Bio Moving to Southern California in 1990 from northern Michigan to pursue a degree in art, Tara earned both her BFA and MFA from California State University, Long Beach, where she majored in Illustration. Working as a professional artist for the last 10 years, Tara considers herself in the beginning phase of becoming a sort of Renaissance girl. She’s invested much of her creative energy into several different projects, never settling into just ‘one’ path. Included in this is drawing, painting, mosaics, custom venetian plaster for private residences, writing, photography and teaching. Travel has also become an important aspect in her career as an artist. With this and her love of fine art, Tara has had the opportunity to spend several summers painting in Italy and Greece, nourishing both passions. She’s studied with various international painters through the Study Abroad program for CSU in Florence, Italy in 2004 and 2006, where the focus was on Renaissance artists, their work and lives. She also had the very special opportunity during the summer of 2007 to work on a large mural for Irvine Ranch Market. The project was executed in Amalfi, Italy and installed at it’s location in southern California where it was finished. It was a month of pure artistic energy and passion. Tara currently teaches Drawing and Theatre Scene Painting at Fullerton Community College and resides in Orange, California. She has also started teaching a mosaic class at Mosaic Source in Los Alamitos, along with private drawing lessons at her home studio. My Life
Statement “The inspiration for my work always begins with light. It beckons me to watch in silence as a scene unfolds before me, whether in life or my imagination. These are the moments that lead me towards the goal of capturing the private, often fleeting, visual experiences that define our daily lives and validate moments that matter. I believe a painting speaks to us most intimately when it depicts an image, idea or even a feeling that reaches in and connects to our own experiences and emotions. Influenced by such masters as Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Sargent, I’m continually striving to conceive the lucent quality their work possesses within my own. While always focusing on the formal qualities of painting in my work, the sensual quality of the paint and the manipulation of each surface has become as important an essence as the image itself. Not result, but the process and love of it in each moment keeps me endlessly wanting to examine further the possibilities of painting. Through this, I’ve learned to see nature and the world around me with a new clarity.” Links www.miatavonatti.com www.mosaicsource.com www.adonnak.com www.katybetz.comhttp://www.miatavonatti.comhttp://www.adonnak.comhttp://www.katybetz.comshapeimage_3_link_0shapeimage_3_link_1shapeimage_3_link_2