Tegan James Art

Musical knives... These were used in the 16th century, mainly in Europe. These knives were engraved with musical scores along the blade and were used during banquets and parties. Each knife had a part of the engraved music corresponding to a specific vocal range (such as soprano, countertenor, tenor, bass), allowing guests to sing together before or after meals. These knives are a fascinating example of the intersection between art, music, and cuisine in European history.

CLOSING CELEBRATION
19TH annual
MUJERES, MUJERES, MUJERES (Women, Women, Women)
The closing celebration of its 19th annual Mujeres, Mujeres, Mujeres exhibition. - exhibition of art by women - a collection that includes paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, & mixed media work created by women artists from all walks of life - 90 amazing pieces by 55 exceptional women!

🎶 🎨 🥁 ❤️⚡️💙

Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart combines music and art at the Las Vegas Sphere Prominent musicians from George Gershwin and Miles Davis to John Lennon were also crossover artists in another medium. The Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart ...

My dear friend and fellow artist, Jana Booker, is in this show! 💜

Facebook says I've received 100 reactions to my posts in the past 30 days. Thanks for your support. 🙏🤗🎉.

🏳️‍🌈 PRIDE SERIES: ELLA E. 🏳️‍⚧️
“Transfemme who transitioned late in life. So happy to finally be my authentic self and thoroughly enjoying life.” 🥰🥰🥰

THEN VS NOW ... 10 years ago, I was showing a piece in a gallery for the first time in New Jersey. Tonight is closing night of the Cactus Exhibit, which is the first time I'm showing a piece in a gallery here in Arizona! :)

🏳️‍🌈PRIDE SERIES: MAYA & ISA

Maya is a Chicana living in Southern Arizona. A single mom and advocate for human rights and mental health. Currently interning at Tucson Counseling Associates and balancing parenthood, school and working with her community. Maya hopes to add to the q***r BIPOC space of mental health professionals and making wellness more accessible.
LINK: https://www.tucsoncounselingassociates.com/

Isa is almost 5 years old, and she enjoys playing dress up, toys and planes ☺️

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Going LIVE on TikTok (almost daily) @ TeganJamesArt … with a new custom blind contour portrait each time! Finishing up the Pride Series, which will be on display at the Eckstrom-Columbus Library in September!

***r

Mariana de la Vega Art Gallery
1918 E. Prince Road, Tucson AZ

*xhibit

What a great spot for this ! With Surrounded by “all you need is LOVE” and “live a great story” 🥰🥰🥰 Thank you, !

It’s a heart-a-pillar!! 💜💜💜👀. Look what came in the mail from !!! 100+ Purple Heart stickers!! Thank you so much for helping to keep the project going!! 🙌🏼

Read about the Trail of Purple Heart Stickers:
TeganJamesArt.com >> Gallery >> Scroll down menu on the left 💜

The mailers came, and the first batch of blind contour portraits and Purple Heart stickers are packaged up and ready to be shipped out tomorrow!💜🎨🤗

A daily series of artworks that range from a minimum of 1-4 hours per piece (including some LIVE video) is challenging and exciting, and it’s also taking some getting used to adjusting to the new area and public transportation schedule in order to make these happen.

I’m doing some manifestation work for a vehicle, and in the meantime I’m relying on walking, bussing or Lyfting.

A 10-minute car ride becomes a 36-minute bus ride (one-way) for supplies or getting to the post office, etc., or a $20 Lyft (round trip, not including tip). Not yet having steady income here, I prefer and I am grateful for the free bus, and will happily plan my day around that schedule! 😄🙏🏻

So, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your patience and support, and I’m excited for you to receive these!! 💜💜

🏳️‍🌈 PRIDE SERIES: DANNO & MARS

👨🏻‍🍳 Danny is a chef, has been cooking his whole life from the time he was able to. He’s cooked in a wide variety of kitchens, mainly on the East Coast and now in the Southwest (Tucson, AZ).
Cooking and being in the kitchen is his passion. You’ll find him dancing and singing while whipping and flinging all kinds of foods and ingredients, spices etc. He also loves to jam out on his guitar, and it’s not uncommon for him to pick it up and start playing while the oven’s on.

😋 Check out some of Danno’s homemade dishes on his IG account:

🐾 As for Marley, she’s proud to be who she is and is a wonderful, loving and supportive part of our family. She doesn’t care for labels either, and really is only interested in treats.

***r

🏳️‍🌈PRIDE SERIES🏳️‍⚧️: Jamie Diaz Art & Comix

Join me this afternoon on TikTok @ teganjamesart! I’ll be creating Jamie’s blind contour portrait! 💜🎨

Follow >> © jamiediazart.com

Jamie Diaz () is a beloved trans artist who was recently granted parole after nearly 30 years of incarceration!
To support her in this critical period of re-entry, check out the link in her bio or go to
Her life is also the subiect of a short documentary film called “Love, Jamie,” now streaming on PBS American Masters.

I was working on a blind contour portrait for the Pride series, but when Jeannie joined the LIVE, I felt an instant connection … and within minutes, I invited her daughter, Ray, to have her portrait painted instead! Thank you Jeannie & Ray for hanging out, for your support and generous donation, and for shining and sharing your love light! Safe travels to Tennessee, I hope you have a blast! 🙌🏼 💜 🎨

Follow Jeannie & Ray on TikTok White

The Cactus Art Exhibit opens today at 4pm on E. Prince St. in Tucson! "Tickled Pricks" was my first submission (and acceptance) to a gallery in Arizona - this one being the Maria de la Vega Art Gallery. I've also become a volunteer member and was able to help hang the show, and meet some really beautiful people.

View the Studio Gallery: https://connectingheartsandminds.com/

View artworks I've painted since being in Arizona: https://www.teganjamesart.com/arizona-2024-

View the blind contours portraits (Pride Series) I've created this month so far:
https://www.teganjamesart.com/-blind-contours-pride-series

: The night after a late-night painting session and submission! 🌵🎨

“Tickled Pricks” is the first submission (and acceptance!) here in Arizona, and with Mariana de la Vega Gallery! 🙏🏻 Thank you so much for the opportunity! 💜

*xhibit

PRIDE SERIES: VINNY M. ~ After (finally) having started his transition in January 2023, Vinny is now thriving in his authenticity. He is single, has two daughters and lives in Keyport, NJ. You can find him on TikTok .
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I'm going LIVE every day on TikTok with a new blind contour. This month, to honor and celebrate Pride month, I'm doing portraits of people in the LGBTQ+ community.

I'm usually on for 2-3 hours minimum, so stop in when you can!
TikTok @ teganjamesart

After Nearly Three Decades in a Men’s Prison, Trans Painter Jamie Diaz Is Finally Free “My freedom feels amazing,” she tells Them.

🏳️‍🌈 PRIDE SERIES: BJ, FRANK & MILO of FamilyIsAboutLove.com (Toronto, Canada)

BJ: “So it’s been 10 years already since Milo was born during World Pride here in Toronto!! (June 27!) since then our birth photo (which you also painted and we have hanging!) has been seen all over the world. It became a symbol of love, acceptance and that all families are made different but we all love our kids unconditionally.

Since then, it’s been used positively and negatively. It’s been used in movies, tedtalks, in educational research. It’s also been used against us to spread hate and how same s*x couples should not be allowed to have children. Politicians in Europe (Ireland and Italy) were using it for their hate propaganda. The current prime minister of Italy used our pic for their campaign against same s*x couples being able to use surrogacy, and be able to adopt their partner’s child. We sued her government and won!” 🙌🏼
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📸 The viral photo he mentioned was taken by their birth photographer, Lindsay Foster (LindsayFosterPhotography.com). When I saw the photo, I felt compelled to paint it on canvas. I later gifted the painting to the family, and have followed their journey online since then!

BJ & Frank are both teachers in Toronto. They’re content creators and blog about their family. They’ve also written two children’s books - A Mermaid’s Tale and Milo’s Adventures (you can find them on Amazon).

Happy Birthday to Frank & Milo, both celebrating birthdays this month; and Happy Pride to everyone! 🏳️‍🌈💜🏳️‍🌈

🏳️‍🌈 PRIDE SERIES: NANCY
(06.08.2024) Nancy is a friend of a friend who was interested in being part of the Pride Series, thank you!

Nancy is single, and open to finding someone special! 😄 Of all the ways this outlet could be used, I’d be thrilled if a connection was made through art in this way! 🥰💜

“Nancy is a sporty girl from Northern Kentucky.

She’s a mom of two adult kids, Brianna and Trey, sister, a daughter and the coolest aunt.

She retired from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in 2022. Her career was a public information officer, so she talked a lot of traffic.

She enjoys anything and everything outside - golfing, Pickleball, bocce ball, camping, yardwork, hitting the beach.

She just recently celebrated her 60th birthday. 🥳 She spent a month in Destin, Florida for her 60th celebration.

Nancy’s been out for over 24 years and should’ve figured it out when she had pictures of Martina Navratilova all over her wall when she was in high school. And she always felt comfortable playing softball at the softball field with all the girls. 🥎

Nancy loves making people laugh and sometimes has an inner rockstar when she sings karaoke. 🎤

She is not in a relationship, but is always open to finding that special someone. Until then, her theme is “shine your shine” and “I am truly dancing like no one is watching! Happy Pride, Everyone!” 🏳️‍🌈

Around 2pm (5pm EST) today, I'll be on TikTok LIVE (@ teganjamesart) doing a new blind contour portrait for this month's Pride Series.

This one is super extra special to my heart, because it's of married couple, BJ Barone & Frank Nelson and their son, Milo of Toronto, Canada. Family Is About Love

Back in 2015, I saw a photo online that had gone viral. (Photo was taken by birth photographer, Lindsay Foster Photography). She had captured such a beautiful moment - the first moments of BJ & Frank holding Milo after he was born - it was such an emotionally moving photo, I was instantly inspired to paint.

I believe it was the first portrait type of painting I had created - I didn't know what I was doing other than putting out onto the canvas what I was feeling from seeing that photo.
It started with blue and black paint, and I thought it was finished. But then the Marriage Equality victory in the U.S. came on May 26th, and more emotions, excitement and love reignited the inspiration, and that's when I added the colors to it. I sent the painting to them as a gift, and have followed their journey online since then.

Happy Birthday to Milo is turning 10 already this month, and also Happy Birthday to Frank as well! Happy Pride to the whole family!!
Thank you for sharing your journey with us, thank you for sharing Family is About Love with us, and thank you so much for allowing me to do your blind contour portrait today!! MUCH LOVE!

FamilyIsAboutLove.com
Their Instagram Bio:
📍Home is Toronto
📧 [email protected]
Papa🧔🏻is
Daddy👨🏻‍🦲 is
Our son 🧑🏻‍🦱
familyisaboutlove.com

🏳️‍🌈 PRIDE SERIES: RENEE SANTOS
Comedian, Actress, Writer ~ Renee Santos will be hitting the stage at Atwater Village Theater on June 30th with her one woman solo show, CROSSROADS. The show is based on Renee’s journey through the foster care system.

ReneeSantos.com, ,

Going LIVE every day on TikTok (@ teganjamesart) with a new blind contour drawing/painting! Featuring LGBTQ+ portraits during Pride month! 🏳️‍🌈💜🎨

***an

🏳️‍🌈 PRIDE SERIES: GILBERT BAKER
Gilbert Baker designed the original Pride Flag.
Check out the website, GilbertBaker.com for fun facts, history of the flag, and more!

Join me every day on TikTok @ teganjamesart for a brand new blind contour painting session!