(Photo credit: Samuel Lindsay)
Painting my portrait of Yassmin Abdel-Magied last year to enter into the Archibald prize and countless other portrait prizes, set some new cogs in motion. I love the connection of painting a person I admire and presenting them in a light that shows my admiration and how I see them. It was a process that challenged me, taught me new lessons and inspired me to keep going. I looked back over my works and their evolution, from new styles, new subjects and new techniques and I isolated what it was that made this new portrait so prominent to me. Why did I feel immensly proud of this particular work? Apart from spending a great deal longer on it, I feel the biggest difference with this work is that I chose to paint a real, physical, living person and one that I truly respect and am constantly in awe of. While I've always painted portraits and representations of strong, bold women, many of them have been dreamt up in my mind or taken from an image that I simply liked for the pose and composition. I've often been asked if the portaits I've painted in the past have been based on myself, which I was always flattered by, but totally certain I was nothing like. The women I paint are glamourous and somewhat flawless and mostly inspired by magazine cover models. Turns out that was me failing to see how others may view me. Perhaps I was actually painting myself merged with these confident women, while unconsciously thinking I was seeing something beautfiul in someone else. It may be something I want to see, when I attempt to see myself. Either way, art is meant to make us all feel different things when we view it. It's always interesting to hear other people's interpretations.
I do think women often overlook their own inner-strength, attributes and beauty. It can take many years to find it, but very little time to lose it or forget it. I see it in just about every woman I've ever really known, even if it started out as only skin deep. I could go on and on about why I think this happens (and perhaps I will in another blog post), but what I hope to do is to celebrate those of us who have smashed the manurfactured ideal of what it is that makes us valuable - to realise that we are already enough.
True beauty is as much about a feeling then it is physical and while many of us focus on all the things we might like to change about ourselves, I want to focus more on all of the things that make me feel good about being different. Yes, even my freckles! I've always known I am different and now I want to be grateful for that. I'm thinking I've wasted enough time longing for something else. And so in deciding to paint more women from life and more women of substance, I believe I will have even more to search for within myself and ultimately more to inspire others with. So my gift to all of you this year, is to introduce some uniquely brave, beautiful, bold and kind women into your worlds - by painting 12 vibrant and colourful portraits of women that are doing more of what they love! Women that are celebrating something about themselves, something they have created or something they can do to help others. I'm including many creatives in the line up, as well as many social advocates and perhaps a few trailblazers. The other common trait in my choice of subjects is their undeniable love of COLOUR! You know I love colour and it's the thing that I just can't beat out of my artwork, and sadly I've tried - but nothing makes me happier than creating artwork that is joyful and colourful.
The series is called 'Women of Colour' and I'm aiming to complete all 12 portraits before the end of 2017. The series will include women who are physically 'of colour' as well as women whose character and style is boisterously colourful. All of my subjects will be Australian. It's somewhat of a personal project that I will have to work on in between commissions and teaching workshops, but I want to give back in the biggest way I have to date. The original works will be sold at a culminating exhibition and a % of all sales will go to a charity or organisation nominated by each of the 12 subjects. While I would like these charities to benefit women in some way, I'm open to learning of new charities and organisations as I make new connections with each of my chosen subjects. Because I'm making everyone wait a whole year to have the chance to purchase an original, I will be getting limited edition prints made of each work as I complete them. These will be available for purchase and some of the proceeds of these will also go to the nominated charities and organisations. I myself don't even know who the 12 will actually be, as I'm finding myself drawn to different individuals as they cross my mind (and/or virtual path). I will admit that I am very excited about the few women I have already locked in sittings with :) You'll have to check in to see who they are.
The motivation to get this complete is ever present and there will be a lot of 'hustle' required to keep coming back to the studio, but the inspiration that's out there is endless and I really feel like my art can benefit others as much as it benefits me. Doing more of what I love and feeling good about myself is a gift I'm actively giving to myself this year. Life is too short to not put your energy into the things that make you most happy and fulfilled.
To celebrate, here's the first cab off the rank for the "Women of Colour' series.
BELOW are some progress updates for this work and what was going through my head at each stage and the original photograph is revealed at the end along with my feelings about it:
The series is called 'Women of Colour' and I'm aiming to complete all 12 portraits before the end of 2017. The series will include women who are physically 'of colour' as well as women whose character and style is boisterously colourful. All of my subjects will be Australian. It's somewhat of a personal project that I will have to work on in between commissions and teaching workshops, but I want to give back in the biggest way I have to date. The original works will be sold at a culminating exhibition and a % of all sales will go to a charity or organisation nominated by each of the 12 subjects. While I would like these charities to benefit women in some way, I'm open to learning of new charities and organisations as I make new connections with each of my chosen subjects. Because I'm making everyone wait a whole year to have the chance to purchase an original, I will be getting limited edition prints made of each work as I complete them. These will be available for purchase and some of the proceeds of these will also go to the nominated charities and organisations. I myself don't even know who the 12 will actually be, as I'm finding myself drawn to different individuals as they cross my mind (and/or virtual path). I will admit that I am very excited about the few women I have already locked in sittings with :) You'll have to check in to see who they are.
