Talia Swartz Parsell

A Creative LIFE...

Born in the small town of Maumee, Ohio, I spent the first part of my life in the Midwest.  I’ve been an artist and a painter since I was a little girl and have been on this creative journey for most of my life. I studied art and education at the University of Toledo's Center for Visual Arts at the Toledo Art Museum campus. After three years as a full time art teacher, I was desperate for more landscape and more studio time. I moved out to Colorado over a decade ago where I earned a Masters Degree in Art and Painting at Adams State University and have called Denver home ever since.  I currently reside and paint in northwest Denver and love to escape to the mountains and beautiful metroparks when I can.  I am a mama to two very busy little boys who both inspire my work and drive me to keep pursuing my passion for painting. When I’m not parenting and painting, I teach private art lessons and help prospective students build their art portfolio in preparation for applying to art schools.

For the past few years, my work has focused on exploring the visual concepts of memory and place.   A whole life of layered moments and memories captured in specific places in time have created this unique story that we each have to tell. Because my visual imagery is often non-specific in detail but ubiquitous in content, I believe that my illustrated memories invoke a familiar sense of place that resonates with my viewers. This emotional connection and personal attachment is what connects us to visual art... both the maker and the viewer.  Every one of my paintings is a story about a connection I have to something in my life. It’s so deeply personal and a physical expression of exactly who I am at that moment in time.   My love of landscape and the environment is also very prevalent in my work. I explore the concept of preservation of natural spaces in my work.  I hope to bring attention and awareness to the degradation of our precious and fragile environment through my artwork.