Tamara Hastie : A Clear View
Rooted in a pure sense of renewal and personal reset, Tamara Hastie's newest exhibition explores the evolving nature of perspective and how each year and season of life offers a different “Clear View” shaped by what has been left behind.
“The concept of A Clear View is grounded in a deep, almost physical sense of reset,” Hastie explains. “We are always changing, even when we try to hold onto past versions of ourselves. Every year brings a new clarity.” That sensation, of seeing things anew yet with deep familiarity, became the foundation of the exhibition.
The South of France inspires the landscapes in this collection, specifically the region surrounding the small village of La Palud, approximately two hours northwest of Nice. For over a decade, Hastie and her husband have returned to the area, often in the quiet off-season when the crowds thin and a stillness settles across the cliffs and countryside. Through long days of climbing and exploring, she filled sketchbooks with quick, intuitive studies that were captured in fifteen minutes or less, which she later translated into larger works on cradle panels in her studio.
Hastie’s paintings of craggy cliff faces and expansive horizon lines celebrate a delicate balance between vastness and intimacy. Shifting light across limestone walls, the scent of rosemary and lavender, and the play of shadow across the terrain become sensory touchstones within each composition. Though vibrant in color and presence, the exhibition is anchored in reflection. Emerging from a period of personal loss and change, A Clear View becomes a meditation on what matters most: health, love, and adventure. It invites viewers to slow down and breathe.
Technically, Hastie’s work reflects her devotion to oil paint mixed with cold wax medium, a combination that creates remarkable texture and translucence. The wax thickens the paint, allowing underlying colors to subtly push forward, generating visual depth and a luminous, layered surface. Beginning with small 4x4-inch sketches made on site, she distills each scene to its essential elements in the studio, stripping away what is unnecessary to create works that feel both concentrated and expansive.
Dedicated to the people who have had a profound influence on her life, this exhibit ultimately poses a simple, reflective question to visitors: How can you find your clear view?
Opening Reception Thursday, May 7th, 6-9 pm.
Location: Bonner David Scottsdale
7040 E. Main Street Scottsdale, AZ 85251