We recently connected with Tara Radosevich and have shared our conversation below.

Tara , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I can not really recall a first time. I just remember drawing and coloring so much as a little kid and throughout my childhood and into my young adulthood. It came naturally for me as breathing. I loved my art classes in school and I always loved learning about art and the historic artists you typically learn about in school. I just always knew I wanted to and was meant to be an artist. My favorite things to draw were animals. Which I loved (and I am still passionate about) learning about animals. My passion for the American West followed in sync with my passions for art and animals because of my love for horses and just the beauty of the nature of the American West that was so different from Florida’s natural beauty. But I suppose to answer the question when I was graduating high school I just figured I would become an artist and go to school for it. I was shocked when I was told from my parents and even an art teacher you can’t really make a living do art when all my entire life I was praised and encouraged for being an artist from my parents and teachers. But I was still serious about becoming an artist and I still went to school for art. At that time I was not where I was, where I am now, and still had a lot to learn in terms of skill, ability, what I wanted to create, and what my goals were as an artist. I first went to St. Petersburg Community College, got my Associates in Arts degree there and had the most amazing teacher, Kevin Grass. He was a professional gifted artist as well as very gifted teacher. I owe a lot of my skills to him and what he taught me in drawing and painting. After SPC I transferred to the University of South Florida in Tampa. While there I was taught a class called Real World, which taught you the business side of being an artist. Again taught by an amazing teacher, Richard Olinger. I am very grateful this man, also an artist, saw this important need for young artists to learn what it truly takes to make your dreams come true in the real world outside of school and what you need to do as an artist to be taken seriously. How to get out of your shell, how to network, research galleries, how to approach galleries, how to document your work, how to talk about your art, creating a professional portfolio, creating a website, business cards, and creating opportunities for yourself. So much I learned and I am entirely grateful for. While in college, I thought I wanted to become a surrealist artist. It wasn’t until my last semester I found a book in the library on the National Museum of Wildlife Art of Jacksonhole, Wyoming. Going through the book it blew my mind and I had no idea other artists where making a living doing what I was always doing and loved doing as a kid-drawing and painting animals. That’s when I knew this is what I want to do, what I was always called to do.

