“Art is a conscious way of life. I choose to live my life thoughtfully and artfully. My inspiration comes from nature and everyday happenings. I have been inspired by artists such as Cy Twombly, Joan Mitchell, Gerhard Richter and Mark Rothko, to name a few. Art is a necessary component of life, either directly or indirectly, I believe it plays a big role in the balance of life.” Toni Swarthout was born in Midland, Michigan, and moved to Nashville, Tennessee after graduating from Northern Michigan University. With a love of painting that began in early childhood, she has been exploring abstract and abstracted representational painting in her East Nashville studio for over fifteen years. Her work is collected and exhibited throughout the United States.