Available to hire
Hello! I’m Tony Otto, a versatile artist and illustrator with a passion for bringing stories to life through vivid paintings and illustrations. I collaborate closely with authors, publishers, and fellow artists to illuminate narratives with artwork that resonates with readers of all ages. My work spans murals, children’s books, and gallery projects, always grounded in a love for color, texture, and storytelling.
I’ve owned and operated a gallery, created large-scale murals in Ojai and Capitola, and contributed to film and documentary productions as a production designer and actor. I continue to learn and grow through self-directed study with international artists, and I look forward to collaborating on new projects that spark imagination.
Experience Level
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Language
English
Fluent
Work Experience
Gallery Owner and Operator at The Potter and the Painter
January 1, 2003 - January 1, 2006Owned and operated the gallery; organized exhibitions and commissions.
Freelance Artist at Self-employed
January 1, 2002 - PresentCommissions and personal art projects; artworks viewable on Instagram @tonyottoartist.
Artist of the Year at Ojai Valley News
January 1, 2004 - January 1, 2004Voted Artist of the Year by The Ojai Valley News.
Producer/Director at Enemies of the State
January 1, 2019 - PresentProducer/Director for in-development documentary set in France, Sweden, Iceland and the U.K.
Producer/Director at Houmenna
January 1, 2019 - PresentShort Film – in Ojai and Europe; in development.
Artist (Freelance)
January 1, 2002 - PresentCommissions and personal art projects; portfolio on Instagram @tonyottoartist.
Mural Artist at Capitola Murals
January 1, 2004 - December 31, 2004Completed custom two-story mural at 118 Stockton Ave, Capitola.
Mural Artist at Brakey House, Ventura
January 1, 2004 - December 31, 2004Designed, created, built and executed a 30' x 7' vintage mural at Brakey House.
Faux Finishes & Restoration Artist at Linda and Jerry Bruckheimer, Rancho La Vista
January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2009Custom art projects for antiques; faux finishes; restoration and cleaning of valuable objects.
Mural Artist at Mandala Restaurant, Ojai
January 1, 2019 - PresentCompleted custom murals in Ojai locations.
Production Designer / Actor at Mighty Times: The Children's March
January 1, 2004 - December 31, 2004Production designer and actor for the 2004 Academy Award-winning documentary.
Actor at The Little Documentary That Couldn't
January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2007Actor in 2007 documentary.
Designer, Production and Sound Designer at Chekhov and Maria
January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2007Design, production and sound design for project.
Actor, Co-Production Designer at A Hollywood Tale
January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009Actor, Co-Production Designer at Eagles in the Chicken Coop
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010Producer / Director at Enemies of the State
January 1, 2019 - PresentIn development - documentary set in France, Sweden, Iceland and the U.K.
Producer / Director at Houmenna
January 1, 2019 - PresentShort film – in Ojai and Europe; in development
Children’s Book Illustrator at Christina M. Pages
January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2025Illustrator for author Christina M. Pages
Document Preparer and Authorized Agent
January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2023For small business owners; obtaining loans and grants (SBA, state, local, federal)
Campaign Manager at Anson Williams for Mayor of Ojai
January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2023Owner/Operator at Ojai Antiviral
January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2022Professional disinfection of commercial spaces against viruses
Independent Artist / Commission Artist at Self-employed
January 1, 2002 - PresentAccepts commissions and pursues personal art projects; artworks viewable at @tonyottoartist on Instagram.
Mural Artist / Independent Commission at Ojai Murals (various clients)
January 1, 2019 - PresentCompleted custom murals in multiple Ojai locations (e.g., Mandala Restaurant).
Production Designer / Actor at Mighty Times: The Children’s March
January 1, 2004 - January 1, 2004Production designer and actor on a 2004 Academy Award-winning documentary.
Actor / Designer at The Little Documentary That Couldn't
January 1, 2007 - January 1, 2007Acted and contributed as designer on 2007 documentary.
