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Meet the Artist Part 3: Tanja McMillan - Misery
On having a creative partner…
While Tom is my husband, he's also an amazing artist. We do as many cool, creative projects together as much as we can while running businesses and having four children. It's pretty chaotic. But he's an incredible supporter – always. As an artist, it's easy to be full of confidence and then be in complete self-doubt the next minute. It’s lovely to have people around you that believe in you and can give you a good kick up the bum when you need it.
On raising a family in New Zealand…
I have a two-year old, a four-year old and then my older step-children who are turning 16 and 13 this year. At home, my girls have a good time. We're always playing. Though it is hard to paint here, because as soon as I pick up a paint brush, I have two little shadows next to me going, "I want to paint, too!" Or painting on my work, which is a total disaster.
On being grateful for motherhood…
Motherhood was probably the biggest point in my life for gratitude and this whole new respect for just what it is. When you have a baby, it's this whole other realm. It's like having a porthole into another world... You have so many emotions after you have a baby anyway, but there is this whole new respect and gratitude for women and for mamas, and the sacrifices made and all you give, and [in turn] what you get back is so special.
On the inspiration behind my Zen Garden artwork for Great Full…
The Great Full artwork came from where I am at the moment. Being in lockdown, I’ve been spending a lot of time in our backyard garden and I really enjoy planting, growing vegetables and flowers. Little Mother Earth ladies – I draw lots of them. They are like motherly, hidden figures with plants and things all growing out of them, and lots of rocks and stuff.
I really love the storytelling in Japanese art and just how there's life in everything. I think this is something that always comes through with my art as well: a rock will have a face and everything is personalised. So the Great Full artwork is a little bit of that - sort of like a magical Zen garden.
On how to support Bowel Cancer New Zealand…
I love the idea behind this Great Full project. I think it's really thoughtful and it's a beautiful product, and it's raising money to support an incredible cause. As an artist doing work outside of my own, it's really important to me to choose things that align with my values... With this project, I'm hoping we can raise money to help support Bowel Cancer New Zealand and get people screened a little earlier. My grandfather is a survivor of bowel cancer, so it's extra special to work on this and I hope more people become survivors like him.