Merle Painting

Tony Mullins was born in 1962 in the small city of Cookeville, Tennessee. Tony spent his childhood in the Hoosier Hills of Indiana and returned to his native Tennessee at the age of twelve. In addition to earning his BS degree in Marketing at Tennessee Tech University, he performed as lead singer and guitarist with several bands and as a solo musician. As a youngster in Appalachia, Tony was a budding artist who loved comics, Picasso, Van Gogh and all of the wonderfully weird aspects of Pop Surrealism and Lowbrow Art. Tony found direction for his art in his early twenties while at TTU and later, during a brief but formative time at Indiana Southeast University. These influences proved critical to his decision in his early 30s to leave the family business and pursue a vocation in the visual arts. While pursuing his MFA in Painting at Savannah College of Art and Design, Tony met his wife Meredith, also a painter. Upon graduating, Tony returned to Tennessee and taught at a number of colleges. In 2004, Tony accepted a position with Reynolds Community College in Richmond, Virginia, where he earned full professor rank within five years of his appointment. Tony currently resides in Glen Allen, Virginia with his wife, three children and two cats. Still a very active musician, Tony performs with his Irish Traditional band, The Donnybrooks, at various venues in the greater Richmond area. He keeps a studio at his home and teaches painting, drawing, digital art and art appreciation at the college.