Welcome to HUMMINGBIRD HEART’S fresh creative journey

HiFriends! If we haven’t met before, my name’s Tonya Engel, a self-taught artist who’s been so blessed to have been a full time artist for over 35 years and for a living.

I’ve gotten to live several lifetimes in one- from a vending street artist of NYC’s Soho/ Union Square/ Brooklyn to exhitions and Studio shows in Houston and Miami. My canvas style is distinctly intuitive beginning with and pulling from a feeling coming from a place of freedom from thought- pure emotion. Then when I pull back images begin to emerge, I allow technique and compositional savvy take over. Very freeing!

I then abruptly switched the tracks over to illustration- working with all the powerhouse childrens book publishers; Scholastic, Penguin random house,Simon & Schuster, Chronicle-so many! Itsbeen such a learning experience!

Here I am- back full circle. I’m seizing the moment after a hiatus from books for a while. I’m back to explore my personal art with full time fever & focus.

Every day I can explore painting allows me the opportunity to push and learn more- bringing me closer to fully knowing more of myself. Traveling the world also brings me great joy, so often and inevitably, the two have a chance to intersect. Art overall has saved me, my mental health, my livelihood; given me a purpose, a passion and a community.

On my Patreon for the first time, I’ll get to share myself, my process and more. I’ll be concentrating on journaling and sketch booking and take you along as I paint in studio and abroad. Pieces of my background and studio life will be an open book as I explore a new chapter in my art life; creating whatever the hell I want and ‘JOY!’ doing it alongside my community!

Anyone can join here “Hummingbird Studio”. We are a community of peers, collectors, friends coming together in monthly live online gatherings where we get to play and be free and develop together. We later share & show our work on our Facebook hub (not mandatory, but encouraged. “Art Every Day’ Is our motto.No matter how much life sweeps us up in its whirlwind, we commit to dedicating time every day to creating something-and being HERE. NOW. PRESENT. Together!