Tara Austin Novak Bio
Mother Nature is my guide... A Vail Valley resident for over 25 years, artist and entrepreneur Tara Austin Novak is inspired by the beauty of Colorado and her native upstate New York. Deeply influenced by her surroundings, Tara’s abstract painting creations depict the textures and ever-changing colors in the mountains and waterways of Mother Nature’s landscapes. The silence while snowboarding through a snow covered aspen grove, the calm contemplation sitting by a mountain stream, the brilliant colors on the autumn mountain side fill her with the spirit of creation.
In 1993, Tara earned her degree in Packaging Design, with a minor in Graphic & Industrial Design from Rochester Institute of Technology, where she also pursued pottery, glass, and photography.
Snowboarding took over her world in 1994, as she spent several years competing in pro circuits and teaching at Vail and Beaver Creek Resorts, where she fell in love with the beauty, serenity, and pure joy of riding fresh powder in the trees.
Tara finds artistic inspiration in her yoga practice and meditation, snowboarding, hiking, and biking. She is also captivated by the rugged mountain terrain and variable weather conditions that provide naturally vibrant colors and forms. Using mostly acrylic mediums, Tara utilizes unique processes of layering textures, metallics, resin, and glass to capture a sense of depth in the “layers of life” she applies to a canvas. Ultimately she would like to evoke a feeling of calm and presence in the viewer; For them to stop, take a breath, and to just BE, if for only a moment...
Since its inception in 1998, Tara has continued to build and expand her thriving business, Custom Creations Inc. Working with contractors, interior designers, and homeowners in the resort communities of Vail and Aspen, she provides artful solutions for decorative wall finishes, woodwork and antique furniture restoration, artistically hiding utility covers, and creating fine art commissions to beautify their luxury homes.
In 2014, with her fine art now taking priority, driven by her passion for her art business and her community, Tara founded an art cooperative called ARTSPaCE workshop+gallery. Located in downtown Eagle, ARTSPaCE provides rental workstations and a gallery that features a wide array of work created by local artists, along with classroom and event space. This art space has become Tara’s home base studio, while also continuing to grow as a thriving hub for artistic creation and community collaboration.
With her continued exploration of abstract painting and success of showing in local galleries and commission awards, in 2018 Tara also started entering summer art festivals like Art on the Rockies, Colorado Art Shows, Howard Alan Events, and ARTwalk on Broadway, to expand her exposure in Colorado. She has been featured regularly for her art and community event activity in the Vail Daily newspaper, while also being featured in local magazines like LUXE interiors+design(2015), Mountain Lifestyle(2021), Best of Vail Valley, Vail JazzFest Guide, and Vail Valley Magazine(2022).
A dynamic community member, Tara holds various positions on a variety of boards and committees that collaborate with the Town of Eagle, the Eagle Chamber of Commerce, and the Vail Valley Art Guild. By cultivating relationships with and between artists, the community, and local businesses, she has been a main contributor in creating an "arts scene" in Eagle, CO. Along with the creation and success of projects like ARTwalk Eagle and the Downtown Business Alliance, Tara established the 501(c)(3) EagleARTS organization in 2019. The organization’s mission is to bring arts, culture, and economic vitality to Historic Downtown Eagle.
In 2020 and 2021, Tara was awarded two public art projects around the Vail Valley – decoratively painting six benches in Avon and a utility box in Riverwalk in Edwards as part of a community vitality installation. Most recently, Tara won two awards for the 2021-2022 “Best of Vail Valley” competition: Best Visual Artist and Best Art Gallery(4 years running).
When she’s not painting and putting on events, Tara can be found enjoying the Colorado outdoors with her husband and two kids.
Statement
My passion is in abstract painting - The feeling invoked by the colors, textures, and spatial tension in a piece of art. I use non-traditional tools like trowels and pallet knives, layering plasters, metallics, and oxidizing metal to depict the relationship between the ever-changing organic matters in nature and the unique layers of life humans accumulate over time.
Exploring how they get layered and worn, damaged or diseased, yet thrive and grow, providing beauty and refuge. I appreciate seeing humans layered with experiences, creating positive outcomes, despite the challenges - the ultimate desire to become that beautiful lotus flower or aspen tree despite the harsh environments they grow in. Adding unexpected elements like crushed glass, paper or fabric, dripping resin, and shimmer of gold leaf express the glimmers of hope and joy illuminating in the “layers of life” intention I bring to a canvas.
Take a breath and just BE in the moment.
Original artwork ©️TaraNovakART