Tara , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I was born in St. Petersburg, Florida on March 6, 1990 from a practicing Catholic family, the only girl of a family of five. I was always drawing and what I loved drawing the most were animals, my favorites were horses, wolves, and deer. I held a strong compassion for wildlife and the American West. When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I told them, “An Artist and a Cowgirl.” We grew up in a small condo in a suburb of other condominium homes. I wanted to grow up on a farm and have horses and other farm animals to take care of. The only closest animals I had near me were the neighbors pets, frogs, and lizards. The way I fed those interests was by reading books, going to Busch Gardens, Sea World, and Lowry Park Zoo, learning in school, watching Animal Planet, and of course drawing the wildlife I craved to be near and to see.
From 2018-2011 I went to St. Petersburg Community College and got my Associates in Arts Degree. In 2013, I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts, focusing in Painting, at the University of South Florida (Tampa, FL).
After graduation, I returned to my hometown determined to further learn more hands on experience. Where upon I met sculptor, Mark Aeling, and painter, Carrie Jadus at their gallery and studio, Soft Water Studios, during an Art Walk night. I applied for a one-year term position and worked as an artist assistant to Carrie Jadus. Carrie Jadus was living the life I wanted- a professional artist creating her art full time and making a successful living doing so. She taught me while under her wing, from her own life journey as a professional artist and I learned a lot from her in terms of the business side and the creative side of being an artist. I grew to network with my community in St. Petersburg, FL and met alot of people who were artists themselves as well as others involved in the arts. From 2016 to 2020 I was a part of the Pinellas Park Arts Village and had a studio where I worked at 5663 Studios among other artists- where I met my Western artist mentor, Bob Canning. He was one of the few other Western artists in St. Pete and his support, help, and encouragement continues to help me become a better artist. While in Florida, I was still creating my wildlife and western art but I felt I really needed to be out West. Montana since I was a child has always been calling my name and I finally got to go on a week long trip in July 2017. It is seriously one of the best memories of my life, it was incredible. Going to Yellowstone National Park for the first time and getting to photograph a wild bison, it was unreal, it was sublime. Following my dream to live out West, I moved to Bozeman, Montana in 2020 to further pursue my career as a wildlife, western, and equine artist. I wanted to be closer to the galleries, the shows, and other opportunities for myself that just weren’t as available for my art career back in Florida. As well as to be closer to my wildlife subject matter. I love getting out to Yellowstone and other parts of Montana and getting to watch and photograph the abundant nature and wildlife. The most exciting part of my artistic process is gathering my own reference photos, having those experiences, getting to see the wild animals in real life that I always dreamed about doing as a little kid. And I want to in gathering those references and experiences share my passion with others.
Once I gather my references I create thumbnail sketches in my sketch book to help me figure out compositions and what sizes I want to create the piece to be.
The main mediums I work in are acrylic paint for my paintings and graphite pencils for my drawings. I used to try all different kinds of mediums which I think is important and one should still do. But for my subject matter acrylic painting and graphite pencils is what I love and what I want to improve in the most. Drawing and sketching I think is fundamental for any painter to always practice and to learn as it will be a skill you will need in when transitioning a drawing into a painting. I prefer acrylic paint because of its fast drying since I work in building up my paint in thin layers, as well as it just overall more safe to use and clean up. Drawing and pencil is a nice break from painting and I find it relaxing to press those pencils into the paper as I making my marks whether it be fur or the eyes.
I consider myself a traditional realist wildlife, western, and equine artist. Meaning I don’t create my subject matter in flashy bright unrealistic colors and I make sure my anatomy is as correct as it can be. That being said though-through my strive for technical realism, the intent of my work runs much deeper—to express the living essence and powerful magnetism of my subjects.
I seek the Sublime.
What I am most proud of in my art work is my attention to detail, creating mood, and capturing light. When I have someone see my work I enjoy and it makes me happy the conversations it can spark as well as how it makes people feel. That they feel the living presence alive within my art work and what emotions that stirs up inside of them. As well as hopefully connect and share my passion for wildlife, rodeo western scenes, and horses.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Getting to create art that I love and I am passionate about. Getting to do my life’s purpose, using the artistic gifts God has given me and getting to glorify Him through my wildlife and western art and sharing that passion with other people. And in sharing my art and passion with others I hope it creates a connection, stirs some emotions in another’s soul and creates a sense of their own passion, motivation, or empathy. That is what I feel art is here for. Like when a song touches our soul.
Which goes in hand with the importance I feel is connection. Connection with your community (if where you live has a thriving art scene and support for the arts) as well as connecting with other artists. Being an artist can be tough and having a supportive community really in my experience helps you believe in yourself and to keep going despite doubt trying to get in the way. That’s why I love doing art shows, I did a few Art Walk shows this summer and I really love getting to talk to strangers who don’t know me and introducing myself and my art to them. As well as getting to know the other person as well so we are no longer completely strangers. I love hearing how my art makes them feel, their own story they would like to share, or what they love about a particular piece. The added plus is if they love it enough that they are willing to take my art home with them. Having other artists to bounce ideas off of, learn from, grow from, build friendships, and inspire. I think that is all very important and rewarding for an artist to have.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is to become the best wildlife, western, and equine artist I can become. To continue to practice and devote a lot of time to drawing and painting my subjects to continue to get better and never stopping. I have lots of goals for my career. The number one goal is to become a full time wildlife, western, and equine artist. I don’t do my art full time, I work a day job. But my main goal and what I desire the most is to get myself to a place where I can create my art full time and make a successful living for myself doing so. I want my work to be in galleries, I want to get myself out there in more art shows, (just need to invest in the panels and tent), I want to become a member in a few artist societies such as The Society of Animal Artists and the The Cowgirl Artists of America. I want to create art that honors God and again creates emotions in people that make them want to have my art in their homes.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tararadosevich.com
• Instagram: @tararadosevich
• Facebook: Tara Radosevich Wildlife, Equine, Western Artist https://www.facebook.com/tararadosevichwildlifeartist/

Image Credits

The photos of myself and my collector are taken from my cellphone. The photos of my artwork have been photographed by different photographers I have worked with. Jim Swallow at Davidson Fine Art, Seth Ward from Village Green Preservation, and Robert Park from Park Photo.