Tales & Trails Tourism Editorial

Natures Muse

Three artists talk Inspiration & Margaret River Open Studios.

"It's hard to draw a line between work and my favourite things to do in life. I take my son camping, I surf, we walk the Cape to Cape." Tamika Hogan paints large-scale coastal scenes in oil, expertly capturing light on granite and scrub and the vivid blues of the Indian Ocean.

"As an artist there's endless inspiration. I could be on a walk, and a scene will completely stop me in my tracks, and I know I have to recreate it with paint."

"Nature is the remedy and the antidote to so many stresses in life. I try to capture that calm

in my art.'

Each year during Open Studios, Tamika welcomes art lovers to her restored rail carriage studio.

"When I first started Open Studios, I was a total novice at putting myself out there and selling my work. Now, it sets me up for the year financially, and it's helped me establish myself as a full-time artist."

Last year, Tamika painted Wilyabrup Cliffs on a large canvas with exquisite detail.

"I often go back to the location multiple times, especially for the big pieces. I took my son for a picnic and spent the whole day at Wilyabrup Cliffs, exploring and swimming in the rock pools beneath. It was an important part of the process, to see that part of the painting up close." Preparing for her sixth Open Studios, Tamika is enthusiastic about meeting fellow creatives.

"I went through a seven-year creative block, so I love having conversations with other creators in that in-between place. And I love the chance to meet the buyers firsthand."