Designer / Production Designer / Sound Designer at Chekhov and Maria
January 1, 2007 - January 1, 2007Design, production, and sound design for this project.
Actor / Co-Production Designer at A Hollywood Tale
January 1, 2009 - January 1, 2009Acted and contributed to production design.
Actor / Co-Production Designer at Eagles in the Chicken Coop
January 1, 2010 - January 1, 2010Actor and production design for this project.
Producer / Director at Enemies of the State (in development)
January 1, 2019 - PresentProducer/Director for a documentary set in France, Sweden, Iceland and the U.K.
Owner / Operator at Ojai Antiviral
January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2022Professional disinfection of commercial spaces against viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2.
Document Preparer & Authorized Agent at Small Business Funding Services
January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2023Prepared documents and acted as authorized agent to obtain SBA loans and grants; raised capital for local businesses.
Children’s Book Illustrator at Christina M. Pages, Ph.D.
January 1, 2023 - January 1, 2025Illustrator for author Christina M. Pages; Ojai-based project.
Independent Artist
January 1, 2002 - PresentCommissioned artworks and personal art projects; portfolio viewable at @tonyottoartist on Instagram.
Mural Artist at Self-employed
January 1, 2004 - PresentCreated public and private murals including a two-story Capitola mural, a 30' x 7' vintage mural at the Brakey House, and works for Mandala Restaurant and other Ojai locations.
Custom Art Projects (Faux Finishes, Restoration) at Linda and Jerry Bruckheimer
January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2009Faux finishes on antiques; restoration and care of valuable 18th/19th-century objects and oil paintings, with work sourced from auction houses such as Sotheby’s and Christie's.
Children’s Illustrator
January 1, 2010 - PresentIllustration work for children’s books; ongoing projects with portfolio samples available via linked samples.
Freelance Artist and Illustrator
January 1, 2003 - PresentFreelance artist with ongoing self-directed learning; personal art projects and professional commissions.
Actor / Co-Production Designer at A Hollywood Tale
January 1, 2000 - December 31, 2000Acting and co-production design work for the film project.
Executive Producer, Director at Enemies of the State (Documentary) / Houmenna (Short Film)
January 1, 2019 - PresentExecutive producer and director roles for film projects, set in multiple countries and in production.
Murals at Self-Employed / Mural Artist
January 1, 2004 - PresentCreated large-scale murals including a two-story piece in Capitola (118 Stockton Ave) and a 30' x 7' vintage mural at the Brakey House (Ventura). Completed murals for Mandala Restaurant and other Ojai locations.
Custom Art Projects at Linda and Jerry Bruckheimer (Custom Art Projects)
January 1, 2007 - January 1, 2009Faux finishes on antique furniture and other antiques; restoration and conservation of 18th–19th century objects and oil paintings; pieces sourced from Sotheby’s and Christie’s.
Children’s Illustrator at Self-employed
January 1, 2010 - PresentIllustrator for children’s books and related projects; portfolio available via links in the resume.
Freelance Artist and Illustrator at Self-employed
January 1, 2003 - PresentFreelance artist with ongoing self-directed learning; personal art projects showcased via links in the resume.
Actor, Co-Production Designer at A Hollywood Tale
January 1, 2000 - January 1, 2000Actor and Co-Production Designer on a film project.
Executive Producer / Director at Enemies of the State
January 1, 2019 - PresentExecutive producer and director; in production: a documentary set in France, Sweden, Iceland and the U.K.
Executive Producer / Director at Houmenna
January 1, 2019 - PresentExecutive producer and director; in production: a short film set in Ojai and Europe.
Gallery Owner and Operator at The Potter and the Painter
January 1, 2006 - January 1, 2006Owner/operator of the Ojai gallery; oversaw artistic direction, sales, and operations; completed murals including a two-story Capitola mural and a 30' x 7' vintage mural at Brakey House; created murals in Mandala Restaurant and other Ojai locations.
