Biography

From decorative borders and picture books to fantasy portraits and book design, Tara’s sensitive and delicately powerful illustration is a reflection of her interests and life experiences.

After receiving her BFA from Brigham Young University, Tara created computer illustration for interactive children’s courseware at WICAT, Inc. and IBM. She went on to serve as Art Director for the multimedia firms, MindBank, Inc. and Common Sense Interactive Group.

Fueled by her love of animals, nature and children, Tara founded her own studio to focus on more traditional media. Working primarily in acrylic and watercolor, she produced illustrations for zoos, magazines and then children’s books. Tara’s artwork has been published in such publications as WordPerfect Magazine, Ladybug, Pockets Magazine and Children’s Highlights (for which she won the “Science Corner Illustration of the Year 2000”).

Her style is realistic yet soft-edged and warm. Drawing upon her own family and her extensive teaching experience, she carefully studies her subjects before translating them into her illustrations. The results are detailed pictures that glow with life, color, and emotion, full of multi-ethnic characters and appealing animals. Although her new series of Celtic Nature Spirits appeals to an older audience with its sense of mystery, the same detailed sense of color, design and realism shines through.

Magazines:

  WordPerfect Magazine

  Children’s Digest

  The Pittsburgh Zoo Magazine

  Pockets

  Ladybug

  Children’s Highlights

Books:

Houghton-Mifflin

   School Recyclers - pending

   (emergent reader)

Bookcraft, Inc.

  As I Have Loved You
  (coloring book)

  I Know the Scriptures Are True
  (coloring book)

  The Trek West: My Pioneer
  Sticker Book

  The Friendly Beasts
 

Deseret Book Co.

  Mormon Girl – series
  (interior vignettes)

  Expecting Joy
  (book cover)

  Baby Keepsake Album
 

I Knew That, Inc.

  The Black Shack
  (emergent reader)

Miscellaneous:

  Utah’s Hogle Zoo, (signage)

Scrap by Scrap; Deseret Book, Co.
  (series of scrapbooking
  project packets)

Creative Communications
  (advent calendars)