My name is Tamara Tsurkan, I was born in Ukraine, but now live in Madison WI, USA. I started painting when I was a child, and attended an Art School in Ukraine between 1987 and 1989. However, I didn't pursue a career of an artist at that time, instead opting for a college degree in math and computer science, and a teaching career after that.

I returned to painting in 2005 after a long break. Soon I realized that I really enjoyed it, and in a few months I found myself devoting most of my free time to art - painting, reading about and trying different styles and techniques, and learning as much as I could.

After trying several different styles and techniques, I now mainly work in two rather unrelated styles – contemporary and folk art.

One example of my works in contemporary style is a series of botanical paintings, in a particular paintings of poppies and sunflowers. Poppies inspire me with their delicate stems and elegant soft petals that look so vulnerable and insecure. I try to emphasize their frailness by placing them on various background colors and shades that evoke a feeling of anticipation and uncertainty and blur the boundary between the reality and the unknown. By poising the elegant and fragile flowers on a mystifying background I use the contrast to represent the diversity of life. One part of me is always searching for new knowledge and a deeper understanding of the meaning and essence of life. In my paintings, poppies symbolize this fragility of a human soul in its quest to perceive the infiniteness of the unknown and the uncertain around us.

Another essential part of me is being a very emotional, easy-going and fun-loving person, and it's fully represented by the whimsical folk art series of my paintings. In them I tell light-hearted fairytale-like stories that depict animals in unique and non-standard way. The characters of my folk art are animals (dogs, cats, cows, sheep and others) made of geometric shapes that are involved in various unusual activities (climbing to the moon, flying, scuba-diving, dancing, playing cards). Bright, vibrant colors in these paintings are sure to attract immediate attention, and even one glance at the joyfully exuberant scenes portrayed will surely make people smile and enlighten their mood. And that's the exact reason and purpose of my paintings.

For the most part I work in acrylic or oil on stretched gallery canvas, though I remain open to other techniques as well, and sometimes also do watercolors, ink and mixed media paintings.

I have also been actively participating in art shows and fairs throughout Wisconsin and neighobring states, including Stone Arch Festival of the Arts in Minneapolis, East Side Millenium Park and Gold Coast Art Fairs in Chicago, Promenade of the Arts in Arlington Heights, IL, North Shore Festival of Art in Skokie, IL, Lincolnshire Art Festival in Lincolnshire, IL, City of Baraboo Art Fair, Mount Horeb Art Fair, and Madison Audubon Art Fair.

I am currently a member of Wisconsin Regional Arts Association (WRAA), Madison Art Guild (MAG), Wisconsin Visual Artists (WVA, Wisconsin Painters and Sculptors), Wisconsin Alliance of Artists and Craftspeople ( WAAC ). One of my paintings received a State Exhibit Award, and several paintings got an Honorable Mention through the Wisconsin Regional Art Program.

I do commissioned abstract and fun folk art paintings – see the commissions page for more information. I also do art lessons for kids and adults. If you would like to commission a painting, or require additional information about art lessons, you can contact me any time.