Illinois College Contemporary Art Gallery

Ka-La H.: What made you want to become an artist, specifically a contemporary artist?

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Andrea Henry Tharian: It started when I was about six years old when I became interested in drawing. During this time is when I declared I wanted to become an artist. Growing up I had close relationships with my art teachers in middle and high school, which really helped with applying to college. I applied to a lot of state schools and art schools. I ended up going to the Cleveland Institute of Art, where I got my bachelor’s degree. During this time, I really figured out what it meant, to me, to be an artist.

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KH: To you, what is the piece that made you a known artist?

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AT: While I was in school, it definitely came when I did my final thesis show during senior year. I did 120 enamel portraits. The portraits were of people that influenced me throughout my years or art. I would definitely say that after that show, I was most proud of my work. Most defined.

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KH: When you first decided you wanted to pursue as a career, did you know what you mainly wanted to focus on?

 

AT: I feel that I am still evolving as an artist, and honestly still trying to figure it all out. When I graduated from college, I started out working in and with different jewelers. I worked in Delaware and Philadelphia. I worked for Alexis Bittar, on a couple of his pieces as well. During this time, I wanted to see if I wanted to continue to work in jewelry or move on to something different. So I moved to St. Louis, and that’s when I began to paint and draw again. I also started using clay for a little bit, which was a new medium that I am still trying to figure out.

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KH: In your piece, titled Haven, what was your initial idea for it?

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AT: My idea come from when I took a Ceramics course at St. Louis Community College- Meramec. We started making leaf-like shapes that weren’t meant for anything. I had started making more, and was like ‘Hmph, what would these look like if I made a lot of them and filled a space with it.’ In 2014, I applied for a grant, The Artist Support Grant, and was awarded a grant, which allowed me to start the installation. I final installment Haven wasn’t finished until 2016.

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KH: Did it have the outcome you wanted?

 

AT: For the most part, yes. Although, if I could go back and redo the installment, I would do things differently. I used over 1500 ceramic and paper pieces to make Haven. I would have chose a material that was more sturdier.

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KH: I know as an artist, we sometimes have to change and compromise our original ideas in order to get the outcome we envisioned. Did you have to change or adjust materials due to low supply?

 

AT: Location was something that was definitely hard to figure out. When I finally found the gallery, I wanted to showcase Haven, I visited the gallery many times. When I visited the gallery, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into by putting my show in a gallery. If I knew then what I know now, I would do things differently.

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KH: Wrapping up, are you happy with how far you have came in your Art Career? Do you see yourself stopping anytime soon?

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AT: I do not see myself stopping anytime soon. I maybe want to redefine myself as an artist, and adjust myself as to what is art making. I don’t know if it’s because I’m pregnant now, and have a different perspective on things, but I want to possibly publish a children's book soon. Also student teaching also caused my mind to shift in thought. I really wish I made more art than I do. But I do plan to get back in the studio sometime this summer. The hardest part is just being able to find the time, and being able to manage my time between my art and outside life. But I definitely, am not done with art anytime soon.