Explore! Experiment! Be open! Take risks! Spread joy! These are Tamara’s mantras. They express her creative spirit, her voice and her path as an artist. It is not surprising to learn that Tamara Grand has a PhD in Evolutionary Ecology, once you witness her art practice. While she works intuitively, she is also quite intentional about her direction, and she has the discipline to forge ahead, not allowing setbacks or periods of discouragement to dampen her desire to grow, to be in the flow, and to be fully alive. She also asks probing questions about processes, materials, and elements – ever the curious soul.
Tamara Grand and I met in an online course and on social media. I was immediately impressed by her “can-do” and “put yourself out there” attitude. Her positive energy is contagious. We met in person at a workshop in NYC and have remained in regular touch ever since, even reconnecting in NYC last fall. Among all my artist friends, Tamara is among the most willing to push herself – mindfully – in both the studio and the business sides of her art.
Tamara is versatile, having worked in collage, fabric/textiles, and other mediums. For the past several years she has focused on abstract painting, overflowing with vibrant colours, organic shapes, and multiple layers. She achieves a subtle veiled effect, drawing you in to investigate further, to dive deeper into what jewels are hidden underneath – what Tamara calls the “magic moments”. Equally at ease working both small and large, Tamara has an innate sense of when to make a shift and stir things up. Her paintings are playful, complex, and full of movement – like a dance underwater or a starlight festival, evoking feelings of both excitement and, ironically, calm. An invitation to experience beauty and possibility.
-Written by Rena Diana
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Which neighbourhood are you in?
For the past 30 years, I’ve lived and worked in Port Moody, BC. It’s a fabulous little community, nestled between the ocean and the mountains, and full of great places for outdoor adventures. We spend a lot of time exploring the nearby trails and beaches; it’s not surprising that the colours, textures and shapes of nature are often a central focus in my paintings. We’re known for micro-breweries, donuts and art.
What do you do?
I am an abstract artist who creates bold, colourful and expressive art. My paintings are simultaneous explorations of things I’ve seen, places I’ve been and how I want to feel. Like me, they are multilayered, complex and full of surprises. While never overtly representational, viewers often comment that my work takes them back to nature; a favourite rocky beach, an alpine meadow and an old-growth forest hike.
Primarily self-taught, I think of myself as a ‘process’ painter and embrace spontaneity and surprise in my creative practice. I don’t pre-plan my palette or compositions, allowing the work to unfold naturally in a dynamic ‘call and response’ with the canvas. My paintings are characterized by bright, uplifting colours and organic shapes that radiate energy and movement.
What are you currently working on?
I’m currently working on a series of what I think of as ‘wild’ paintings. Bigger canvases, larger brushes and whole-body gestural mark-making, that feels more expansive and expressive than the paintings I’ve made in the past. I want the work to have an immersive effect on the viewer, for them to feel like they’re inside the painting (or at least a place the work reminds them of).
Where can we find your work?
Available work can be found on my website. I also love sharing new and in-process shots of paintings on Instagram, where I’m @tamaragrandart.
