#sparkchamber 100917 Tamar Miller

As the world turns, the season transitions, and nature shows her brilliant autumn colors, we welcome visual artist Tamar Miller to the #sparkchamber. Born in LA, and raised in Boston and Philadelphia, Tamar now lives in Denver. Her work is based on observations of how weather, clouds, and light shifting across the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains change the appearance of the landscape from moment to moment. She strives to make permanent something that lasts but a moment — “Not being able to 'keep up' with time passing is a conundrum in my life, both in and out of the studio.”

Using a variety of media, Tamar arranges layers, spaces, and light on paper, drawing inspiration from mountains and sky, ancient Middle Eastern bas relief, Chinese ink wash painting, and the endless ideas and images that flicker by in her work as a catalog librarian at the Denver Public Library.

See more of her drawings at tamarmiller.com.

1.] Where do ideas come from?

From looking closely at the world — the landscape, light, the weather rolling in across the mountains — but also human-made things. From the process of working on a drawing. From talking to people. From looking at books; I work at a library, I see a lot, from photography books to painting, sculpture, children's book illustration, manga, you name it.

2.] What is the itch you are scratching?

I want to make something that resonates, that feels alive, that relates to my life’s experience.

3.] Early bird or night owl, tortoise or hare?

Depends on the medium. Pencil is slow, ink is fast. I get different, valuable things from working slowly or quickly. If I work one way too long I change it up — I work best when I’m in unknown territory.

4.] How do you know when you are done?

When I look at it and there’s nothing left to do.