Meet Tanielle Childers | Whimsical Artist & Novice Poet

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tanielle Childers and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tanielle, what are you inspired by?
I have been a creative soul since early childhood. I’m naturally drawn to, and inspired by color, art, nature and human connection. Inspiration to create new art comes from so many different platforms. It can be something as simple as seeing a random grouping of colors together in one space, that sparks my vision and urge to paint. Sometimes I am pulled to create through a deep pooling of emotions that need to find their way out. Another big source of inspiration for me is nature, and this beautiful world we live in. There is this indescribable magic, and beauty that nature holds, and it’s a constant source of creative fuel. I find myself always trying to somehow illustrate the energy I feel while spending time in nature. Social media is a huge source of daily inspiration. My Instagram, Facebook and TikTok feeds are full of artists of all styles, and musicians alike that inspire me daily, and keep me yearning to create more. Discovering new art of any kind never gets old. It’s like a breath of fresh air, and offers up new perspectives on the world around us. Art is my lifeline, and inspiration comes to me through all aspects of my life journey.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art has always come from the most authentic part of who I am. It embodies everything I feel deep within my spirit. Art became my main focus in high school and I knew I wanted it to be part of my future. I started college at Fort Lewis in Durango in the fall of 1994, set on earning a degree in Fine Arts. Two weeks into my 2nd year, I lost three friends in a tragic car accident. I did my best to keep my head up in school, but the trauma and shock of it all became too much for me to manage. I made the difficult decision to withdraw, along with many of our other friends, and I never found my way back.

When I was 21, I spent eight months putting together an art portfolio. I took everything I learned from high school and worked hard at creating my own style of work that would set me apart from everyone else. At the age of 22, I presented my art portfolio to Lincoln Gallery in Loveland, Colorado. I was juried in and quickly dove into being an active part of the gallery, and joined the board of directors as the secretary for a number of years. Around the same time, my art also hung in Main Street Gallery in Timnath, Colorado.

In addition to being an artist, I was hired at the Quick-Print Shop in Loveland in 1998, working part-time in the copy center, and in prepress. I went on to became one of the graphic artists in the year 2000. Working in the print world was, and still is, an enormous help to me as an artist. I am able to design and print everything I need to continue promoting and branding myself, and to print the products I offer alongside my original paintings. Through the years, I have continued investing in myself and my art by having all of my artwork professionally photographed or digitally scanned. By having every image in a high quality digital format, I am able to continue generating income by selling old and new works alike, to customers locally and through the online site, FineArtAmerica.com. This online site allows me to reach and sell my art to people from all over the world.

Being an artist has not been an easy path, but nothing worth doing is. Over the last 24 years, I have come a long way and I have learned a great deal. I have built a style and brand that is both vibrant, and easily recognizable. I have made a name for myself as an artist, and have created a following of adoring fans that I am forever and wholeheartedly grateful for. I continue to evolve, experiment, and express myself, and my life journey through my art and poetry. The best and most meaningful part of being an artist for me, is the connection with people through my creations. By being open and vulnerable as an artist, I hope to be a beacon of light and inspiration to others as so many are to me. I believe there is beauty to be celebrated in this life, even through the most difficult moments, and that is something I am always striving to illustrate in my work.

Some of the projects that I am most proud of includes the Loveland HeART I painted in downtown Loveland, which was unveiled in 2015. A 30″x60″ acrylic print installation of my painting”Tree of Life” that hangs in the NICU at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins. I was able to raise money through GoFundme and donated this print in honor of our son, Dason, who we lost and delivered at just 19 weeks gestation in 2012, and in honor of all who have also experienced a similar loss. Following our second pregnancy loss in 2017, and with funds raised from selling my own prints, I was able to donate a 48″ x 38″ acrylic print of my painting, “What a Wonderful World”, to the Family Center at Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, Colorado. This installation was also to honor our loss as well as others who have suffered the same.

In December of 2021, I was diagnosed with hormone positive breast cancer. I began active treatment in February of 2022. This included a double mastectomy, chemotherapy, ovary removal, reconstruction and daily anti-hormone therapy. I am now a breast cancer survivor. Rather than allow this to stop me from doing what I love, I am utilizing everything I have been through, and I’m busy creating new art and poetry that speaks to my experience in hopes of reaching other survivors, and all those impacted by breast cancer.

I’m excited to see where my journey as an artist takes me, and who I am able to reach. I will continue to follow my heart and allow it to lead me as I continue evolving, growing, learning and becoming the best version of myself I can be.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would highly recommend a trip up to Estes Park, which is one of my own personal favorite places. I would take them downtown Estes to experience the shops, and stop to eat at one of the local restaurants, followed by dessert and ending with a brewery and local live music. I would love to end the evening at the Stanley Hotel in Estes, maybe do the Ghost tour while there. We could spend the next day exploring Rocky Mountain National Park and stop anywhere they’d like to along the way. If they were unafraid of heights, I would take them up and over Trail Ridge road to enjoy the awe inspiring scenery and down into the Grand Lake area on the other side of the pass. Maybe some paddle boarding for an afternoon on Grand Lake, and possibly staying the night in a local cabin with a hot tub under the stars. Coming back into Estes, if they were up for some more outdoor time, a hike up to Gem lake is one of my own personal favorites and incredible at the top. I’d offer up the idea to ride Estes Park’s Mustang Mountain Coaster because I have yet to experience the same. I would also recommend an afternoon and evening in Old Town Fort Collins to experience a great atmosphere, more fun shops and great places to eat and would hope to end the night with some more live music at one of the local venues.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate this shout out to my late high school art teacher, Stan Southwick, who taught me to create art by going off into ‘la la land’; to get outside myself, and choose colors intuitively without a second thought. I would also like to dedicate this to my parents and grandparents who brought me up around art and crafts and handmaking meaningful gifts for one another around the holidays. To my husband who has believed in me, and my art from the very beginning, and to my three beautiful kids who are my world. To every artist friend, and mentor who has helped shape, teach, and inspire me along my path. To every soul who has supported me as an artist throughout the years, making it possible for me to continue doing what I love. None of what I do happens without all of these special people in my life who have helped carry me to where I am today.

Website: www.TanielleART.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/tanielleart

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/tanielleart

Facebook: www.facebook.com/tanielleart

Tiktok: @Tanielle_ART

Other: linktr.ee/tanielleart

Image Credits
All ‘art images’ photographed by Jafe Parsons (personal photos not included)