Taru Tiiliharju

Taru Tiiliharju is an artist based in Finland who works primarily in acrylic paints. She studied at an art-oriented high school but is otherwise self-taught. Her paintings explore themes such as identity, anxiety, and resilience. She uses inspiration from nature and its beauty, which is not defined by symmetry or lack of imperfections. Her paintings often feature insects and plants as key components, serving as metaphors for different concepts.  

Collect Bean: What does growth mean to you?  

Taru Tiiliharju: For me, growth has often involved struggle and discomfort, but sometimes it occurs slowly over time, and we only realize it later. Another thing that comes to mind regarding growth is that it never happens alone; it often requires interaction and reflection with our surroundings and others. Every experience can teach us something new about ourselves and the world around us.  

Collect Bean: What is the kindest thing someone can tell you about your work?  

Taru Tiiliharju: Since many of my paintings involve me processing my feelings, the most meaningful compliment is when someone says my work made them feel something.  

Collect Bean: What does your painting process look like from start to finish?  

Taru Tiiliharju: My painting process typically involves creating several rough sketches to explore ideas before sketching directly onto the painting surface. Acrylic paints often require multiple layers to achieve completion. There's often an "ugly stage" before the painting starts to take its final form. My favorite part of making a painting is when I get past this stage and begin to see what the finished piece will look like.  

Collect Bean: How do you decide on the subject matter for a painting?  

Taru Tiiliharju: When deciding on the subject matter for a painting, I typically try to capture ideas as they come, whether through quick sketches or simply writing down a few words in my phone's notes. From there, I further develop the concept and may revisit earlier ideas or explore related themes. Sometimes, this feels a bit chaotic, but this process allows me to stay flexible and responsive to inspiration.  

Collect Bean: What is something that you do to stay focused?

Taru Tiiliharju: One thing I do to stay focused is always listening to audiobooks or podcasts while painting.