Flowers are every interior and fashion designer’s secret weapon. A pretty peony or orange Dahlia bloom has the ability to brighten a beautiful home or put a smile on your face as you slip on your floral dress.
A vibrant piece of art on the wall can be the focal point of any room, it can bring out the hue of a pillow, carpet or couch. There is similarly nothing as fresh as a crisp floral spring dress making its first appearance of the season. It can add a pep in your step and brighten the mood.
There is nothing I love more than flowers on clothing and in the home, both fresh cut and as art. You can make an entryway beautiful with the delicate beauty of peonies.
A white hydrangea or brilliant red rose can be in the personality-packed principal bedroom.
Floral art can help to create a calm energy in the home and is pleasing to the eye. If you are a fashionista or fan of modern art, florals offer a simple subject matter.
“Butterflies” by Tamara Bahry
Today, I want to introduce you to east coast artist and philanthropist, Tamara Bahry. I am inspired by her fashion, artistry, and heart.
Kim: Tamara what inspired you to become an artist?
Tamara: The beauty of the natural world around me, the fascinating variety of shapes and colors found in nature, but most importantly the joy I feel when working on a photography series.
Kim: Tell me how your newest series “Flower in Isolation” came about.
Tamara: The inspiration came from our first lockdown. During the 2020 lockdown my son and I sourced and germinated some seeds from my favorite flowers’ anomalies, poppies, peonies, and then planted them in our garden. We were surrounded by nature’s beauty. I would take these flowers in my studio and attempt to immortalize them into prints. It was so rewarding nurturing these blooms from seedlings, caring for them, capturing them with my camera, and anticipating their blooms.
I had the time to experiment with the lightning techniques I always wanted to study. I wanted to explore Rembrandt lightning but never had the time, now with the lockdown, all I had was time.
“Snail” by Tamara Bahry
I scoped art books and the Internet of Rembrandts and would spend hours in my studio trying to recreate that lightning. Staying in and getting lost in making art became pure bliss to me. I wanted to create some beauty and light in the darkness of the pandemic and focus on the bloom of the flower.
I found I had a purpose again in my creativity. Alone, isolated in lockdown, I wanted to create joy and happiness. Capturing the bloom before it burst gave me a sense of hope.
I would nourish myself with ideas, inspiration. I wanted to take the dark reality and see a hopeful future, create something beautiful.
Kim: You’re not only an artist, you’re also a philanthropist. Who are you currently working with and why is it so important for you to give back?
I know you are co-founder of Commission Yourself, HART, and Muskoka Lakes Bracelets. I also know a portion of all your art proceeds goes to various organizations you are involved with.
Tell us about these initiatives and why they are important to you.
Tamara: Muskoka Lakes Bracelets is committed to helping fund local Muskoka organizations that are in need. The initiative was started to raise funds for disaster relief to help community business who suffered huge losses with the floods of 2019. In 2020 we supported the South Muskoka Hospital COVID-19 Emergency response fund
I sit as a founding board member of HART (Human Anti Trafficking Response Team). HART focuses on raising awareness of sex trafficking in Canada and supporting the victims who survive it. The organization is dedicated to supporting the physical and mental well-being of all sex trafficking survivors by raising awareness of the issue, contributing to survivor’s recovery, and developing targeted, fact-based initiatives to address this crisis systemically.
Our vision is to provide financial support to partner agencies to help end sex trafficking in the Greater Toronto Area, and enable survivors to live the violence free, fulfilling life they deserve. HART is proud to partner with Women’s College Hospital, a world leader in women’s healthcare and research. Our landmark collaboration will develop and support the comprehensive programs and service provider partnerships needed to restore the well-being of sex trafficking survivors. Data gathered through the research pillar of this initiative will enable increased awareness of the issue, assist in the creation of clinical programs, inform government policy, and facilitate the strong action required to stop sex trafficking in Canada.
Kim: I love that a portion of all your art proceeds goes to various organizations you are involved with, it’s nice to know when I buy one of these, I’m contributing to something bigger. Thanks for taking the time to chat with me and share your new collection!
Through her fine art photography collections, Tamara will donate proceeds from the sales of her work to the underlying charities she is involved with.
Tamara’s images can be found for purchase on www.tamarabahry.com
You can follow her work on Instagram @tamarabahry
