Pieces of Tabita

Tabitha Taraya plans to make art her livelihood, and that's only natural, since its been an integral part of her life for nearly all her life.

"I've always enjoyed art," she said. "It helps me deal with my feelings. If I can't talk about something, I can express myself in my art. I can vent."

Taraya's beginning her first year at the California College of the Arts in Oakland, where she's aiming for a practical teaching degree. But the school also offers her the chance to continue to develop as an artist.

"I also want to sell my stuff," she said. "There's a tension between commercial and fine art, but the advice I got from other artists is to do both kinds - the kind I want and the commercial kind. They said to try to be known for both."

Although Taraya is fresh out of high school, she's already earned a list of accolades. But she remains committed to pushing herself artistically.

"You've got to practice. You've got to hone your observational skills," she said of her disciplined approach. "Also, I work in various media. Working in 3-D helped my 2-D art. It helped me understand the structure of things better for my drawing and painting."

As is characteristic of any endeavor approached thoughtfully and with care, Taraya's artistic commitment has served her beyond the canvas.

"Art takes an open mind and not being afraid to try things. At first, (the work) can look really ugly, but it's important to keep going, to not allow frustration to stop you."