CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) Local artist Tara Swalgren is quickly gaining a following for her imaginative, animal-inspired paintings.
Swalgren, who finds artistic inspiration in the animal world, often incorporates flowers and other plant-life into her paintings to create surreal effects that are beyond comparison.
“I would describe my artistic work as floral and feminine,” Swalgren said, even though most of her animal subjects are male. “There’s something just so feminine about an animal to me and adding these pink and purple hues, and crystals and flowers celebrates strong femininity and masculinity.”
Male animal horns serve as the focal points in many of her pieces. These horns are richly adorned with tree branches or other flora whose surrealistic elements oftentimes take on the appearance of a new species.
Working with ink as a preferred medium, Swalgren utilizes the texture of the paper and the inexact behavior of ink for her often whimsical, large scale creations.
“I really enjoy ink. I like to water it down because it spreads like watercolor, but the pigmentation is stronger and, I think, more interesting,” she said.
Discussing what she hopes to accomplish with her art, Swalgren said, “I just want to give people an outlet…to come to a show, and feel safe and comfortable. I like that people can just come and enjoy it, and then maybe have a good conversation about it.”
The Austin Peay State University grad is preparing for a collaborative show with fellow artist C.D. Charlton at the DBO Gallery in Downtown Clarksville on Saturday, October 27 from 5-8 p.m. Admission is free. Refreshments will be available and Swalgren will offer some prints in addition to the exhibited works.
You can find Swalgren and her art on Facebook and Instagram. She also has her own website. If you’re interested in purchasing any of her artwork, it’s available on Etsy.
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