'Toto' (Aleksina Teto)
Bio
A Canadian designer, writer, typographer, and artist.
Stories (35/0)
The Creative Mess
Perching at my desk, pressing the silver power button, the computer lights up, monitor assuring me it's getting ready. As I wait, my gaze starts noticing an assortment of brushes next to me. On my other side, a pile of papers, fully marked with ink and pencils sits waiting for me to find it a home. It is another few inches taller than a few weeks ago. Scanning the shelf, there are art books scarcely opened in the last half a year. Another shelf has containers of ink strategically jammed in place. Next to it, there is a pile of fabric with intentions of possibilities. A half knitted scarf cozies up to my microphone for when I eventually get to making a podcast or youtube channel.
By 'Toto' (Aleksina Teto)5 years ago in Journal
5 Quick Tricks for Not Resenting Other Artists
There is so much art advice out there, it begins to feel like an oversaturated market. Take a quick search on Instagram and you can find thousands of other artists. Ink, watercolour, acrylic, oil, digital, geometric, organic, plants, toads... there is art for everything just a search away.
By 'Toto' (Aleksina Teto)5 years ago in Journal
Dear Fan Art and Dear Original Art
I grew up in an incredibly artistic community. Thinking back, I remember the Red Barn fondly, a place my siblings, mum, and I would go for art gatherings, Shakespeare workshops, theatre, and band practice. In town, there were two artists I remember often visiting, and my excitement for seeing them. The one was cluttered with art supplies, bits of paint on old wooden surfaces, and unique cups filled with paint water and pencil shavings. An extra plus was her Pokemon card collection. The other artist's home was on the river, mini Canadian flags in the grassy lawn. Jack always ended up spending most of the visit at his easel. Sometimes, I would just stare at his brush, enjoying seeing him fill the bristles with paint, then lean back with a squint.
By 'Toto' (Aleksina Teto)5 years ago in Geeks
Working Through Art Anxiety
As I thought of what I might want to write for this week's post, I found myself anxious. Somehow, in such a short time, I already wound these posts with my fears and stresses. In the last year, I have come to the realization that I am am very empathetic and have abandonment issues. As an artist, this can be problematic. It is especially problematic with sharing art on social media. My specific issue has been that I've had so many people I've been connecting with and empathizing with that when I go to create art, I am drained of empathy for myself and what to create.
By 'Toto' (Aleksina Teto)5 years ago in Journal
7 Benefits of Art
"Stop drawing pretty pictures and do something productive." I've heard from parents, teachers, and strangers talking to kids as if art is equivalent to just sitting doing nothing. It's almost like the act of drawing is a gateway drug to unfulfilled pipe dreams, not wanting to work, and giving up on intellect, which is ridiculous.
By 'Toto' (Aleksina Teto)5 years ago in Journal
Divorce Your Old Art
Tons of time is spent on a piece, maybe you're feeling proud, maybe you're feeling done with it and want to get feedback. You put it onto your social media. You wait, ready to receive likes and feedback. Keep glancing and reloading. Are you satisfied? Do you feel validated?
By 'Toto' (Aleksina Teto)6 years ago in Journal
- Top Story - October 2018
Why Would I Join Inktober?
Just two days now until it happens. Excited? Yes.Extremely anxious? Yes It's Inktober time again! For two years now I've participated in Inktober, I even wrote a post about it last year on whether it is something worth joining or not.
By 'Toto' (Aleksina Teto)6 years ago in Journal
Beginner's Guide: Deepening Creativity and Skill - Part 3
Between here and on Twitter, I've become this broken record of saying to believe in yourself as an artist, letting yourself have ups and downs, and finding creativity. But, I'm creating very little finished work at the moment. Looking at my Instagram, you might just see some tumbleweed. I even hit a point of genuinely worrying I am not an artist anymore, and if I will actually continue to draw. *Oh so dramatic Toto, you know that isn't true.* Except, I actually believed it. As I preached how to be a creative, the more I championed creativity, the less creative I felt. And, to top off my insecurities, I started to realize how self absorbed I've been.
By 'Toto' (Aleksina Teto)6 years ago in Journal
Dealing with Trauma
Affecting people in numerous ways, a traumatic event can highlight all mental flaws that might have been easing into your life and leave you incapacitated. It packs you full of emotions, so your normal is an extreme. Maybe you'll end up sleeping ten to 12 hours per night, still feeling drained in need of multiple cups of caffeine just to not crumble, and/or you begin sleeping so little, unable to calm into sleep until into the next day.
By 'Toto' (Aleksina Teto)6 years ago in Psyche
- Top Story - August 2018
The 'Troubled' ArtistTop Story - August 2018
Through the years, art has had a tendancy to connect itself to mental health. There is a cliche concept of the 'troubled artist.' Hearing of Van Gogh slicing off his own ear, such stories can stick like glue to the whole profession. In general, there can be assumptions of art linking to mental illness. Though, searching for evidence, there honestly is little to no concrete proof of art being a source mental illness. With that being said, I'd like to address how mental health can be intertwined with art, from my experience.
By 'Toto' (Aleksina Teto)6 years ago in Psyche