"Tara uses the images and information she gathers as a guide to her work, so she can get details like the whiskers on a dog or the petals of an orchid just right. But it's not just physical accuracy she’s after, her research imparts a nuanced understanding of animal behavior and body language: the curled upper lip of a pony and the heavy brow of a bear are rife with meaning. Tara informed us that when beginning a drawing she always starts with the face, and most importantly the eyes. This part of her process is central because in the eyes is where animals most personify humanity."
