Q&A with Local Artist, Tamara Brown

Artist Tamara Brown shares her lifelong passion for art that started while walking through galleries as a child in Charleston. It is such a treat to hear more from the artists who make up Affordable Art of Charleston! Learn more about Tamara and her stunning impressionist paintings in her Q&A below.

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Tell us about yourself:

I want to have the mindset of “making the most of each day” and living a thankful life. I love creating beauty whether through a painting or decorating a room. I’m grateful to be married to my best friend and best encourager - we married when we were 20 / 21 years old and raising our two daughters who are now 10 and 12. I enjoy yoga and barre classes. I’m an extrovert and value the people in my life. I usually have paint somewhere on my body and often have a coffee cup in hand.

Tell us how you got started in art?

Growing up in Charleston with a mother who loved art was an inspiring combination. My mom was a single parent and an elementary school teacher, and though she didn't have much free time to paint for herself she introduced me to art. I would walk through galleries as a child with her and her friends downtown and I grew up always being very aware of it. I enjoyed painting and drawing for as long as I can remember.

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How would you describe your art?

I would describe my style as impressionism - Bold yet delicate, loose yet defined. I want the viewer to recognize a subject but love mixing wider watercolor and rough strokes where you see the edges of the brushwork so that it has a very "painterly" look. Lastly, I love the final little details and my hope is that the viewer enjoys noticing new things over time as they view the painting.

What inspires you?

Inspiration comes from observing the world around me. It comes through traveling and seeing new places, could come from a restaurant or coffee shop with an interesting atmosphere, driving through the mountains or walking along the beach and noticing the details. The marshes and low country landscapes are a direct inspiration of growing up seeing the beautiful Charleston waterways and noticing the many colors and textures of the city - I think our formative childhood years are so shaping and definitely has greatly influenced me as an artist.

Which artists inspire you?

Gosh, there are many artists whose work is inspiring for different reasons. I have always been drawn to Alain Picard, Tony Allain, and Jeff Jamison’s use of color and blunt strokes.

What do you love about working in the Charleston Art Community?

I currently live in Spartanburg but am in Charleston frequently (my home away from home) - I think Charleston has a thriving art scene hands down. From dozens of art galleries, the annual Spoleto art festival (I went to that every year as a child) is such a welcoming and inspiring place for artists!

How does Charleston inspire you?

Charleston is one of those special places that just about every turn you make you see beauty...whether it's the gorgeous architecture of the Charleston homes, the palm trees, beaches, marshes, etc. -- Inspiration truly is around every corner!

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What is your current favorite piece that you have done?

One of my most favorite collections was the "Travel" series that I did earlier this year. As so many of us have been missing normal travel this past year, painting the landscapes of Italy and France felt like such a beautiful reprieve...almost as if I was stepping foot there for a moment through painting the scene. One of my favorite paintings was a marsh I did two years ago called "Watercolored Haven" and a tree painting from last fall called "Spice Latte".

Any new pieces that you are working on that stand out?

I’m about to begin a butterfly series (a brand new series) and excited to see these ideas on the canvas...stay tuned!

What is the most difficult part about being an artist?

I'm so grateful that God has given me the opportunity to create for a living -- it is something I do not take for granted. It takes a ton of vulnerability to put yourself out there and the road is not an easy one for most. I think there can be a stereotype sometimes that artists are flighty and coast through the day. Artists, however, especially nowadays wear many hats. Though painting is a love and passion of mine, it requires lots of focus, lots of intentional thought, planning, and decision-making in each stroke to create the work. Having the internet to market and promote yourself as an artist has been a game-changer as people no longer discover one's work only through a brick-and-mortar gallery or magazine article. However, because of this shift, artists now need to know how to take good photos and video (lighting, angles, and staging) to capture the artwork well, website design, have a social media presence, bookkeeping/accounting, branding, customer service and shipping out orders. It's a blend of being a creative, yet also being able to run a business well.

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What is the best part about being an artist?

To create art that speaks from my soul and expresses something that is inside of me. To look at something that you made and be proud and satisfied. I enjoy the entrepreneurship side of this career and that I can set my schedule to work well around my family and life week to week. I love the creative freedom to pick and explore the subjects that are calling me to paint them. It brings me so much joy being able to share my work with other people and is the ultimate satisfaction when others connect with a piece and choose to live with it in their own homes and enjoy it over the years.

Why do you love working with Affordable Art of Charleston?

I’m looking forward to working with Affordable Art of Charleston during their summer show and am honored to be asked to be part of their beautiful gallery that serves the Mt. Pleasant and Charleston residence. Their gallery has fun, unique, and colorful pieces and a great addition to their gallery is they also offer framing for collectors.


Carol Williams