“My name is Tana, and I’m learning to say that I am an artist. That said, getting here has been a journey. I have always loved paper and liked making things. After many years away from it, I found my way back to art. Most of what I create begins with a Gelli® plate and acrylic paint, although I also work with alcohol inks and collage. My work often incorporates vintage ephemera, old book pages, and pieces from earlier work that didn’t quite find their place the first time around.

I don’t throw much away. A print that doesn’t work on its own might become the background for something else. A watercolor that never felt finished might contribute a color or texture to a collage. I like the idea that creative work can keep evolving instead of ending up in the discard pile.

Living in the Adirondacks has influenced my work in ways that are probably hard to separate. I’m surrounded by changing seasons, weathered textures, and quiet places, and I think those things naturally find their way into the colors and layers of my work. I create with the belief that beauty isn’t something we manufacture—it’s something we notice, preserve, and share. And I keep making art because the next piece just might become my favorite.

The pieces in this show hold a special place for me because they bring together two foundational parts of my world: children’s literature and art. They are realms I embrace because of the peace they provide me and fuel they give my soul and imagination. Each of these original creations is linked to a book that I love, have been moved by, or have read on repeat at different points in my life. While some of the connections may be straightforward, most of these pieces represent the feelings and impressions these stories have left with me.

The challenge of taking what I love most from the books that have shaped my thinking and my life and translating those feelings into colors, patterns, and images—and then watching those ideas come to life—has been an incredible adventure. I’m so glad to have the opportunity to share them with you.”

-Tana Hare, Artist