Interview with artist Tamara Guion

I first saw Tamara's work by accident. I was working on the Allen of koalapop interview and he had a link to her site on his site. I immediately fell for her surreal style.

When did you first realize you wanted to be an artist?
I've literally been drawing since I could pick up a crayon. All throughout my childhood I was constantly drawing in class, or making my own holiday decorations. I would mostly try to draw other people that I knew, or people that I saw in movies or magazines. It was fun and relaxing and it also gave me a creative outlet for dealing with the mundane daily issues of just growing up. I continued to draw as I got older and finally a good friend convinced me that I should seriously consider making it a career. So when I was 25 I applied and was accepted at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA , graduated with a BFA in Illustration and Design in 1999, and have been a working artist and designer ever since.

How long have you been designing?

10 years.

What is your favorite medium to work in?

Acrylic.

What advice would you give someone just starting out?

Try to be versatile. While it's important to have a distinctive style, it's also very important to not limit yourself to just one thing. When I was in my last year in school, I took at lot of graphic design, advertising, and photography classes in addition to my regular drawing and painting in an attempt to have a better understanding of the related fields. This has proved to be invaluable over the years as it's opened up multiple streams of income that wouldn't have been available to me otherwise.

What style has worked best for you as a designer?

The one I'm currently working in.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I would really like to make the transition into doing more gallery shows.

What is your favorite piece?

I've Always been fond of my "Praying Elvis", and I like "Death Among Us".

Who has been your biggest influence in your designs?

Most of my influences come from the old Medieval icons, Renaissance and Baroque portraiture and the Vanitas still life's.

What is your favorite piece by another artist?

A Vanita's still life by the Dutch painter, Pieter Claesz.

4 of my favorite designs: