We were lucky to catch up with Tamarah Tsinnie-butler recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tamarah, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The most meaningful project I’ve created, was a painting I did a few years ago with my late father. It was done over the phone and sending pictures back and forth via text message. We shared stories of what stories we’ve learned over time. As he was an artist himself. It was a nice experience doing a project with him. He did not paint but he sketched and carved katsina.
The painting was of a matriarch sitting next to her rug in progress as she spun more wool to finish her weaving.
In our painting, we discretely put a spider to fit her story. In our Dine’ stories, it is told that spider woman brought out weaved rugs to tell stories.
That would be the most meaningful project I worked on along with its backstory.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Yes, My name is Tamarah Tsinnie-Butler. I am Dine/Hopi. A rare breed that others do not understand. My mother is Navajo and my Father is Hopi. I was raised and shown both of my cultures. It’s been a dream to follow my father’s foot steps into the art career. Being little and attending a few of the big art shows with my father was so fascinating. I was never artistic till a few years ago, I discovered my craft. Practice makes perfect and that’s how my art formed into my own signature work.
I paint with acrylic in a way that it makes others see it as watercolor. I paint with color but my images are white to imitate a ghost like figure. I call my paintings “story tellers” I paint my core memories or what I see. They have a lot of emotions to them. It’s a beautiful thing to create something and watch another person feel its emotions when approached. I call my art “Artbytamarah”. My platform is Instagram. You may find me at few markets here and there. My work is store located downtown in Santa Fe, NM and Cedar City, UT. (Dine Co & Home on the Range)
Aside from all the great adventures this journey has brought me. I am also a mother of 4 great children and a wife to a loving husband. I come from the beautiful Navajo reservation ( Tuba City, AZ) currently reside in Utah.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

This year, I’ve made a goal to help my mother with a new home. She never asks for help and is hard headed to ask for it. She currently lives in a small travel trailer with a tarp covering to keep warm this winter. This is what drives my creativity to its fullest potential. To help as my father once did for her with his art. He always emphasized how art will take you places you could only dream of. Believe in yourself and you’ll get there.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

My mental health. Since I’ve started creating/painting. I feel so at ease with myself. It’s my safe place to express full emotions.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @artbytamarah