Tara is a Canadian illustrator who’s on her way to London in the next couple of months (so if you see her be nice and show her around) who also seems to have a slight hair fetish. Frida Kahlo seems to have channeled her way through Tara’s hands in to the faces of an assortment of characters in designer clothes – prizes for people who can recognize prints – exotic feathers and club kid make-up. We sent Tara some questions via t’internet because we just couldn’t wait until she arrived in London, and logistically, going to Canada would have been hard and expensive.

Hi Tara, how’s your day been?

Hi. It’s been a perfectly sticky mid-summer day.

What’s the most interesting thing you’ve done in the last week?

Amsterdam.

What’s the most creative thing you’ve done in the last week?

Managed to carry my entire life on a bicycle, plus groceries.

Where did your art career start?

In my childhood home.

What made you realize that you wanted to do it for real and make a career out of your work?

In a sense, I don’t think that it was ever really a decision. Illustration is my lifeblood – and it felt like a natural transition to move from working for myself to working for a client.

Are your portraits based on people you know/have seen in film, etc?

I have been known to steal faces from old photographs.

I noticed the character with a resemblance to Frida pops up a load, was she an inspiration?

Although Frida herself was not a direct inspiration, I am in general drawn to strong, stern-faced characters. And moustaches.

Sorry, stock question, but what is inspiring you at the moment?

Summer downpours, the twang of Patsy Cline, Cyd Charisse in action (see: Singing in the Rain), sharp shoulders, thunder claps & French Bulldogs.

What’s in your CD Player at the moment, and what do you like to listen to while you illustrate?

Beach House.

Are the similarities to certain designer’s clothes in your work intentional?

Yes. If you are picking up a similarity, chances are it is a direct reference.

Who are you in to fashion wise?

I have a great respect for designers who pursue perfection in their craft, whatever it may be.

Anything exciting coming up in the near future?

Yes – I’m relocating to London! Pretty excited about that.

The Dreamboat

(Every man should have a good set of pointy shoulders for a lady to lean on)

The Jedi Mind Trick

Eyes fixed on the highest hill.

The Gauntlet

Heads will roll.

A Fantastic Man

With very little concern.

The Show Pony

Perfectly serious.

The Bird of Prey

Fly away home.

www.taradougans.com

This entry was tagged as ART., beach house, canada, frida, illustration, London, tara dougans.