The motivation to get this complete is ever present and there will be a lot of 'hustle' required to keep coming back to the studio, but the inspiration that's out there is endless and I really feel like my art can benefit others as much as it benefits me. Doing more of what I love and feeling good about myself is a gift I'm actively giving to myself this year. Life is too short to not put your energy into the things that make you most happy and fulfilled.
To celebrate, here's the first cab off the rank for the "Women of Colour' series.
BELOW are some progress updates for this work and what was going through my head at each stage and the original photograph is revealed at the end along with my feelings about it:
November 9th, 2016 - (aka The day the US announced their next President)
"I don't want to believe that the world has gone 🍌🍌 I also don't want to leave my studio, not for awhile anyway. And now a giant thunder storm is about to hit the mountain (maybe the world, it's all very overwhelming and ironic) I can only hope this bizarre afternoon leaves a refreshing breeze and a giant 🌈 for us to all cling onto. Here's to painting strong, bold and brave WOMEN. Women who can carry us, inspire us and awaken something in us all".
November 10th 2016
This is the first piece of a new series I've been planning to start painting for more months than I'd like to admit. The image I'm painting is from a photograph taken by Amanda Fordyce for one of my FAVE Australian fashion labels Mister Zimi ✨
I'm aiming for 12 portraits in total and I'll be including women I know and admire as well as the creations of local designers that inspire me. You can expect a celebration of nature, connection and COLOUR!
This is the first piece of a new series I've been planning to start painting for more months than I'd like to admit. The image I'm painting is from a photograph taken by Amanda Fordyce for one of my FAVE Australian fashion labels Mister Zimi ✨
I'm aiming for 12 portraits in total and I'll be including women I know and admire as well as the creations of local designers that inspire me. You can expect a celebration of nature, connection and COLOUR!
December 23rd 2016
"Zoning out as I get back into this portrait (original image taken by @amandafordycephoto ) It's 'Detail' time!
Can't put it off any longer. The beautiful fabric of this @misterzimi creation features fine white lines which form hibiscus flowers. I've merely blocked the colours in, so though it might look close to complete, I'd honestly say I'm just about 50% in. The jewellery is gold and reflective with chunks of 'veiny' turquoise stones. The arm cuff looks like woven straps of gold, which should also provide a sufficient challenge. The earrings are fluffy tassels of very fine thread and those 🍌and 🌿are still coming together. The compilation of colours and textures has me hooked.
I normally stay away from trying to paint too realistically, but I'm finding this to be less difficult because it was always my impatience to rush through something that made details seem infuriating. I'm sitting with the discomfort of not rushing to a finish point and not painting as fast as I normally do. I really want to do this more often, because I need to challenge myself to avoid getting lazy. It's going to take a fair bit more discipline, but at the same time I think it's going to hep me see my work in a new light and hopefully force me to slow down more often. It will be finished, when it is finished - the first of 12 portraits for my #WomenOfColourSeries
Stay tuned for more 🌴"
"Zoning out as I get back into this portrait (original image taken by @amandafordycephoto ) It's 'Detail' time!
Can't put it off any longer. The beautiful fabric of this @misterzimi creation features fine white lines which form hibiscus flowers. I've merely blocked the colours in, so though it might look close to complete, I'd honestly say I'm just about 50% in. The jewellery is gold and reflective with chunks of 'veiny' turquoise stones. The arm cuff looks like woven straps of gold, which should also provide a sufficient challenge. The earrings are fluffy tassels of very fine thread and those 🍌and 🌿are still coming together. The compilation of colours and textures has me hooked.
I normally stay away from trying to paint too realistically, but I'm finding this to be less difficult because it was always my impatience to rush through something that made details seem infuriating. I'm sitting with the discomfort of not rushing to a finish point and not painting as fast as I normally do. I really want to do this more often, because I need to challenge myself to avoid getting lazy. It's going to take a fair bit more discipline, but at the same time I think it's going to hep me see my work in a new light and hopefully force me to slow down more often. It will be finished, when it is finished - the first of 12 portraits for my #WomenOfColourSeries
Stay tuned for more 🌴"
Decemebr 30th 2016
'Happy End of 2016 🌴
Here's the first completed painting for my #WomenOfColourSeries and my last painting for 2016. This portrait is painted from a photograph taken by @amandafordycephoto for a past @misterzimi campaign shoot. I LOVE Mister Zimi's designs, they are bold, colourful and patterned - much like my artwork. I was stoked when they gave me their blessing to paint this piece. MZ design clothing for the woman who isn't afraid to stand out and they lead me to fall in love with Amanda's photography as well. Her style is also bold, colourful and proudly unique...intuitively so. You can now purchase prints of Amanda's work at @amandafordyceprints and some of the profits of sales go towards funds for Headspace.
