Choose your path and make it Beautiful!
Tony Fenech is an innovative, local artist whose creative journey began at a young age. At just 11 years old, he transformed a blank living room wall into a vibrant mural featuring life-sized ThunderCats and wrestlers, a project that ignited his passion for art.
By the age of 15, he was selling commissioned illustrated portraits, marking the beginning of a lifelong commitment to creativity.
In 2000, Tony “caught his first wave” in Florida. Since then, his love of surfing has influenced not only his artistic style, but his outlook on life.
“It’s harmony with nature, I gravitate to the water.”
Growing up, Tony developed a deep fascination with skateboard and snowboard graphics, which were at the forefront of his artistic expression. This passion led to a significant role as the assistant manager and lead buyer at Moguls in Mocean, a local snowboard shop.
“I studied the design angles and marketing strategies profusely. It was cutting edge and I saw how the content creations were wooing the masses.”
Over the course of his eight years at Moguls in Mocean, he traveled extensively and contributed to the shop’s growth, immersing himself in the ever-evolving landscape of design and branding within the board culture.
Tony observed influential figures like Spike Jonze, who transitioned from being a Thrasher photographer to a Hollywood director, understanding the cultural shift that transformed once-marginalized art forms into mainstream successes. This experience fueled his desire to explore creativity and innovation, as he recognized the power of art to resonate with people.
“I saw the impact. I studied the change. I learned what was trending, it was us. Those basement kids curb stomping revolutionary skateboarders. There was a huge shift… what was once shunned was being adored and the marketing moguls couldn’t get enough of us. We understood timing and placement, balanced consumerism and psychology. We were in touch with the streets, the people.”
Today, Tony’s artistic practice encompasses a diverse range of mediums, including carving, welding, graphic design, photography, and videography.
“I really like challenging myself to trying different styles and mediums.”
As a certified drone pilot, he brings a unique perspective to his work. His style continues to evolve, merging elements of cartoon, folk, pop, fantasy, and realism.
“My creative process in the beginning was very expressive, evoking thought and change. I was very into the message. It’s about what was behind the piece that drove me to create it.”
Initially focused on conveying deep messages through expressive art, he now emphasizes collaboration with clients, producing polished contemporary pieces that meet their needs.
“I am blessed to do it for a living. It tends to be a meeting of the minds between me and my client’s needs.”
Throughout his career, Tony has embraced numerous challenging projects, from welding a $7,000 bike clock for Amsterdam Brew House to tackling intricate wood carvings that require meticulous attention to detail.
Notable projects include the Grand Valley Bridge mural, which involved specialized consultations for its exposure to water and ice, and a mural on a 175-year-old heritage brick building, where the porous stone presented unique challenges.
“I love the work because it’s so niche and outside the box.”
While Tony rarely experiences creative blocks, the process of refining designs to meet client expectations can be demanding. He thrives on originality and has successfully navigated branding projects in competitive industries, including a recent endeavour to design a new logo for a chain of burger restaurants.
As a storyteller, Tony engages clients in the rebranding process, viewing their narratives through a distinctive lens that adds value to their vision. His background in board culture informs a network of creative professionals who celebrate originality and innovation.
Among his proudest achievements are a 15-foot mural dedicated to his mother and a contract with the Upper Grand District School Board to create promotional videos for their innovation lab, impacting over 35,000 students across 65 schools.
Tony has also filmed the largest electrical conference in North America, collaborating with major brands such as 3M and Energizer.
In a pivotal role as the Economic Development Coordinator for the Town of Grand Valley, Tony enhanced community awareness and received recognition from Orangeville Arts and Culture with a nomination for a Community Impact Award.
“I am so passionate about supporting local and helping people fulfill their goals and aspirations.”
Currently, he balances multiple projects, including designing graphics for Orangeville transit buses, creating custom signage, filming promotional reels, and live painting at events, often bringing his daughters along to share in the experience.
Tony believes in the power of creativity and collaboration, embracing each challenge with enthusiasm. His guiding philosophy is simple:
“Life is too short to be bored. Make art, not war. Choose your path and make it beautiful!”
WRITTEN BY: MEGS CONNELL
