Interview
Tanja Vaillancourt
Tanja is a self-taught artist who is passionate about everything creative. She believes that we should be surrounded by art everywhere.
Through collages, Tanja is able to bring to life any theme that is dear to her. It takes hours to find the right images, but then her hand becomes spontaneous when she glues them on the frame. An epoxy finish makes the artwork shiny, and the piece lasts forever.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I was born in Germany. We moved many times during my childhood, but I’ve lived in Quebec, Canada for most of my life. I once read that children who move often during childhood develop great creativity. I think it is true in my case.
My art journey started through magazines. The pictures in magazines have always made me dream. I remember being interested in colors, fashion and design. The first real collage I did was in my twenties when I put Mod Podge on a shoe box and covered it clippings from a Vogue magazine. I remember being completely enamored.”
What inspires you most?
“I get my greatest inspiration from magazines! I collect them because they are the material that fuel my collages. I would be glad to read and look at magazines all day long if that job description existed. I love everything about them, even the feel of them in my hands. I should write a Master’s thesis on the power of magazines. I think they are uplifting and give so many ideas on how to live better. I regularly go to my local library and sit there for an hour browsing through magazines. Then I carry tons of them home. My favorites are Vogue, Elle, Marie-Claire, AD and Flow.
I studied English as a second language (ESL), and co-created a workshop entitled ‘All You Need is a Magazine’ which featured language activities that stem from magazine pages. Ultimately, I believe that ideas are out there, you just have to grab them.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I love themes related to everyday life: food, shoes, perfumes, clothes and nature. I enjoy vibrancy, and compose collages just based on color.
“My art makes people happy. The first word that comes to my mind when describing my work is colorful. The second is bold.
My art is big - door size - and so it creates an impact. Even ugly art is beautiful if it is in a large format.”
What is your creative process like?
"My creative process is simple. I just need a bunch of magazines and a few hours to spare. Then I start to cut and cut and cut. Once I have hundreds of cuttings, themes begin to emerge. I put the small pieces in piles and this creates different collages.
In the last two years, I also noticed that I get my best ideas just before waking up. I write them down immediately because I know I will forget them once the day starts.”
What process, materials, techniques, etc., do you use to create your artwork?
“Using a small brush, I glue papers with Mod Podge on a wood canvas, such as a door. Then, the piece is varnished with Epoxy and the colors come alive.
I do not sign my art. An artist friend of mine once told me that the name of the artist is not that important. It is the work that is. I like that philosophy. In a time where everybody wants to be known, it is good to stay anonymous.”
What’s your favorite artwork and why?
“Tania Girard Savoie and Mariana Mazza are two Quebecois artists that I truly enjoy and hope to buy one day.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“I think artists are there to inspire people to do their own thing. We should all be creating to feel happier. Less use of screens, and more use of your hands.”
Website: Saatchi Art
Instagram: @tanjavaillancourt
