BigToeArt

BigToe (aka Tom Laura)

Tom was raised in SoCal on a steady beach-rat diet of Ed Roth, Mad Magazine and Surfer Magazine's Rick Griffin. "BigToe" now creates art with a casual, tongue-in-cheek sense of humor and playful eroticism that offers a nostalgic escape in our fast-paced and ever-changing world.

Upon graduation art school in the mid-eighties, he was uninspired by the snootiness of the dominant NY art scene that was happening. So Tom went into the surf industry. He's been happily hacking away in anonymity for the past couple decades: Making a decent living, raising a pair of beautiful kids in the 'burbs and surfing as much as his busy life will allow.

As a student of Polynesian culture, traveling to the South Pacific has been a big influence. Tom has visited most of the Hawaiian Islands, several islands of Tahiti and the Society Islands, Fiji and even Western Samoa. The family's fav is definitely 'da Kona side of da Big Island'!

The last few years Tom's been inspired by ne'er-do-wells like Todd Schorr, The Pizz, Miles Thompson, Keith Weesner, Glenn Barr...the list goes on and on. These cats made him want to sling paint again. Facebook, Twitter and other social media have been huge in connecting with heros, peers and fans.

BigToe’s art is inspired by the confluence of Tiki, Kustom and Surf culture. The fusion of these seemingly disparate lifestyles has always been an obvious one to the artist: all 3 are outsider ways of life. The last vestiges of wild west renegades.

BigToe's artwork has been featured in Art Galleries in the US from Southern California to New York and Orlando, and in Canada, Australia, Hawaii and Japan. as well as Books and Magazines worldwide.

The best place to find prints and original art is: www.etsy.com/shop/BigToeArt

Keep up with Shows and Events on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/BigToe/...

Current Residence: Irvine (orange county, CA, USA)
Favourite genre of music: Rock, Rockabilly, Surf, Exotica, Punk, American Roots
Favourite photographer: Shannon Brooke, Viva Van Story
Favourite style of art: pop surrealism
Operating System: MAC
MP3 player of choice: iphone
Shell of choice: spider conch
Wallpaper of choice: victorian!
Skin of choice: hmmm leopard or zebra
Favourite cartoon character: Ren & Stimpy...i guess Stimpy
Personal Quote: "Holy the Crazy Sheperds of Rebellion"