John Henry Toney

John Henry Toney

John Henry Toney was born in Russell County, Alabama, in 1928. Back in 1995 in what turned out to be a very special day, John Henry plowed up a turnip with a face on it. He had a strong feeling that he needed to draw a picture of that turnip, and John Henry has been drawing ever since. Encouraged by his good friend Butch Anthony, John Henry mostly paints with paint pens and markers on poster board, plywood, or whatever may be available. He likes to paint animals, especially oxen, horses, and mules but some of his favorite subjects are the very, very large breasted “fancy women”. Why you might ask? What John Henry will tell you is simply obvious, he likes large breasted women. John Henry usually includes his phone number along with his prominent signature on his paintings. John Henry is still living independently, drawing, and going strong today. After a disagreement with a snake, he moved out of his old trailer and has taken up residence in Butch Anthony's boyhood cabin. He walks to the local store every day, keeping an eye out for snakes, where you can often find him sitting in a chair out front. He says he is waiting for someone to fix his tractor. Who knows?

Russell County, AL

We paid a visit to artist Butch Anthony, close friend of John Henry, and picked up these two drawings from Butch's personal collection. Butch has framed them in some salvaged hardwood frames. These women were painted with paint pens and markers on poster paper. The poster paper shows some wear, fading, and smudges as does much of John Henry's work, but the images are exceptional. We are glad to ship them without the frame.

INDIAN WOMAN

22" x 28"

(25" x 31" framed size)

SOLD

SMOKING WOMAN

22" x 28"

(25" x 31" framed size)

SOLD

This woman has a fancy headdress and unusual brown skin. Her elaborate outfit allows her bare breasts to show. John Henry says he loves for women to wear high heels, so we guess that explains her footwear.

A trail of smoke winds from this well-dressed woman as she walks along. It is evident that she is in motion, because John Henry has drawn her footprints on the ground.