Antoinette (Toni) Houtman creates works of art with many different techniques and media. She is often inspired by the natural world which is reflected in her work. Toni is a lifelong resident of the Holland-Saugatuck Michigan area. She operates Flying Trout Works, an art, design and print studio. Toni has participated in competitions including ArtPrize, her art has won numerous awards and has been featured in national publications.
Digital painting and collage techniques start with photographs, scanned or drawn textures and objects. Toni manipulates and paints them with a Wacom tablet directly into a digital file. The final piece is then printed with archival pigment ink onto paper or canvas. Sometimes a clear gel is hand brushed over the image. Since the "original" is digital, the print is the only physical representation.
Toni makes jewelry from "stuff found at the beach" crinoid fossils (lucky stones), beach glass, shell, pearls and a bit of sterling silver to finish them off. Each piece is special, hand crafted and unique. her designs range from simple beach glass pendants to tiny bottles filled with little treasures that float around suspended in clear gel.
