Today we’d like to introduce you to Toff Mawlo.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
It was at the end of high school when it hit me that art was my passion. Before that, I was headstrong on basketball. Basketball was my dream. Thinking back on it, I’d find myself doodling here and there, but never once imagine that art would be the path I’m on today.
I grew up in Miami, Fl, Off of NW 69st, my mother worked a live-in job as a Home Health Aid Monday through Friday. While she worked, she entrusted my aunt to care for my four siblings and I. My mom’s hard work and dedication uplifted her the same way water pulls a plant from its seed. With all of my mother’s hard work, we relocated from Miami to Miramar. Around a year later, my aunt fell sick. Not knowing how to cope with this, let alone grieve after her death. I just gave in. I gave into painting. It was the only way I knew how to express myself as vivid as possible. It felt as if I’ve been looking for something, but for the life of me, I couldn’t find it. That’s when I learned to stop looking for things and to trust that life will reveal what you need.
What was once a coping mechanism, became a lifestyle over time. Towards the ending of high school, I made a commitment to pursue the new lifestyle I gullibly fell in love with.
My Art Will Live On, but you can call me Mawlo for short.
Please tell us about your art.
Everyday I work hard to better not only myself but also my craft. With realism, I try to appeal to older individuals. Who seems more fond of paintings of landscapes and traditional portraits and techniques. While as for the younger crowd or my generation who seems to be drawn towards abstracts, surrealism, and vibrant colors.
My drive as an artist is to inspire others while freely expressing myself. I would like to be able to touch the viewer’s soul when a glance becomes hypnotizing. I yearn to be able to relate to the viewers in hopes that they may understand that art is valued at the appreciation of who is engaged and captivated. If this fascination only lasts nothing short of a brief moment, it will, however, make that first impression ever so important. A connection on an emotional, yet intellectual magnitude is what I aspire to achieve.
As an artist, how do you define success and what quality or characteristic do you feel is essential to success as an artist?
Success is merely a desire. Which, in my opinion, makes it perspective.
The goals I’ve set for myself are set at a point in time where a measurement was understood to be achievable once reached and accomplished, recycle, and start a new.
With that being said, I mentally can’t stop wanting to evaluate and achieve what was taught to be unreachable.
The driving I have to continually evaluate is the only characteristic I have to offer. Essentially every successful person, whether artist or not committed themselves fully to a task and steadied the course no matter how horrendous the journey be folded.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
My art can be found via:
Instagram:
Mawloinc (Business Account)
Facebook
Mawlo (Business Account)
Instagram:
ToffMawlo (Personal)
Although my personal account gives more life, by capturing the lifestyle I lucky found without searching.
Contact Info:
- Website: Facebook.com/Mawlo
- Email: Mawloinc@yahoo.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/ToffMawlo
- Facebook: Facebook.com/Mawlo
Image Credit:
(Photos 2 and 4)
Photography By:
Yogi Taji / Souldreamin
Mawlo
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