challenge! Just try to count each and every menu line in a 1 square inch of one of Tony's drawings, and you’ll get a better understanding of how long it can take.  The longest time a picture took to complete from start to finish with over 14 full weeks.  This artwork ranges in various sizes from less than 1 inch to about 8 feet. Each original piece of artwork is all put together solely by the close friends and family.  Soon even his grandchildren will be working in this family business.  Sometimes his brother helps by doing a lot of the mat cutting.  Tony’s cousin Keith up in Callahan Florida works on the fine reproduction work for his black-and-white drawing lithographs plus brochures . .”) Tony prays that everyone that sees him paint this way, will realize that it’s not Tony alone but God is with him, and therefore is with all us. He continues to claim that, (“God is the only one that gives everybody a Gift, a Talent, a Purpose, or some kind of means to help, work and earn their own way through life.  This is a