Tara Krebs

Summary of Interview with Tara Krebs

Written by: Celia (Y9)

Her inspiration for the show:

Tara Krebs was inspired by the illustrations in the books she read as a child. She believed that the art in these books played a crucial role in how she absorbed the stories. Her goal for A Perilous Journey was to create images that felt like parts of a larger, ongoing narrative, encouraging viewers to interpret their own story based on the artwork.

Viewer's experience:

Krebs hopes viewers will take time to use their imaginations, interpreting the story of a young girl’s journey in their own unique way. She emphasizes the importance of slowing down, reflecting on the art, and appreciating the narrative without immediate answers, akin to how she experienced childhood wonder before the internet made information so accessible.

Influence of childhood stories:

Krebs mentions "The Secret Garden" as her favorite childhood story, appreciating its themes of healing and connection to nature. She also loved the poems of Shel Silverstein, which inspired surreal, imaginative places. Her own childhood was spent creating stories through drawing, such as flipbooks with no words, reinforcing her belief that a great story doesn't always need words.

Art process:

Krebs’ creative process begins with spontaneous ideas, often inspired during everyday activities. She sketches these ideas roughly and avoids overly detailed preliminary work to keep the painting process fresh. She uses smooth surfaces like Masonite and paints mostly with acrylics, layering them, but has recently experimented with oils and other media.

Role of the Toronto Arts Council:

The Toronto Arts Council provided Krebs with a grant that helped fund A Perilous Journey. This grant gave her extra motivation and a deadline, enabling her to focus and complete the project.

Personal life and interests: 

Outside of art, Krebs enjoys adventuring, especially to new places. She values downtime as well, enjoying simple pleasures like eating poutine and relaxing at home. She loves being outdoors, spending time with animals, and exploring different parts of Toronto.

Artistic influences:

Early influences include the Pre-Raphaelites, particularly Waterhouse’s detailed and magical works.

Later influences came from illustrators like Arthur Rackham and Brian Froud, as well as contemporary artists such as Hayao Miyazaki, James Jean, and others in the new surrealism and pop surrealism scenes.

Key points:

Inspiration: Importance of childhood books, the goal of creating a narrative for the viewer to interpret, and using imagination to fill in the gaps of the story.

Viewer Takeaway: Encouraging imagination, slowing down, and reflecting on one’s own personal narrative.  

Art Process: Initial rough sketches, preference for minimal preliminary details, use of smooth painting surfaces like Masonite, and exploration with different media.     

Influences: Pre-Raphaelites, Waterhouse, Arthur Rackham, Brian Froud, Hayao Miyazaki, and modern surrealist and pop surrealist artists.