About the Artist
Canadian born and raised in the prairies, Tanya spent much of her childhood on her grandparents’ farm in the Province of Saskatchewan. Later, living in Vancouver, British Columbia, she methodically pursued her art training while contemporaneously raising a family, and working in her profession at that time, as a paralegal and Crown Prosecutor assistant. She has been deeply influenced by the elements of nature, family and Christian beliefs. In her work, she strives to capture light through dramatization of a subject by revealing how light alone can transfigure an ordinary still-life subject, at a specific moment, into something magnificent or tender.
Tanya works with traditional media and classical methods, moving to create paintings that will induce a re-appreciation of traditional realism as they relate to traditional, realistic images that touch upon timeless and universal themes. Rural subject matter often finds a place in her paintings as she says "Time and again my inspiration comes from my happiest childhood memories of days spent on my grandparents’ farm. As I sensitize myself to subject matter I am passionate about, I often exploit a limited palette and push to depict textures that are among my favorite criterion for telling stores of things old".
She never tires of the hushed silence of a still life, nor how the solidity of an object can be connected into a set up with an adjoining fragile object. “I get lost in the choices and the beauty of balancing still life arrangements. Once I complete a set up, I sit back and take a long moment to simply savour its stillness. And my hope is that the viewer will experience the tranquility of seeing the light while hearing the calm in my portrayal of the set-up. Her first solo show is titled “Light in Life – Value Changes” because when I paint she says “I connect with the Spirit within me, the Light in my life, and that’s when I know how truly blessed I am to believe God put it in my heart to make this, to have this passion, and to have this privilege, of saying thank you with my brush”.
Tanya works with traditional media and classical methods, moving to create paintings that will induce a re-appreciation of traditional realism as they relate to traditional, realistic images that touch upon timeless and universal themes. Rural subject matter often finds a place in her paintings as she says "Time and again my inspiration comes from my happiest childhood memories of days spent on my grandparents’ farm. As I sensitize myself to subject matter I am passionate about, I often exploit a limited palette and push to depict textures that are among my favorite criterion for telling stores of things old".
She never tires of the hushed silence of a still life, nor how the solidity of an object can be connected into a set up with an adjoining fragile object. “I get lost in the choices and the beauty of balancing still life arrangements. Once I complete a set up, I sit back and take a long moment to simply savour its stillness. And my hope is that the viewer will experience the tranquility of seeing the light while hearing the calm in my portrayal of the set-up. Her first solo show is titled “Light in Life – Value Changes” because when I paint she says “I connect with the Spirit within me, the Light in my life, and that’s when I know how truly blessed I am to believe God put it in my heart to make this, to have this passion, and to have this privilege, of saying thank you with my brush”.
Professional Biography
Awards & Credits
2018 FINALIST - National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society Juried On-Line International Spring
2016 SIGNATURE MEMBER STATUS (OPA) Oil Painters of America
2016 STILL LIFE FINALIST - National Salon – Art Renewal Center, New Jersey
2016 BEST STILL LIFE – AIRS (Annual International Representational Show), Vancouver, BC
2015 MERIT AWARD OF EXCELLENCE - National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society
2015 SECOND PRIZE, 365 – Federation of Canadian Artists
