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Creatives at Home: Tamara Armstrong in Her Painter's Studio
We take a look inside the studio of the multi-talented Tamara Armstrong and find out how why her artwork is so full of colour and joy
In our new series, we get to know some of Australia’s most talented creatives and the innovative spaces that allow them to let their imaginations run wild.
Welcome to the studio of the multi-talented artist, and Houzz photographer, Tamara Armstrong. You might recognise her brightly lit studio, nestled in the rainforest hinterland behind the Gold Coast of southern Queensland, from last week’s feature that celebrated 11 incredible artists around the world. Here we take a closer look at the space that’s filled with vibrant, large-scale artworks which seem clearly influenced by the bright colour and light that is characteristic of this lush region.
Creative Space at a Glance
Name: Tamara Armstrong
Age: 33
Occupation: Visual artist, teacher and photographer
Location: Tamborine Mountain, Queensland, Australia
What do you make here?: I paint, draw and design
Welcome to the studio of the multi-talented artist, and Houzz photographer, Tamara Armstrong. You might recognise her brightly lit studio, nestled in the rainforest hinterland behind the Gold Coast of southern Queensland, from last week’s feature that celebrated 11 incredible artists around the world. Here we take a closer look at the space that’s filled with vibrant, large-scale artworks which seem clearly influenced by the bright colour and light that is characteristic of this lush region.
Creative Space at a Glance
Name: Tamara Armstrong
Age: 33
Occupation: Visual artist, teacher and photographer
Location: Tamborine Mountain, Queensland, Australia
What do you make here?: I paint, draw and design
Armstrong moved to Tamborine Mountain in 2009 after stumbling across a little mountain cottage during an impromptu weekend drive with her husband. “We had previously been living in London and arrived home to Brisbane in search of some place a little out of the way – we hoped for something more quiet than city life,” explains Armstrong.
The couple instantly fell in love with the place without even stepping inside the house. “There was a real estate agent showing another couple through the home and he told us to just wander around to the back garden while we were waiting,” recalls Armstrong. “We took one look at the view and both of us knew that this was where we wanted to live.”
The couple instantly fell in love with the place without even stepping inside the house. “There was a real estate agent showing another couple through the home and he told us to just wander around to the back garden while we were waiting,” recalls Armstrong. “We took one look at the view and both of us knew that this was where we wanted to live.”
The studio is a new addition to the property and was only built in March of last year (2014). The construction was completed two weeks after the birth of the couple’s first child. The new mum and baby arrived home from hospital to the sounds of drop saws, drilling and nail guns. “It did wonders for our baby’s sleeping!” she says ironically.
Armstrong’s favourite feature of the studio is a french window used as a front door. “I found it at a reclamation yard of building supplies and painted it in my favourite turquoise colour of Dulux ‘Magnetic Magic’.”
The front door to the couple’s home is painted in the same colour. “I find it to be a really energetic and inviting hue and it’s also one I use in almost all of my paintings,” says Armstrong.
Armstrong’s favourite feature of the studio is a french window used as a front door. “I found it at a reclamation yard of building supplies and painted it in my favourite turquoise colour of Dulux ‘Magnetic Magic’.”
The front door to the couple’s home is painted in the same colour. “I find it to be a really energetic and inviting hue and it’s also one I use in almost all of my paintings,” says Armstrong.
The studio stands in the same spot that originally featured a garden gazebo. The gazebo was much smaller than the area the studio commands and used to stand on a small elevated deck. All traces of deck and gazebo are now gone; they were removed to make way for the studio.
The studio was designed by a local draftsman and built by Armstrong’s brother-in-law, who completed the build in just two weeks. It is located off to the western side of the main house with a small deck, which was built over the top of what used to be a small gravel courtyard, and this deck links the studio to the house.
The studio was designed by a local draftsman and built by Armstrong’s brother-in-law, who completed the build in just two weeks. It is located off to the western side of the main house with a small deck, which was built over the top of what used to be a small gravel courtyard, and this deck links the studio to the house.
Asked about what design features she wanted in the studio to best nurture her creativity, Armstrong is quick to respond: “I really wanted as much natural light as possible and I also wanted the valley views towards Moreton Island to be visible.”
