Interview with Tiffany OBrien

About Tiffany OBrien

Hey! I'm Tiffany- I work and live in coastal Wilmington, NC in the US. I enjoy oil painting, embroidery work and working with found photographs. I also really enjoy painting ON unusual found objects like antique roofing tin, vintage spoons and wooden shoes.

When/how did you begin working with vintage photographs? What is their significance within your work?

I started about 30 years ago when I came across a stack of Victorian cabinet cards. At the time I was a bit into the macabre so I painted them all into zombies with weapons. I still paint on and embroider on cabinet cards but today there usually aren't any zombies present.

Presently I scour local antique shops for vintage photos from the 1930s to the 1960s. Looking for stories. Stories that need rescuing and retelling in my way. Stories that need saving from the trash bin. Stories that we have all been a part of.

How would you describe your process?

I have an ever changing collection of old photographs. When I'm getting ready to do a painting I get them out and make stacks. There will be a stack of "not today", "maybe" and "I'm really feeling this." It still amazes me how from one day to another I can feel different about the same photo.

Then I just get to laying out the painting and going with it. I may come up with a color scheme but I don't plan it out too carefully. I let it unfold as I go. I may leave areas blank so that the viewer can fill in with their own experiences. I might make a mistake that turns into the best part of the painting! You just never know.

What themes are you exploring within your work?

I really like to think of my pieces as narratives and not just portraits of specific people. Like old photographs do, I feel my work conjures up memories that we all share. A little spark of remembrance along with some mystery. Youth or the lack of it comes up a lot in my work as of late.

If you could travel back in time to any time period, when and where would you go?

This changes a lot for me! I used to really be into the 1950s pinup culture. I love Victorian homes. I romanticize the glamour of the 20s flappers. I like the fashion of all of it! Ugh.... I really just don't know. Oh! Maybe I'd go to Venice Italy and be a princess in the 1800s.

What is a dream project you would like to bring to life in the next few years?

Many moons ago I did an installation inside a gallery with vintage clothing hanging on clothes lines blowing with antique fans. My work was hung on the walls. Viewers walked between the dresses blowing and viewed the work. At the time my pieces were not vintage photo inspired. Still it was quite a magical installation. I'd love to recreate that show but with my new paintings.

Are there any upcoming projects you'd like to share about?

I have an ongoing series in the works right now that actually isn't based on vintage photos but on vintage items. As I collect those as well. So I am painting vintage items such as toys, figurines and vases on wooden artist palettes. I will either put them on my website or display them in my local co-op very soon.

Tiffany OBrien

she/her | USA

Instagram: @tiffanystarobrien

Website: https://tiffanyobrien.bigcartel.com/

Interview with Victoria J. Ridgway