Tabitha Aarron

Emotions allow us to express and give visible form to our feelings. Feelings give color and texture to our experiences. I am interested in expressing an emotional experience and really engaging the viewer a little closer. Taking the important elements of art line, composition, color, anatomy, value, texture and perspective, I then ask myself how I can put these together and manipulate them to make a memorable moving image?

Body language and facial expressions speak louder than words. I take the nature of our emotions and communicate it through the strength and fragility found in the animal kingdom. Wildlife has always been a strong source of inspiration for me, they are the prime example of non verbal communication. One of my favorite past times as a very young child was driving to Rogers Environmental Education Center with my grandmother on a regular basis. I believe this is where my passion for nature all began.

I Work predominately with venetian plaster, molding paste, acrylic, oil, charcoal and graphite which allows me to push the boundaries between the abstract and the representational. A process that requires trust, discipline, vulnerability and patience. Beginning with spontaneity and a blank canvas I start by layering the plaster with a palette knife, adding a mix of different pigments and glazes. This allows me the freedom to create without expectations and initially gives the piece more of an abstract expressionist look and feel. An image of an animal will naturally appear though the color and texture, I then begin to play with the composition. The semi-transparent rendering makes the subject an integral part of the background. Playing is an important part of the artistic process, this is what leads to new discoveries. I have a love for both expressionism and realism, this technique provides me with the opportunity to play with both. I feel as if my artistry is in a constant state of evolution, the boundaries must always be pushed. Being a creative provides a healthy alternative to managing my emotions and feelings.

Tabitha grew up on 300 acres amongst the rolling hills of Upstate NY. At age 7 Tabitha’s first life drawing of her hand holding a rose became the cornerstone of her artistic abilities. Throughout the duration of her school years, Tabitha filled a scrapbook with many awards, scholarships and recognitions. During high school, college and early adulthood, outdoor adventures such as backpacking, rock climbing, salmon fishing, traveling and hiking fueled Tabitha’s passion for our natural world.