To that end, Armstrong requested that the studio include as many windows as the structure could physically handle. “The views of the mountain ranges and valleys are not only inspiring for me, but they also just have a relaxing and calming effect,” she says. “I feel like my creativity just flows with ease when I’m working in this space. The views are almost endless and this definitely has a strong influence on my work and state of mind.”
To that end, Armstrong requested that the studio include as many windows as the structure could physically handle. “The views of the mountain ranges and valleys are not only inspiring for me, but they also just have a relaxing and calming effect,” she says. “I feel like my creativity just flows with ease when I’m working in this space. The views are almost endless and this definitely has a strong influence on my work and state of mind.”
When she first moved in, the artist endeavoured to make the space her own, “by first and foremost filling it head to toe with my artwork. That’s one way to really put your stamp on any space!” she says.
“Painting the front door aqua was also the bright, bold pop of colour that my style of art has certainly become known for. And I’ve also accidentally covered the floor with splashes and speckles of paint!” This she says was the reason why her husband was eager to get her and her paint brushes into the studio and out of a spare room in the house that was originally designated as her space to paint. “But, yep, I got too much paint on the walls and hardwood floor boards, so it was time to move out of the house,” she laughs.
The view and natural light flows in through numerous windows and this is often appreciated by visitors. Although the space is exclusively used by Armstrong, she occasionally hosts small creative workshops here. “I like to open my studio to other creatives, willing to learn and be inspired by my little mountain studio,” she says. “But no one else in my little family uses it. It’s all mine – another reason that makes it so special to me.”
The only problem with the studio is that is probably a tad small. “While my studio has the most breathtaking views, it isn’t the largest space for housing all of my bits and pieces,” says Armstrong. “I did take my time thinking about what kind of furniture to purchase for it, as I needed storage that was neat and orderly but not something that would take up too much floor space.”
Because there are so many windows, the artist also required one blank wall from which to hang larger canvasses for painting and display. “I didn’t want any furniture encroaching into that precious area, so I decided to go with the pigeon-hole style shelving and this fits nicely below the east-facing window. The shelving unit doesn’t block the view and is great for keeping all of my tools, materials and crafty clutter organised and out of sight!”
Because there are so many windows, the artist also required one blank wall from which to hang larger canvasses for painting and display. “I didn’t want any furniture encroaching into that precious area, so I decided to go with the pigeon-hole style shelving and this fits nicely below the east-facing window. The shelving unit doesn’t block the view and is great for keeping all of my tools, materials and crafty clutter organised and out of sight!”
Armstrong moved her desk numerous times but finally settled its position by a north-facing window. “This window takes in the best view in my opinion. It’s just sky, trees, mountain ranges and beyond that, the ocean and Stradbroke and Moreton Islands. The view is somewhat distracting, but I wouldn’t change a thing – I’m certainly not complaining about it!”
Asked if there was one item Armstrong could not live without in her studio, she readily nominates something very practical: “My Ikea painting trolley! It’s so sturdy and handy with its castor wheels. Plus, I love the colour. I only purchased it when the studio was built – before that I used to just drag my paints around in a cardboard box. The box had to be replaced regularly as the sides would split from the growing collection of paint tubes and tubs.”
“There is so much that I love about this space!” says Armstrong. “I love that it is a designated art space just for me to come and get creative, to paint, to make a mess and be inspired. It’s completely detached from our actual home, which also means little to no distractions, yet home is just a few steps away when I’m needed. It’s without a doubt my ultimate happy place!”
More artists and artisans and their inspiring studios around the world
TELL US
Do you have an artist’s studio at home? If so, please upload a picture and tell us about its best feature in the Comments section.
More artists and artisans and their inspiring studios around the world
TELL US
Do you have an artist’s studio at home? If so, please upload a picture and tell us about its best feature in the Comments section.
Armstrong went to the Queensland University of Technology, in Brisbane, to study visual art and art education. She later settled in a beautiful area of Queensland around Tamborine Mountain just south of the capital and inland from the Gold Coast. It is here that she works out of her purpose-built studio.
Armstrong paints for herself and for exhibition but also accepts commissions, consignments and murals designed to brighten up private or commercial spaces. As a photographer, her subject matter is pretty diverse, including a great deal of commercial work for special events, family photo sessions, property photography etc, but she also likes to photograph the things that surround her. “My personal style is candid lifestyle photography that relies on capturing natural light,” she says.