Earlier work: Drawings and illustrations during college

Beginning to blend traditional art with digital tools

After studying art in high school and painting and drawing in college, my journey continued at the University of Oregon.

Exploring Paris rooftops

During a college winter break, I stayed in Paris with a dear friend, exploring the city on foot and by subway. I used my basic French from three months of classes to ask directions and purchase fresh croissants from a nearby boulangerie—and fresh crêpes filled with bananas and Nutella from an outside vendor.

I loved the city’s array of chimneys and different building heights. This was the delightful view from her apartment:

No. 1, Paris rooftops — Pencil on paper

Illustration

A fireplace at a lovely house I lived in during college:

No. 2 — Pen on paper

I enjoy using my imagination to merge shapes:

No. 3 — Pen on paper

Exploring digital tools

As I took more classes focused on learning digital tools, like Photoshop, I looked for ways to incorporate traditional art.

In this piece of my brother, Eric, I converted the photo to black and white, printed it, and traced the outlines onto art paper. I made the color pencil drawing, scanned it, and merged the original photo with the drawing.

Left: Photo of Eric. Right: Color pencil drawing.

No. 4, Eric — The photo blended with the colored pencil drawing (using Photoshop).

The view from an apartment I lived in during college:

No. 5 — Oil pastel on paper

Later, I brought the image into Photoshop—adjusting the dimensions—and smudging, blending, and adjusting the colors.

No. 6 — Pastel version edited using Photoshop

Here, I recreated the image in Adobe Illustrator — primarily using solid flat shapes:

No. 7 — Created using Illustrator

Writing about my work

Looking through my previous work, journals, and letters—I found a letter Rick Donnell wrote for my University of Oregon college application. It brings back such joyful memories of him; he passed away in 2005.

“Tamara has learned to see with her heart and it comes through her work over and over.
Her artwork … is powerful, skillfully done and provocative. Tamara sings with her art."

- Rick Donnell, Corvallis High School art teacher

What came next?

Next in my art journey at the University of Oregon were mini graphic novels and animations. More to come soon.

I appreciate your interest in my work—and I hope your day is treating you very well!

Sending my love,
-Tamara