Toni Quest refers to herself as an entrepreneurial artist.  She seeks to   integrate her many gifts, talents and unique experiences she has been blessed with.

In her recently published memoir, Actualized, a Life in Progress, she candidly tells the stories within the story of her life. Actualized is based on the instructional plan she wrote in graduate school. The plan, Self-actualizing Portraiture ©  earned her an MAED in adult learning theory.

Toni Quest became an artist in 1994 after surviving a traumatic auto collision. Her multiple injuries left her head spinning, her boyfriend bolting and her heart and soul screaming. While recovering at home in much physical and emotional pain, she began painting faces giving birth to her Screaming Woman ® Series.

Toni Quest was named one of Westchester County’s 'Leading New Artists' in 2006. Her art was featured in the Westchester Arts Council’s Young Emerging Artists (YEA) exhibition.  Ms. Quest is one of the artists selected to participate in the 'James Brown, Visual Soul' exhibition in Augusta, GA. Her vibrant portraits of the legendary James Brown were exhibited in the May 2006 exhibition and celebration.

Her award-winning piece, 'U.S. in Us' is featured on the cover of the anthology, View from the Middle of the Road, Volume II, U.S. in Us ' (PRA Publishing). A selection of her poetry is featured in the anthology as well.

Although most of her work has been portraiture, Toni Quest is also a jewelry designer. She recently launched the Energy Stoners TM Jewelry Design Salon. Attendees gather, in the spirit of comradery, and enjoy food, wine tasting and music, while engaging in jewelry design instruction which features genuine quartz and other quality energy stones.

On occasion Toni will bring her easel and paint at public and private events.  She believes interacting with people generates energy and synergy. She taps into this force and blends it into her work.

In Actualized, and  through her paintings, TQ bears her soul as well as her affinity to the collective consciousness of humankind.  Her intent is to provoke emotion and thought, thus inspiring constructive communication about ones relationship to others and the world around us.

Ms. Quest teaches 'Self-Actualizing Portraiture ©, which is founded on how she taught herself self-portraiture after a debilitating accident in 1994. She later formally wrote the instructional design for this course while in graduate school in 2008. The instructional design focuses on the needs of combat veterans who suffer from the symptoms of PTSD.  

As a college professor, Toni Quest has taught psychology, sociology, geriatrics, academic writing and American history. She genuinely enjoys facilitating the active exchange of ideas between learners within the classroom setting.

Toni Quest can be seen interviewing interesting people on her cable tv talk  show, Talk with TQ, which also appears on Youtube.