May Feature Artist: Tamara Phillips

Artist Statement

I am completely inspired by the natural world. Beauty is everywhere. It is the growth of the forest, the depth of the sea, and the curve of the bone. It is skin, scales, bark, and tide pool ripples. It is texture, and it is raw. I am a translator of life, and I am compelled to narrate it.

As an explorer and world traveler, I have lived both at sea and in the forest. My curiosity has led to compassion for all living things, and my degree in Biology has provided concrete evidence for respecting our planet and striving for conservation. Biological and environmental themes are a constant presence in my work. By choosing animate beings as my subject matter I authenticate their existence, beauty, and importance. Everything I paint is rooted in biology: harmonious palettes reflect the vibrant earth, anatomical accuracies define organic shape, and intricate details resonate complex cellular life.

I am also fascinated by the overlay between myth, dream, intuition, and reality, and use the translucency of watercolour to explore these connections. Organic objects, rich with dimension, provide ideal subject matter for this investigation. My use of iridescence, which challenges the division between subject and environment, is currently producing ethereal paintings that are deliciously captivating. I am constantly in motion and exploration; my work shares my movement and curiosity. Drawing from the subconscious, and filtered through the biological, I continue to investigate our beautiful Earth.
www.tamaraphillips.ca
 

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