Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara Luther.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve been creating art, my whole life. At age 2 or 3, I started drawing without instruction and I held my pencil the wrong way. I’ve had plenty of instruction since, but I still hold my pencil the wrong way. I was gifted my first set of acrylic paints when I was around 11 or 12. Later, I studied studio art at Columbia College Chicago, and that’s where I fell in love with oil painting.
I’ve showed my work in many galleries and art fairs over the years, the Glenwood Fest in Roger’s Park is a favorite of mine. A few years ago, I traveled cross-country to participated in the Sawdust Winter Festival in Laguna Beach California. It gave me some perspective. I truly began to see what was possible and how much work it was going to take. During that time, I met a gallery director who gave me some solid advice. He told me to stick with the same subject matter and with the same spirit, but to spend about 3 times longer creating each piece. I took his advice. Not only did it improve my work but now I paint about 3 times faster than I used to, and now that gallery director represents me.
I recently had a solo show, and I curated a group show at Bucktown Gallery. At the end of the year, I’ll be doing a large solo show, between 40-60 pieces, at Uncommon Ground in Wrigleyville. It seems far off now, but while juggling a few other projects, I’ll be furiously painting up until then.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There have been some detours. My challenges have showed me, more than anything, to dream bigger, and to take smaller grounded steps along the way. In my early twenties, just after I completed my undergrad in fine art, I moved home to spend time caring for my parents, both diagnosed with terminal illnesses. After they passed away, it was a dark time for me, but also a self-defining one. The impact of that loss has shaped my life in innumerable ways. It broke down my word view, shattered me emotionally, and permeated all aspects of my life. With time, it cleared out a lot of ideas about how life should be. It left me with a sense of personal power, inner guidance, and a clear artistic vision.
I went back to school to earn my Masters degree in art therapy. Recently, I began a grief support group. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. Art remained, and still remains my center.
Tara Luther Contemporary Art – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
In the last couple of years, my oil paintings have moved in the direction of archetypes, the esoteric, and pop-surreal or pop-fantastic. Upping my skill level has helped me express some of my more complex interests. I completed a zodiac collection and a Celtic castle series based on my heritage and the ancient magical traditions of Ireland.
My commissions tend towards personal portraits, mostly representational with fantastical elements, and sometimes non-representational portraits. That said, I like variety, and I’m always open to tackling new projects from portraits, to murals, to skateboards, to logos.
A lot of my fans are young and I want my art to be accessible to them as well, so, I create postcards, and hopefully coloring books and calendars in the future. I recently launched a Patreon account, so I can do more for my fans and so, I can free up my time to create more. The project that I’m currently most excited about is a story involving the recent castle series I’ve created. I’m writing and illustrating a story about an ancient Celtic world and I’ll be sharing parts of the story with my patrons at Patreon.
I create tons of original work, and I also do artist enhanced prints, where I create a canvas print of one of my pieces, then paint on the print, making subtle enhancements to individualize each piece. They look and feel like a completely original painting, but they’re a hybrid with an accessible price point.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I have big dreams, but success to me is more about how my day feels. I like the simple things. I like to be out in nature everyday, eating healthy food, connected to my husband and all the people I love… and of course, painting. No matter what I accomplish, I’ll still paint everyday. It’s pure magic to me. That said, I wouldn’t mind seeing one of my castles as a set design for the Russian ballet, that would also be pretty magical.
Pricing:
- Fantastical Portraits, starting at $650
- Artist Enhanced Prints, $250
- Canvas Prints, $150
- Limited Edition Prints, $75
- Postcard Packs (12), $35
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.taraluther.com
- Phone: 312-399-0905
- Email: taraluther22@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taraluther22
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taralutherart
- Other: https://www.patreon.com/TaraLuther
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