Tara Lewis was born in the seventies, Brisbane and has practiced art throughout childhood.  After leaving school she studied art and design, then moved to Emerald Queensland 2010 allowing her to reconnect with painting and now enjoying participating in local art events.

 Each painting is an exploration, challenge, and reward to express a moment 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.”    In the playful line between energy and calmness, my acrylic paintings assist as a visual journey into the spaces of the intangible.  “Working intuitively from memory, feeling, sketches and photos, I use this as a starting point for a painting then allow it to evolve and take its own journey.” 

 Having a limitless fascination with the relationship of colour and form, each painting searches to exceed the boundaries of representation, inviting observers into a space where emotions and energies come together.  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 removing some back allowing the process to evolve organically.  A new series brings a new palette, each stroke of acrylic paint is an expression between hues, a conversation that evolves with each layer.  Either to contrast or compliment bold and harmonious colours.

 Any painting preparation is completed prior to studio time to allow working in the present so the painting reflects 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.

 The home studio has countless rows of jars with various sized brushes and utensils being the tools of the 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.

 The artwork is abstract in essence, a painting emerges from a process of intuitive creation. Shapes and lines meet and deviate, forming involved patterns and mark making that escape explanation. The canvas becomes a space for experimentation, where the ebb and flow of the acrylic medium give opportunities to unexpected textures and compositions.

 In the absence of recognizable subjects, the artistic journey extends beyond the canvas; it is a continual exploration of the present and environment. Influenced by the abstract impressionist and expressionist movements, my work seeks to capture the essence of presence and the beauty found in nature’s existence.  My intention is to elevate consciousness to translate those emotions onto canvas. 

 Prospering in the remoteness and solitude of living and working 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.