We were lucky to catch up with Tanya Little-Palmer recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tanya, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I learned to paint from a book. I have been interested in art my entire life. I studied art history in high school and have always been obsessed with museums. I made quite a bit of art as a child but lacked the confidence to continue as a young adult. In college, I chose to get a degree in Theatre Arts. I took an art course in college and quit, then I took an art class at a community college in my 30s and quit, I also attempted to take an online course and quit that too! Honestly, I couldn’t take the criticism. That may seem silly considering I am an actress and deal with rejection constantly. But painting felt different, what I created as a visual artist seemed closer to my core, my heart and I needed to protect that. So, in my forties I saw an instructional art book at Michael’s craft store, bought it and got to work. I started small, painting 2”x3” mini canvases. Now the sky is the limit. My smallest paintings are typically 30” x 40”.

Knowing what I know now, I couldn’t have sped up the learning process. My paintings reflect my life experience. How I see the world. I needed all four decades of living before I could sit quietly, observe, and confidently express my vision. The obstacle I faced was a lack of self-confidence. I thought there was no place for a black female artist like me. With age, I have developed a strong sense of self and a joy of creating beauty.

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

I have a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from Brown University and a gemological degree from the Gemological Institute of America. I started painting seriously 15 years ago. I have always been driven to create. My photographs and paintings reflect my love of the outdoors.

I’m most proud of my development as an artist and the bliss I experience when I paint. I also practice Yoga which has transformed my life. I am currently working on a series of black and white paintings full of mystery.

My original paintings are for sale. I also sell limited edition prints of all my artwork. It’s important to me that everyone has access to art, to beauty, to things that visually inspire them. I want art for all, not just for the wealthy collector. I want to take any intimidation factor out of purchasing my work. If what I do speaks to you then you should have an opportunity to enjoy it and have it in your home.

William Morris, a British artist and social activist said, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” Life can be tough and if we have the ability to make our homes the haven that restores us, then I want to make sure everyone can afford to add a bit of beauty with one of my prints or paintings to their environment.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

KARMA by Sadhgurgu and the THE BHAGAVAD GITA (The Song of the Lord) an ancient Indian Scripture. “Use all your power to free the senses from attachment and aversion alike, and live in the full wisdom of the Self.”

These texts have inspired my creative process and freed me to be fully present and not attached to any outcomes. I paint for the love of it and want that passion to continue despite any perceived commercial success or failure.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

FREEDOM. The freedom to express the soul’s longing. Poet, e.e. cummings wrote, “To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else – means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tvlart.com/artwork
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanyalittlepalmer/

Image Credits
All photographs, paintings, images taken by Tanya Little-Palmer