We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tauni Western. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tauni below.

Tauni, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I’ve always known that I would end up in some sort of creative profession; it just took me a while to get here.

Recently, my mom mailed me a box filled with a ton of childhood memorabilia — baby photos, fictional short stories I wrote about aliens (lol), and projects from elementary school that feature the classic “What do you want to be when you grow up?” type of inquiries. I wanted to be anything and everything over the years, but the desire to be “an Artist” was consistently present within the folds of the small journals I recently uncovered.

My mom was a photographer and took several film photography classes when I was a kid. I have vivid memories of going with her to these classes and helping her select which photos to print in the darkroom from her contact sheets. I was always curious and assisted in the process where I could.

The introduction to film photography when I was very young has been integral to my development as an Artist. I’ve been shooting photos since I was about nine years old, and although my practice has shifted toward painting, photography has and will always be a part of my creative process.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi there, my name is Tauni Western. In short, I’m a Painter, Film Photographer, & community builder living and working out of my one-bedroom apartment in Silverlake, Los Angeles. I’m from Palm Springs originally but spent my formative years in Reno & Chicago. I studied Fine Art at the University of Illinois at Chicago, though I opted not to finish my degree there. When I’m not working or making Art, I’m probably on a walk somewhere on the Eastside with a friend & my film camera, or reading poetry on my sofa with the windows cracked so that a nice cross-breeze is flowing throughout the apartment.

I went back to school in 2018, after a multi-year hiatus. I had an open elective & a limited window of time to fill it. The only class that fit within my schedule was Intro to Oil Painting. Painting was always a medium I was curious about but had never tried. I was always a Photographer. My face behind the camera, plastic film canisters in the pockets of most of my jackets & bags, late nights in the dark room, the faint smell of fixer lingering in my hair–you get the picture. Nevertheless, my natural sense of curiosity led me to sign up for what would be the only instructive painting course I’ve ever taken.

In week two of the course, we went to Blick as a class to gather supplies for the semester. I had spent so much time in that store, but never in the paint aisle. My painting professor, Roni Packer, nudged me in the direction of some higher-quality materials. “I have a feeling you’ll be doing this for a while”. She knew well before I did. Thank you for believing in me, Roni.

I hated painting at first. I was not very good at it. I remember having never really used an easel and was painting on a piece of cardboard, flat, upon a tabletop. Roni asked me why I was doing that, and I did not have an answer for her. It wasn’t wrong per se, but she noted I’d have a backache if I continued in that manner. I felt like such a sapling with this medium.

After a lot of trial, error, & many late nights in the studio–I finally produced a couple of pieces that I was proud of. Painting began to make sense to me & it truly changed the way that I view the world. Suddenly, I found myself taking note of texture, colors, & shapes as I traversed the city. Mentally mixing the colors I’d need to produce the very specific shade of yellow I’d see on my commute each day. Everything started to make sense. The mundane seemed brighter. Ordinary tasks were infinitely more interesting to me. I could paint for hours & hours, but never tire of it. I somehow stumbled into this class not knowing a thing, but left with a certainty that I had never experienced before. Painting is what I am meant to be doing.

In the Spring of 2019, I suffered a significant loss in my family & my priorities swiftly changed. I knew I needed to move back West to be closer to my loved ones. I gleaned what I could from the program I was in & relocated to Los Angeles in December 2019 for a fresh start in a city I knew virtually no one in, on the cusp of what would soon be a global pandemic. I was working in the luxury travel industry when Covid hit. I was furloughed for six months & like many of us, was forced to take stock of my life & how I was leading it. I was really lonely during the covid lockdown. So much so, that I started to paint portraits of my friends. I spent so much time examining photos that I took of them & translating them onto canvas. It felt like I was hanging out with them. This was a pivotal moment in my practice. I had never painted portraits until 2020 and now that is primarily what I do.

Eventually, when I went back to work, a colleague asked me “If you were to die tomorrow, would you be happy with what you’re doing?”. The answer was an immediate “no”.

I left that job to pursue Art.

Fast forward to 2024. I’ve been working as an Artist for a little over a year. I’m the Studio Manager for an LA-based oil painter & work on my own practice when I’m not helping other Artists streamline theirs. I’m pretty immersed in the creative/music scene in East LA, so a lot of my clients are Artists & Musicians who need portraits for promotional materials. Presently, I’m working on photographing/painting the album covers for two musicians. I’m working on a series of “self-portraits” that involve literal paintings of myself but also places that hold significance to me & portraits of people that I hold near & dear. And I am actively taking commissions for paintings, photos, & collages–I’d love to create something for you!

In addition to my Art practice & job, I’m always trying to find ways to bring my community together. I recently helped my friend Zack organize an event at a music venue in Hollywood called Gold Diggers for Valentine’s Day. It was so incredibly special & the room was filled with some of the most talented Artists I know. In an attempt to continue to bring the creative community together without having to throw an event each time, we’re working on another project that is a little too early to announce, but It will be a collaborative meeting place for creatives throughout the worldwide web. Stay tuned!

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I’ve made a lot of pivots in my life, both personally & professionally. I was climbing the corporate ladder for several years and was laid off on Valentine’s Day in 2023. *ouch*

I was the first in what would be a slew of layoffs. Oof. It stung. Valentine’s Day never held much importance for me in terms of love; instead, I operate in a constant state of sappiness year-round. Lol

However, 2/14 certainly holds some significance now. It will forever be the day I was thrust onto the right path. Forced to make a huge shift in my life and finally take a leap by doing what I’m meant to do.

I’ve always worked full-time gigs. The stability that a salaried job provides is something I always sought out. I told myself that I could do it all & that the full-time gig would provide me with the flexibility financially to make Art on the side, but I was so tuckered out by the end of the workday that my Art practice often took a backseat in my long list of priorities.

I really leveraged my network of friends and creatives post lay-off to find work & build connections that have led me to where I am now. Surely, I would not be doing what I am doing without the help of my friends & family. Thank you all so much.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

There was a time in my life when I believed fervently in the concept of “wrong” decisions. I was caught in the cycle of second-guessing, often grappling with questions like, “Should I quit this job?” or “Is relocating to this city the right move?” The fear of making the wrong choice loomed over me.

One particular instance that challenged this mindset was when I faced a significant crossroads in my career. I was offered a job in Los Angeles & relocated within two months after accepting the position. The decision I made at the time seemed right, but as things unfolded, it didn’t lead to the outcomes I had envisioned. I initially saw it as a wrong move, a misstep that I needed to rectify.

Over time, I came to realize that labeling it as a “wrong” decision was a limited perspective. Every twist and turn in that journey contributed to my growth and understanding of myself. The challenges I faced and the unexpected outcomes were integral to shaping who I am today.

There are no inherently wrong decisions. Instead, each choice is a stepping stone on the journey to who we are becoming. Embracing this perspective has freed me from the fear of making mistakes, allowing me to approach decisions with more confidence and certainty.

Contact Info:

• Website: tauniwestern.com
• Instagram: @tauniwestern

Image Credits
Lauren Lotz, Tauni Western, Christina Rodriguez