This year for my personal art project I have decided to honor some very special people that give so much in our community. There are hundreds of charities both big and small in our communities looking for help in several categories, monetary donations, gift donations for the gala, marketing help, etc. Over the years we have noticed some familiar names in several charities throughout our communities. So as my personal art project this year we thought we would recognize these folks with an “environmental” oil painting. An environmental oil painting is an interpretive painting that helps tell something about the subject. The goal when viewing the portrait is to learn something about the subject, usually a favorite hobby/passion of theirs. With the help of the Monmouth Ocean Development Council, The Jersey Shore Chamber of Commerce and the Brick Chamber we were able to connect with several of these community leaders. After sitting down with them and getting to know them we were able to create these interpretive oil paintings. We plan on unveiling these art pieces with everyone honored along with their friends and families. No one will see the finalized paintings till the night of the event (I love surprises)

We will be highlighting everyone so you get to know each person along with some sneak peeks of their paintings as they come to fruition.

Toby Stark is our next to highlight for my art project.

Toby Stark founded the Insurance agency “Stark Associates” in 2009 specializing in offering individuals and businesses insurance from health and life to long term care to name a few.  Running a business is very demanding on one’s time in spite of that Toby has dedicated his spare time to be very active in several organizations in our community from the Eatontown Lions club to the Monmouth Ocean Development Council while also running several charity golf outings held by the lions raising money for the Fisher House, the Capt James Gurbisz foundation and various local community projects.
Toby took us to the golf course for his oil painting portrait session.  We spent the late afternoon zipping around the golf course creating portraits in the beautiful evening light on various greens while trying not to get in the way of the few golfers playing that day. While I do love creating family Beach portraits along the Jersey Shore in Manasquan, Sea Girt, Spring Lake, Bay Head etc its always fun to go to a location that I normally don't go to. The weather and sunset were perfect the day we went. Here is a sneak peek of his oil painting. Below is his bio and some links to some of the charities and organization’s he works with.

Eatontown Lions Club

The Fisher House

Monmouth Ocean Development Council

Toby founded his Insurance Agency Stark Associates in December 2009. Since its inception he has worked hard with businesses and individuals offering health, life, disability, Long Term Care and Medicare Supplement solutions. Toby is on top of the ever changing insurance industry and networks with other like professionals at the New Jersey Association of Health Underwriters (NJAHU) where he served on the state board as past - president.

Toby also serves on the Board of Trustees as Vice President for the Monmouth-Ocean Development Council and is actively engaged with the legislative committee. He also serves as the organizations vice-president. As a testament to his tireless work ethic, in 2009 he became the youngest person elected President of the Eatontown Lions Club, a civic group whose motto is “We Serve”, and is dedicated to serving the needs of the community.

He also heads the very successful charity golf outing held by the Lions, which helps raise money for the Fisher House, the Capt James Gurbisz foundation and local community projects.

He is married to his wife Stephanie and two children Andrew 4 and Madeline 7 months.