Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Tony L. Carter is an Atlanta-based artist who has been honing his skills for over 30 years. At a young age, Tony drew pictures of anything he could get his hands on. By the age of 12, Tony introduced watercolors and crayons in his drawings capturing the struggles faced by African Americans during slavery. He depicted an illustration of a young man in shackles. It was at that time that Tony realized that art would be a significant part of his life.
Drawing serves as a therapeutic release for Tony, allowing him to lose himself in the images he portrays. As a self-taught artist, Tony believes that being an artist is something that one is born to do. Due to his observation of great art and artists, he learned how to develop his talent through these interactions.
After taking a 20-year break from drawing, he re-commenced doing what he loves the most and has enhanced his craft by paying meticulous attention to details. Working under an adage of “Pick up the Pencils,” Tony’s most recent renderings illustrates images that are reflected in the eye and features a series of drawings entitled the “Eye Witness.”
Tony L. Carter is the creator of TLCarter Arts, which exhibits his remarkable ability to observe life as he sees it by taking everyday items and turning them into a work of art combining elements of realism and abstract, primarily with charcoal.
"I believe that drawing is a creative form of expression and comes from deep within me. I created the Eye Witness series of drawings to show the reflection of one’s eye, which is the window into one’s soul."