Tara Burt's collection of floral paintings for our opening show is a mix of vintage European style and playful whimsy - in other words, absolutely gorgeous! We had the privilege of talking with her about everything from her start as an artist to her favorite paint mix. Read on to learn more about Tara's artistic life and her collection for our opening show.
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
I loved to follow step-by-step books as a child to draw cartoon characters or recreate what we learned in elementary art class. I also had an obsession with the Spice Girls as a pre-teen. My mother still has my stack of sketch books that I would draw bus designs, clothing ideas, and CD posters for the band I wanted to create just like them!
Did you always want to be an artist?
Yes! It has always been a dream of mine to be an artist, but it wasn’t until my husband encouraged me to take a leap of faith and put my talent out there.
Who inspired you to become an artist?
My sweet granddaddy Bill. He painted beautiful oil landscapes and drew several charcoal studies that are hanging all around my grandparent’s home. He would always teach me a technique with shading or sketching when I was at his house. He is still giving me critiques and praises to this day.
How do you want people to feel when they look at your art?
My hope for my collectors is that they have the same emotions that I had and put into the piece. Art is my therapy to turn off my brain and create. Feelings of joy, warmth, relaxation, and comfort are just a few of the emotions I hope someone feels when view my art.
Do you ever experience a creative block? How do you break through?
Creative blocks are not uncommon to me. I have found that if I step away from the studio and take a few days or weeks off from painting to just explore the world around me, read a book, go for a drive, sit back and watch the world through my children’s eyes, and really pay attention to every detail in a day, then creativity strikes. When that strike happens, I grab my sketchbook or paints to try to get down as many of the ideas I can. My camera roll is also full of too many ideas.
Tell us about your favorite paint mix and describe the color it produces.
Phtalo blue, unbleached titanium, van dyke brown, grey green to give that bright deep French bleu you can find in my Bleu Blossoms.
If I could have dinner with three artists, past and/or present, who would they would be?
This is a tough one! I admire the impressionist and post-impressionist artists the most because I grew up learning about them at art gallery visits with my granddaddy. I would love to have dinner with Vincent Van Gogh first and foremost. He is my favorite of all time. I would also invite Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
Last TV show you binged?
Bridgerton of course! I’m currently rewatching it.
Favorite movie?
Breakfast at Tiffany’s is my go-to movie to play in the background while working in my studio.