2014 BEST OF SHOW Beaux Arts,(Fresh Paint 2014) – Scottsdale Artists’ School, Scottsdale, AZ
2014 AWARD OF EXCELLENCE - Oil & Water, SDAG, Delta, British Columbia
2013 AWARD OF MERIT - National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society Juried On-Line International Fall
2013 FAV 15% & BADGE - BoldBrush Painting Competition (October 2013)
2013 STILL LIFE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE - AIRS , Vancouver, BC (October 2013)
2013 STILL LIFE FINALIST - National Salon – Art Renewal Center, New Jersey
2013 BEST OF SHOW, National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society ($750.00 Award)
2013 TOP 12 FINALIST - Raymar Annual Fine Art Competition , Phoenix, AZ (Annual $1,000.00 Award)
2012 BEST STILL LIFE – AIRS (Annual International Representational Show), Vancouver, BC
2012 FINALIST - Raymar Annual Fine Art Competition , Phoenix, AZ (August)
2012 HONORABLE MENTION – 2012 Grand Prix Plein Air Painting Competition, Steveston, BC
2012 3RD PLACE PRIZE – BoldBrush Painting Competition (August 2012)
2012 FAV 15% & BADGE - BoldBrush Painting Competition (August 2012)
2011 FAV 15% & BADGE - BoldBrush Painting Competition (October 2011)
2011 FAV 15% - BoldBrush Painting Competition (June 2011)
2011 SENIOR SIGNATURE MEMBER STATUS (SFCA) of the Federation of Canadian Artists
2010 TOP 10 FINALIST - Raymar Art Competition, Scottsdale, AZ, (July 2010)
2010 TOP 10 FINALIST - Raymar Art Competition, Scottsdale, AZ, (May 2010)
2010 SIGNATURE MEMBER STATUS (NWWS) of Northwest Watercolor Society, Seattle, WA,
2009 THIRD PRIZE - Federation of Canadian Artists – Canvas Unbound, April 2009
2009 GOLDEN ARTIST AWARD - NWWS , Seattle, WA, April 2009
2009 ASSOCIATE SIGNATURE MEMBER STATUS (AFCA) of the Federation of Canadian Artists
2009 AWARD OF EXCELLENCE - Federation of Canadian Artists – Landscape Show, Feb. 2009
2008 THIRD PRIZE - The Old School House, Qualicum, BC – Plein Air Competition
2008 OPUS HONOUR OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – The Grand Prix d’Art
2007 Sheila Hugh McKay Foundation, Inc., Rothesay, NB
1995 Sheila Hugh McKay Foundation, Inc., Rothesay, NB
2016 SIGNATURE MEMBER STATUS (OPA) Oil Painters of America
2016 STILL LIFE FINALIST - National Salon – Art Renewal Center, New Jersey
2016 BEST STILL LIFE – AIRS (Annual International Representational Show), Vancouver, BC
2015 MERIT AWARD OF EXCELLENCE - National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society
2015 SECOND PRIZE, 365 – Federation of Canadian Artists
2014 BEST OF SHOW Beaux Arts,(Fresh Paint 2014) – Scottsdale Artists’ School, Scottsdale, AZ
2014 AWARD OF EXCELLENCE - Oil & Water, SDAG, Delta, British Columbia
2013 AWARD OF MERIT - National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society Juried On-Line International Fall
2013 FAV 15% & BADGE - BoldBrush Painting Competition (October 2013)
2013 STILL LIFE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE - AIRS , Vancouver, BC (October 2013)
2013 STILL LIFE FINALIST - National Salon – Art Renewal Center, New Jersey
2013 BEST OF SHOW, National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society ($750.00 Award)
2013 TOP 12 FINALIST - Raymar Annual Fine Art Competition , Phoenix, AZ (Annual $1,000.00 Award)
2012 BEST STILL LIFE – AIRS (Annual International Representational Show), Vancouver, BC
2012 FINALIST - Raymar Annual Fine Art Competition , Phoenix, AZ (August)
2012 HONORABLE MENTION – 2012 Grand Prix Plein Air Painting Competition, Steveston, BC
2012 3RD PLACE PRIZE – BoldBrush Painting Competition (August 2012)
2012 FAV 15% & BADGE - BoldBrush Painting Competition (August 2012)
2011 FAV 15% & BADGE - BoldBrush Painting Competition (October 2011)
2011 FAV 15% - BoldBrush Painting Competition (June 2011)
2011 SENIOR SIGNATURE MEMBER STATUS (SFCA) of the Federation of Canadian Artists
2010 TOP 10 FINALIST - Raymar Art Competition, Scottsdale, AZ, (July 2010)
2010 TOP 10 FINALIST - Raymar Art Competition, Scottsdale, AZ, (May 2010)
2010 SIGNATURE MEMBER STATUS (NWWS) of Northwest Watercolor Society, Seattle, WA,
