Maria Tavares
Maria lives in Liverpool, where she has her studio with the Hub Artists, an independent collective of local artists and sculptors.
She initially taught Art at Hugh Baird college, and now teaches for the WEA (Workers' Educational Association). She mainly teaches adults in community centres, but has also taught classes and held workshops in galleries, including the Walker Art Gallery and the Tate Liverpool.
Maria was born in Portugal, and had her basic training in art at school. However, although she has been passionate about art from a very young age, it wasn't until she was in her twenties that she began exploring her painting skills, learning alongside local artists in their studios. Maria qualified as a teacher at The University of Central Lancashire.
Maria (also known as Mizá) has held many solo and group exhibitions in Brazil, Portugal and England. In 1998 she had a solo exhibition at The Brazilian Society of Visual Arts in São Paulo. She has also exhibited at The Tate Liverpool, at F.A.C.T., and at The Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.
Maria's speciality is painting with oil and acrylics on canvas, but she enjoys working with other media too, such as watercolours, pastels, ink, and mixed media. "I love teaching! I am an optimist, inspired by the impressionists Monet, Renoir and Degas. Like them, I prefer to focus on the joy and beauty in the world. I can't even imagine painting pain, suffering or sadness; that is simply not me. I will teach you artistic and technical skills utilizing various techniques, while motivating and encouraging you to develop your own style."
