My work has been included in various juried exhibitions throughout the country as well as solo shows. In 2004, my paintings were included in a traveling exhibition entitled “Clear Cut: The Understory”, as well as “Elemental Inspirations: Out of the Wildfire” at the Whyte Museum. My work is included in private as well as public collections such as the Alberta Foundation for the Arts and the University of Alberta Children’s Hospital. I have been an artist-in-residence at the Arctic Institute in the Yukon, the Leighton Center, the Whyte Museum in Banff, Columbia Ice fields, Num-Ti Jah Lodge and most recently the Banff Centre.

My paintings are about the rhythm and soul of the landscape. It is an exploration of shape, contour, line and texture, the very basics of art and imagery. The spirit of the land comes with me into my studio and is translated onto the canvas. I photograph and sketch on site and then use these as a stepping stone onto the canvas.

I have taught watercolor techniques to children as young as 8 and acrylic painting to students at my studio.. In July, 2006, I taught an acrylic painting class at “Artwaves” in Salmon Arm and am now working with Bear Valley Ranch to teach intermediate acrylic painting workshops.  You can see more of my work at www.saltwellstudios.com. Feel free to ask me about my work.

I paint in oils as well as acrylics. I enjoy the fluidity, the movement and sensuousness of paint on the canvas. Most of my paintings are done ‘alla prima’  - fresh and quick. When working in acrylic, I use a Polymer medium with the paint to increase the flow and lengthen the drying time as well as to enhance gloss. In many of my trees and roots series, I use bits of canvas that has been attached with polymer medium to add depth and texture. I have also developed a layered varnishing technique using transparent colours over opaque ones, adding luminosity and interplay of tones and values. The barks of trees are textured in various ways, as are my canvases, with thick paint and at times oleopasto or gel medium.

Stanford Perrot, the former head of the Alberta College of Art wrote.” Tatianna’s work has a healthy forthrightness and immediacy of message. Its techniques set aside the usual disciplines characterizing conventional art….The collector will be excited by what Tatianna offers. I am fascinated by her eye to the future, the provocative vigour, the rugged sense of poetry in paint and her social insights.”