Meet Tasha. A full time Artist living in Downtown Toronto, Tasha is a painter with a love for animals. I adore seeing her painted creations on Instagram @artbytascha especially her paintings of cats - and it’s fun to see a Pyne & Smith dress in her ‘behind the scenes’ pictures.
Tasha has a fur baby - Lilly, a 13 year old Siamese Cat (I also have a Lily, a British shorthair cat - a.k.a workmate). You can see more of Tasha’s work on both her IG account and here Tascha’s Etsy shop.
Tell us who you are, what you do, and a little back ground info about yourself.
My name is Tascha and I have been a full time artist since 2001. After graduating from The Ontario College of Art and Design in 1998 I wasn’t sure how to get my foot in the door to start my artist career. I worked odd jobs in the creative field such as an illustrator for a rubber stamp company and designing logos.
I decided I wanted to be my own boss and looked for ways to make that happen. In 2001 I discovered that eBay had an art auction section. I listed a few paintings and the response was amazing! I had a strong determination to make it work and have it become my full time profession. The support I received from my buyers was incredible. The internet was so new back in 2001, and it seemed so futuristic at the time to be able to create a painting then share it to the world and then sell it to someone in another country all from my kitchen table. Becoming my very own virtual gallery shop owner, selling paintings to people all over the world.
I painted every single day. It was such a blessing! As time went by I switched over to Etsy to sell my art. The online art community is so inspiring. Everybody doing what they love on their own terms and supporting each other. My art focuses on my love for animals. My “children” have been my cats throughout my adult life. I have a 13 year old siamese cat named Lily. She is by my side as I work from home painting and packing up packages to be shipped out. I love working for myself and being creative.
What’s a typical day in the life for you?
My typical day revolves around my online art business. I start by checking emails and comments on facebook and instagram. Then, if the sun is shining brightly I will get up and take photos of the painting I had created the night before. I usually like to take photos of my art from different angles so that the viewer can really get a feel for what the art would look like in real life. Then I make some tea and toast a crumpet and ease into the day. Lily my siamese is usually right at me to play with her or snuggle.
I spend the mornings listing artwork on Etsy and then preparing packages for the post office. It is a lot of work doing all aspects of the business myself. I wear a lot of hats. I have to be a computer programer, shipper, photographer, accountant, and finally artist haha. I go to the post office everyday. That’s one of the perks of living in downtown Toronto, there are post offices all over. I think of my post office trips as my daily exercises. I briskly walk there and back, sometimes stopping at the park to take in the sights and get some sun. I also like stopping at local shops to see what cool things they have in stock. I often will treat myself by picking up a bubble tea on my way home. It’s my “me time” when I’m out.
Then as the evening approaches I will get to work on new paintings. I often listen to music or inspirational youtube videos while painting. I have no set hours so that means sometimes I paint well into the night. That is a typical day for me.