Hello! I’m Tanja (Rene') Blackley, a visual artist based in Orange County, California.

Originally from North Carolina, I grew up close enough to the city to feel its pulse, but far enough to be grounded in the simplicity and serenity of its rural nature. Both of these landscapes continue to shape my work and creative vision.

My style and process strike a balance between mindful intention and curiosity. While I often have an end result in mind, I find fulfillment in intuitive painting-trusting my imagination and responding to the fluidity and spontaneity of the materials as they come together organically to create line, form and texture. I’m intrigued by the concept of pareidolia-the tendency to see familiar shapes and patterns in abstract visuals-and how this can open up endless possibilities for interpretation in art. For someone who wrestles with perfectionism, I find this practice calming and liberating.

Through a mix of mediums and techniques, my hope is that viewers will engage with my work in a way that invites their own stories and emotions to emerge. 

Thank you for joining me on this journey-I’m glad you’re here!