My name is Toni Boot, born in Rotterdam. After years of working in education as a teacher of drawing, textiles and art history, my passion for painting resurfaced. I took painting lessons with Maurice Heerdink for a number of years. The paintings I created originated from and are inspired by my dreams and my personal development.

Nature with its elements is central to my paintings. In my work, I draw inspiration from the elements earth, water, fire and air, from humans and animals and from images that emerge from the unconscious.
The natural forces around me, light and color, play an important role. Color has a soul. The symbolism in my work is important. As human beings, we live in a world full of symbols.

Humans are spiritual beings who are part of nature. We are not just our heads, but we are much more. Meditation and guided meditation helped me connect with my inner source, which allowed the first paintings to emerge intuitively. It is my quest to bring the balance of the masculine and the feminine into greater equilibrium, partly through my work. I express this quest in my painting. Who am I? What do I feel? What do I encounter? It is a process of change that is constantly in motion, with ups and downs.

Shamanism
According to the Mongols, Shamanism is the oldest religion in the world; it originated during the Stone Age. The word shamanism is derived from the Tungusic Šaman, which means "he who knows." It is a collection of thousands of ancient nature religions that, at their core, all revolve around guarding and restoring natural harmony. It teaches you to be faithful to nature and to yourself! For if plants and animals live in harmony, then humans will also be able to live in peace! And vice versa! The head is overdeveloped (the human mind), but body awareness is insufficiently present. Within these traditions, the indigenous world has managed to preserve its knowledge and wisdom as knowledge of the heart. A shamanic healer assumes that the cause of illness or pain lies in the imbalance of a person's soul. The healer invites guides and asks them how the imbalance can be restored. This guide can be an ancestor or a plant.

If you wish to have more information about my work you can contact me. My telephone number is +31610871035.
You are also welcome to send an e-mail to info@toni-boot.nl
You can also visit the KoBoKa Living Room Gallery at Waal Malefijstraat 161 (corner of Roest van Limburgstraat) in Katwijk. I will show you my work while enjoying a cup of coffee.