After leaving school Tara Lewis attended art and design colleges and is now living in Central Queensland. “There is something special about the Central Highlands landscape and environment and is rich in inspiration.” The contrast of the environment is explored in her work from the dry harshness of the bush to the abundant beautiful flora and fauna, the vastness and calmness of the Dam, the bowen basin with layers of sedimentary rock to the Emerald botanical gardens alive with activity and the Nogoa River that runs through it, not forgetting fossicking in Sapphire and enjoying the trees and birds in her back yard. All combine to make an archive of feelings, images and experiences of nature and the energy of the land to paint for ten lifetimes.
The studio has countless rows of jars with various sized brushes and utensils being the tools of her trade. Exploring new marks with a new baking or plastering tool is just part of the process. Working with mixed media of acrylic paint, charcoal, ink, graphite and oil pastels to create interesting layers. “Working intuitively from memory, feeling, sketches and photos, I use this as a starting point for painting then allow it to evolve and take its own journey.” Any painting preparation is completed prior to studio time to allow working in the present moment so the painting is a reflection of that moment. This can create some serendipitous discoveries which may take you down a whole other road, so the abstract work is a result of emotive responses to feelings. The painting composition adjusts as I respond to the paint bringing a more experimental approach in the way I use colour, tools and materials.
Each developing series is to explore and push each painting in a newly discovered place. Often expressed through interesting tools, colour palette or using collage, then building up layers and sanding them back allowing the process to evolve organically.
Each painting is an exploration, challenge and reward to express that feeling of energy at each stage of the painting. “I am trying to find what I love and leave behind what does not bring me joy, searching for something new and fresh each painting.”