This series of portraits will celebrate my admiration for local Australian women of substance, bold style and women who raise others up - and basically women who greatly inspire me!
Thanks for all of the Insta LOVE this year, I appreciate every ounce of support I get from this fab platform.
Stay safe this weekend and I hope you all have an amazing start to 2017 ✨"
Here's the first completed painting for my #WomenOfColourSeries and my last painting for 2016. This portrait is painted from a photograph taken by @amandafordycephoto for a past @misterzimi campaign shoot. I LOVE Mister Zimi's designs, they are bold, colourful and patterned - much like my artwork. I was stoked when they gave me their blessing to paint this piece. MZ design clothing for the woman who isn't afraid to stand out and they lead me to fall in love with Amanda's photography as well. Her style is also bold, colourful and proudly unique...intuitively so. You can now purchase prints of Amanda's work at @amandafordyceprints and some of the profits of sales go towards funds for Headspace.
This series of portraits will celebrate my admiration for local Australian women of substance, bold style and women who raise others up - and basically women who greatly inspire me!
Thanks for all of the Insta LOVE this year, I appreciate every ounce of support I get from this fab platform.
Stay safe this weekend and I hope you all have an amazing start to 2017 ✨"
And here is the original image by Amanda Fordayce for the 'Birds of Paradise' campaign by Mister Zimi.
The lovely model is is Stephanie Cherry and I just fell in love with this enire image when I first spotted it. The colours, pattern and entire composition got my attention immediately. There is so much joy and strength in Stephanie's expression and I love the juxtiposition of luxe and glamour with a manual action. This image also makes me think of connection to place. Her clothes, complexion and expression reflect the colours and beauty of her surroundings. I personally feel connected to place and not just one. You can read this image in many ways, and see where the inspiration for the design and vibe of the garments comes from.
The lovely model is is Stephanie Cherry and I just fell in love with this enire image when I first spotted it. The colours, pattern and entire composition got my attention immediately. There is so much joy and strength in Stephanie's expression and I love the juxtiposition of luxe and glamour with a manual action. This image also makes me think of connection to place. Her clothes, complexion and expression reflect the colours and beauty of her surroundings. I personally feel connected to place and not just one. You can read this image in many ways, and see where the inspiration for the design and vibe of the garments comes from.
There's something exotic and dreamy about a tropical destination that's linked to the idea of paradise and freedom. We might feel more in touch with nature or less connected to our everyday lives when we picture ourselves in such settings and 'holiday modes' compared to looking at an image of an office or car. I always feel more comforatble in my own skin when I'm relaxed and free of daily life contraints (ie checking emails and wearing a bra). Is that the holiday effect? Or is that what it means to get in touch with nature? To be at one with it, to feel it and immerse yourself in the calming and soothing vibes of something so naturally beautiful. I think there is definetly a huge researgence for embracing nature right now, and whether or not it's started from a home decorating trend or something more innate - I think it's a great thing. Slowing down for long enough to quiet your mind and turning off everything that keeps you disconnected from the outdoors is something we should all make a priority. I certaintly felt that happened for me when I moved to Tamborine Mountain.
Surrounding yourself in nature is a little reminder of what it feels like to be on holidays, and to just relax and be happy in yourself. Maybe it's becuase we are taking a break from the facade we feel we need to uphold in our everyday contexts. Maybe we just have less stress. Imagine if we could hang onto those holiday feelings forever! OK so we might not get much done BUT we could certainly walk around with a greater sense of self. In the mean time, we have amazing designers like Mister Zimi to help us retain those colourful holiday vibes and reminders of nature with their joyful and unique pieces. I certainly feel happier when I'm wearing these bright colours. Colours really are that powerful!
I hope we all find our courage to proudly wear our colours this year. Without hesitation or fear of standing out.
Tamara x
Surrounding yourself in nature is a little reminder of what it feels like to be on holidays, and to just relax and be happy in yourself. Maybe it's becuase we are taking a break from the facade we feel we need to uphold in our everyday contexts. Maybe we just have less stress. Imagine if we could hang onto those holiday feelings forever! OK so we might not get much done BUT we could certainly walk around with a greater sense of self. In the mean time, we have amazing designers like Mister Zimi to help us retain those colourful holiday vibes and reminders of nature with their joyful and unique pieces. I certainly feel happier when I'm wearing these bright colours. Colours really are that powerful!
I hope we all find our courage to proudly wear our colours this year. Without hesitation or fear of standing out.
Tamara x
P.S. You can see more inspirning images from this campaign at The Drifter.
Stay tuned for prints of this work.
Stay tuned for prints of this work.
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