Jackie Tahara, Nelson

Because I am drawn to the graphic nature of black and white, my pieces begin with designs in black India ink on a ground of pure white paper. Also having a need for color, I next add saturated hues in unusual, often surprising, color combinations: lime green apples ringed with magenta against a scarlet ground, flaming yellow-orange petals unfolding against a dusty pink sky, or luscious deep violet plums and emerald green leaves against palest blue. In my recent work, I cut out these designs and collage them to painted wood panels, layering several cut-outs in a single piece. This lends an almost 3-D quality to the completed work.

Extensive periods of travel and study introduced me to the artistic traditions of other cultures and helped develop my own aesthetic. Influences include jewel-toned silk saris, Indonesian block-printed batiks and weavings, embroidered Japanese kimonos, indigo dyeing, and Mexican folkart. In 2004, I moved to Nelson in the West Kootenays. Here, I continue to indulge my creative side and am thankful for the opportunity to do so.