Tae Park believes painting is a doorway into another world, a gateway to another reality. “Painting is not only creating an illusion of three-dimensional space but a reflection of the world that exists within me,” says Tae Park. The inner world which Park depicts is an idealized reality that evokes peaceful but fleeting moments in time.
Tae Park's goal for her figurative works is to create a dream-like mood, often by casting scenes in a Draiad by Tae Parkmystical light. To achieve this effect, Park often goes with her model to the forest at about 5 a.m. in winter and takes reference photographs. She may also venture out in heavy rain on a cloudy, misty morning with her camera. “By considering my emotional reaction and by imagining stories about my subjects, I am able to go beyond superficial representation to convey character,” Park says.
Tae Park has been fascinated with Greek and Roman mythology since she was a child, especially the fantasy creatures known as nymphs. Today such beings of the forest and her imagination continue to offer endless inspiration.
Tae Park has a master’s degree in fine art from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, where she currently teaches in the graduate program.
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