Production Designer, Actor at Mighty Times: The Children’s March
January 1, 2004 - December 31, 2004Production designer and actor for the Academy Award-winning documentary.
Actor at The Little Documentary That Couldn’t
January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2007Actor in the documentary project.
Design, Production and Sound Design at Chekhov and Maria
January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2007Design, production and sound design for the production.
Executive Producer, Director at Enemies of the State
January 1, 2019 - PresentDocumentary in production; set in France, Sweden, Iceland and the U.K.
Executive Producer, Director at Houmenna
January 1, 2019 - PresentShort Film in production; Set in Ojai and Europe.
Custom Art Projects at Linda and Jerry Bruckheimer
January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2009Faux finishes on antique furniture; restoration and cleaning of valuable objects; antiques acquired at Sotheby’s and Christie’s; restoration of 18th/19th century items and oil paintings.
Production Designer / Actor at Mighty Times: The Children’s March (Documentary)
January 1, 2004 - December 31, 2004Production design and acting for a documentary (Academy Award–winning).
Executive Producer / Director at Enemies of the State (Documentary)
January 1, 2019 - PresentExecutive producer and director; documentary set in France, Sweden, Iceland and the U.K.
Executive Producer / Director at Houmenna (Short Film)
January 1, 2019 - PresentExecutive producer and director; short film set in Ojai and Europe.
Custom Artist at Linda and Jerry Bruckheimer – Rancho La Vista
January 1, 2007 - January 1, 2009Custom faux finishes on antique furniture; restoration and cleaning of valuable antiques and oil paintings; some items acquired at Sotheby’s and Christie’s.
Executive Producer / Director at Enemies of the State (in production)
January 1, 2019 - PresentExecutive Producer and Director for a documentary set in France, Sweden, Iceland and the U.K.; currently in production since 2019.
Executive Producer / Director at Houmenna (Short Film) (in production)
January 1, 2019 - PresentExecutive Producer and Director for a short film set in Ojai and Europe; currently in production since 2019.
Education
Special Independent Study Diploma at Southwest High School
September 1, 1982 - July 1, 1986Self-directed Studies in Fine Arts at Self-directed Studies in Fine Arts
January 1, 1983 - December 11, 2025High School Equivalency at Home Instruction
January 1, 1982 - December 31, 1986Independent Studies in Art at Self-directed studies with international artists (e.g., Florent Farges, James Paul Brown, L. Caleb Lamar, Howard Lamar)
January 1, 1986 - December 30, 2025High School Diploma (Home Instruction) at Home Instruction
January 1, 1982 - January 1, 1986Independent Studies in Art at Self-directed program with international artists
January 1, 1986 - December 30, 2025High School Equivalency at Home Instruction
January 1, 1982 - December 31, 1986Independent Studies in Art at Independent Studies in Art
January 1, 1986 - December 30, 2025High School Equivalent at Home Instruction
January 1, 1982 - January 1, 1986Independent Studies in Art at Independent Studies in Art (Self-directed, studied with international artists: Florent Farges, James Paul Brown, L. Caleb Lamar, Howard Lamar)
January 1, 1986 - December 30, 2025High School Equivalency at Home Instruction
January 1, 1982 - January 1, 1986Independent Studies in Art at Independent Studies in Art (Self-directed)
January 1, 1986 - December 30, 2025Qualifications
Self-directed Studies in Fine Arts
January 1, 1983 - December 11, 2025Artist of the Year
January 1, 2004 - January 1, 2004Self-directed Studies in Fine Arts
January 1, 1983 - December 11, 2025Artist of the Year (Ojai Valley News)
January 1, 2004 - December 30, 2025Artist of the Year
January 1, 2004 - December 30, 2025Industry Experience
Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Education, Other, Non-Profit Organization
Experience Level
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
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