Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Tallman.
Hi Lauren, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Right out of high school, I moved to Denver to go to Johnson and Wales University to get my degree in communication design. I was pursuing graphic design because I thought it was the only way to make a livable wage as an artist. After two semesters landed me an impressive 1.9 GPA, I realized I hated graphic design. For four years, I felt pretty lost and unsure of what I wanted to do. I started working at a brunch restaurant and decided I would just climb the ladder there—but I always knew that wasn’t my end game. Back to the drawing board I went, and I thought of my high school art teacher, Colin McGrane. His class was a safe space for me. He taught me so much more than the principals of art or how to work with power tools. He helped me uncover my artistic side, allowed me to express myself, and made me feel like I mattered during a time that felt really lonely and confusing. I reached out to him and after our conversation, I realized my new direction. I wanted to be the safe space, the confidant, the inspiration, the listening ear that he was for me. No, I wasn’t going to become a therapist—I was going to go back to school to become a studio art professor. I started taking classes at Dallas College, then moved on to pursuing my Bachelor’s of Fine Arts at the University of Texas at Arlington. I’m graduating next semester and then?? We’ll see where the wind takes me (or what graduate school I get into).
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
You mean besides the whole failing out of college and feeling totally lost thing? Short answer: The road has been rocky. I struggled a lot internally my first year at UTA. I place a lot of my identity in being an artist, so when I made bad art or art that wasn’t as technically good as my peers, it sort of let to an identity crisis. Because I spent my first two years in community college, I felt like I was behind and had a hard time catching up at UTA. I thought that if my art wasn’t hyper-realistic, it wasn’t impressive, so I spent a few semesters making art that I thought I should be making. I don’t hold that belief against other flat painters, but for whatever reason, I held myself to a different standard. This came from a much deeper place— I was afraid that if I made art that was true to myself, then people would reject it. And that would mean, or at least feel like, they were rejecting me. It was hard to talk about because my art professors weren’t therapists, and my therapist wasn’t an artist. So I felt pretty isolated in this feeling (although now I am sure most artists probably relate). After a few semesters of that, I decided something had to change. I started painting the way I wanted to, and when I started focusing on my strengths rather than my weaknesses, that’s when I started making stronger work. I didn’t have to torture myself anymore and constantly do what I would call “painting chores”. My biggest speedbump was myself and my made-up rules, and while I still have some of these doubts and fears, it is a muscle in my brain I am training every day.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am drawn to the idea that art allows us to escape, so I don’t often find myself ruminating or exploring trauma with my work. My paintings are like my home: They are a place to rest and enjoy myself separate from the harsh realities of life. I find a lot of comfort in humor and lightheartedness, and my work reflects that; I love juxtaposition, quippy remarks, and sincerity. I am currently working with film photos my dad took during my childhood, and I have found that my father and I have that same attitude towards creating (whether he knows it or not). I find myself picking out the photos that have a playful element to them, and I place them in my flat, acrylic world. Interestingly, I have come to realize that the more specific and personal my work is, the more universal it becomes. I think it’s because we have the unique ability to notice and relate to the granular, nuanced feelings and experiences of one another. Avoiding generalization makes things more inspiring.
I am most proud of my most recent painting—NYC 2002. I use flat washes of color over a fluorescent pink underpainting to recreate a photo taken of me and my mother in New York. This is the first painting I made inspired from my dad’s film collection. When I look at it I can feel myself letting go and allowing me to be myself; the painting is loose, busy, flat, and feels effortless. Each painting is better than the last, and with my new work, I have become more honest with myself. I used to get in my head that my work didn’t directly explore trauma or darkness, but they’re still me. They’re still honest. My work is fun, and I like that people smile and have a positive reaction to my it. My paintings aren’t just an escape for me—but an escape for all of you. Art doesn’t have to be deep and poetic, it can also be silly and meaningless. Every emotion is a part of the human experience, so I believe that lighthearted work belongs just as much as profound work. And you know what? Joy in this day and age IS profound.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
For me, I measure my success in two categories: Growth and fulfillment. If I am growing and improving, whether it be with my art or with myself in general, I am happy. Simple as that.
I also think we owe it to ourselves to place fulfillment high on our scale of needs. It’s so easy to get caught up in the mundane—there’s work (I’m still waiting tables too, btw), bills, chores— it never ends. But we have a very short time of living, and it is unfair to rob ourselves of enjoying it. I don’t make art because I think it will make me a millionaire, but I know that it will fulfill me. It will allow me to explore, enjoy, and feel more understood in this world. 8 years ago, I could have stuck the graphic design degree just to end up with a job I hate. I might have had healthcare and PTO, but I would be deeply unhappy, and therefore—by my standards—unsuccessful. In order to find success, you have to be honest with yourself and find what gets you excited to be alive.
Pricing:
- No specific pricing, but if anything catches your eye please shoot me a message on my instagram or my website!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://laurentallmanart.com
- Instagram: lrntllmn
