Interview
Michele Taras
After 25 years as a photographer, which includes eight years as a fashion photographer and publications with Vogue Italia, Vanity Fair, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, Harry Rosen magazine and others, Michele Taras decided to embark on a new passion in 2018: Painting. She was described by a reporter as “reminiscent of Picasso - after he fell into a rainbow”. Her bright and colorful paintings bring happiness to the rooms in which they hang. Her style is very much her own and is a beautiful blend of fauve art and contemporary.
Michele Taras takes inspiration from the world of imagination. Some of her characters have two sides to their faces, horses have legs that are long and ondular. Many of her paintings are riddled with patterns and colors that you would not normally expect to find together in a single painting.
Born and raised in Montreal, Michele Taras was brought up in a home of travelers. She has also lived in China and spent time volunteering in Haiti and Kenya. These travels have no doubt influenced her choice of bright colors and from time to time you will find social topics depicted in her paintings.
Taras is passionate about the people of this world and passionate about all things Canadian. Some of her paintings depict Canadian animals and life. Although Taras does enjoy exploring different mediums, she mostly paints with acrylic paint. The fast-drying medium tends to keep up with her vivid imagination. Often texture is added to her work, only visible when touched by a stream of light from a window.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“My journey in the artworld began with photography. In my younger years, I did not believe that I had the skill to draw or paint, so my tool of choice was my camera. I always was attracted to photographing people and the story they had to tell. I began photographing people during my travels, and then eventually turned to family portraits, weddings and such. With the passing of my grandmother, I also started The Breast Cancer Project, where I photographed over 100 women and one man who had been affected by breast cancer. After many years doing portraits, I switched to fashion photography and published in the big name magazines like Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Vanity Fair etc... I also designed fashion that I made accessible to everyone. I began painting on my 50th birthday and surprised myself, when after posting on Facebook, that many people were interested in purchasing my work.”
What inspires you?
“I am inspired by life around me. When I was younger I loved books, and now I am addicted to movies. I often find myself listening to movies while I paint, so this story-telling angle is often seen in my paintings. And I also have an extremely vivid imagination. Everyone always asks where I get my ideas from. Getting the ideas is not the problem, it is keeping up with them!”
“I think telling our story as women to the world is very important. Often our voices are too quiet. ”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I love painting animals and recently I have been painting a lot of women in my art. I think telling our story as women to the world is very important. Often our voices are too quiet. When you first look at my paintings, they look simple, but often there is a much deeper meaning hidden on each canvas. Sometimes, the viewer can make up their own stories and dream about what the painting means to them.”
How would you describe your work?
“My work definitely has its own style and is not copied from anyone else. I use vivid colours and colour combinations that you might not usually see in one work. I also love patterns and many of my paintings have both vivid colours and pattern work. It is a mix of fauve art and contemporary art, with a twist a la Michele. I was described by reporter Kitty Huisman as: ‘Picasso, as if he fell into a rainbow.’”
Which artists influence you most?
“I love the work of Picasso, Norval Morisseau, and when I was younger I also loved Miro and Modigliani. In recent times I have also fallen in love with Klimt, Egon Schiele, Ai Weiwei, Pace Taylor, Richard Roblin, Yayoi Kusama and Yoko Ono. The list of artists that I love and respect is quite long and the beauty of social media allows us to connect to so many contemporary modern artists who are all very talented.”
What is your creative process like?
“My creative process always starts with the idea of the story I want to tell. Sometimes, I will make a sketch on paper, but usually I do not. Usually I sketch straight on canvas. Then after the sketch, I start planning out the colours. Sometimes I do not even know all the colours until near the end of the painting. I always let my intuition and my feelings at the time be my guides.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“Art has been important to humans since the beginning of time. Art always has a special place to us and seems to be almost essential to our very being. I once had a client who suffered from depression buy 15 of my pieces - and all the pieces she bought were quite large. She said it was amazing how having these pieces in her home really lifted her spirits. I believe every artist has their own story to tell; It is not so much about their role in society and how that should evolve, but rather what story that artist wants to tell the world. At this time, I am working on a collection about women issues. Will these paintings bring about debate and conversation? I hope so, because this is my aim. Art can discuss certain points of view and allow you to form your own, in a way that straightforward conversation cannot. Because with art, people can see the painting with their own cultural upbringing and views, and can then come up with their own opinions about what the art is trying to say and what it means to them.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
I have sold paintings to collectors across North America, the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East and exhibited in various Canadian cities, with my favourite exhibit being held in conjunction with Charles Pachter at the Art Gallery of Mississauga.