2009 THIRD PRIZE - Federation of Canadian Artists – Canvas Unbound, April 2009
2009 GOLDEN ARTIST AWARD - NWWS , Seattle, WA, April 2009
2009 ASSOCIATE SIGNATURE MEMBER STATUS (AFCA) of the Federation of Canadian Artists
2009 AWARD OF EXCELLENCE - Federation of Canadian Artists – Landscape Show, Feb. 2009
2008 THIRD PRIZE - The Old School House, Qualicum, BC – Plein Air Competition
2008 OPUS HONOUR OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – The Grand Prix d’Art
2007 Sheila Hugh McKay Foundation, Inc., Rothesay, NB
1995 Sheila Hugh McKay Foundation, Inc., Rothesay, NB
Invitationals
2017 Coors Western Art Exhibition – Denver, CO
2014 Annual Masters In Miniature Show – Trailside Galleries, Jackson, WY
2013 Annual Masters In Miniature Show – Trailside Galleries, Jackson, WY
2014 Annual Masters In Miniature Show – Trailside Galleries, Jackson, WY
2013 Annual Masters In Miniature Show – Trailside Galleries, Jackson, WY
Juried Exhibitions
2016 ARC Art Renewal Center Salon, NYC, New York
2016 FCA Annual International Representational Show, Vancouver, BC
2016 OPA "25th" Annual National Juried Exhibition, Dallas, TX
2016 FCA Artists Choice Exhibition, Vancouver, BC
2015 OPA Western Regional Exhibition, Steamboat Springs, CO
2015 NOAPS Spring Online
2014 ARC Art Renewal Center Salon, NYC, New York
2014 SAS Beaux Arts (Fresh Paint), Scottsdale, AZ
2014 FCA Annual International Representational Show, Vancouver, BC
2014 OPA Western Regional Exhibition, Carmel, CA
2014 OPA Annual National Juried Exhibition, Bennington, VT
2014 SAS Best and Brightest, Scottsdale AZ
2013 FCA Annual Spilsbury Medal Show, Vancouver, BC
2013 FCA International Representational Show, Vancouver, BC
2013 ARC Art Renewal Center Salon, NYC, New York
2013 OPA Western Regional Exhibition, Topeka, KS
2013 OPA Salon Show of Traditional Oils Exhibition, Petosky, Michigan
2013 OPA National Exhibition, Fredericksburg, TX
2013 NOAPS Annual Online International Exhibition
2013 RAYMAR Annual Raymar Fine Art Competition, Online
2012 BB Bold Brush Online Art Competition
2012 OPA Western Regional Exhibition, Evergreen, CO
2012 OPA National Exhibition, Denver, CO
2012 FCA Annual International Representational Show, Vancouver, BC
2012 SAS Best and Brightest, Scottsdale, AZ
2012 FCA Double Indemnity, Group Show Exhibition, Vancouver, BC
2011 FCA Annual International Representational Show, Vancouver, BC
2011 TOSH Qualicum Beach Signature Status Artists Show, Qualicum, BC
2011 FCA Annual Success Show, Vancouver, BC
2016 FCA Annual International Representational Show, Vancouver, BC
2016 OPA "25th" Annual National Juried Exhibition, Dallas, TX
2016 FCA Artists Choice Exhibition, Vancouver, BC
2015 OPA Western Regional Exhibition, Steamboat Springs, CO
2015 NOAPS Spring Online
2014 ARC Art Renewal Center Salon, NYC, New York
2014 SAS Beaux Arts (Fresh Paint), Scottsdale, AZ
2014 FCA Annual International Representational Show, Vancouver, BC
2014 OPA Western Regional Exhibition, Carmel, CA
2014 OPA Annual National Juried Exhibition, Bennington, VT
2014 SAS Best and Brightest, Scottsdale AZ
2013 FCA Annual Spilsbury Medal Show, Vancouver, BC
2013 FCA International Representational Show, Vancouver, BC
2013 ARC Art Renewal Center Salon, NYC, New York
2013 OPA Western Regional Exhibition, Topeka, KS
2013 OPA Salon Show of Traditional Oils Exhibition, Petosky, Michigan
2013 OPA National Exhibition, Fredericksburg, TX
2013 NOAPS Annual Online International Exhibition
2013 RAYMAR Annual Raymar Fine Art Competition, Online
2012 BB Bold Brush Online Art Competition
2012 OPA Western Regional Exhibition, Evergreen, CO
2012 OPA National Exhibition, Denver, CO
2012 FCA Annual International Representational Show, Vancouver, BC
2012 SAS Best and Brightest, Scottsdale, AZ
2012 FCA Double Indemnity, Group Show Exhibition, Vancouver, BC
2011 FCA Annual International Representational Show, Vancouver, BC
2011 TOSH Qualicum Beach Signature Status Artists Show, Qualicum, BC
2011 FCA Annual Success Show, Vancouver, BC