Tabitha Schae is a self-taught contemporary artist based in Calgary, Alberta. She is the founder of the Calgary Art Community, an organization created to support local artists and build opportunities for connection, collaboration, and creative growth within Calgary’s arts community.
She was accepted into the Federation of Canadian Artists and is also a member of the Calgary Sketch and Painting Club. She regularly participates in local exhibitions, pop-up galleries, and community art events throughout Calgary.
Before pursuing her career as an artist, Schae worked as a carpenter, developing a strong appreciation for working with her hands and creating things from the ground up. Although she has always been drawn to art and creativity, she began painting seriously approximately five years ago. Her background in both art and hands-on construction has shaped the way she approaches her creative practice.
Today, she works primarily in oils and acrylics, creating expressive paintings of wildlife, landscapes, and people.
Her work is inspired by nature, family, and the emotions and connections found in everyday life. Through expressive brushwork, colour, and texture, Schae aims to capture the personality and spirit of her subjects while creating artwork that invites an emotional connection with the viewer.
Tabitha Schae
“For me, art is a way of expressing what I feel, connecting with the world around me, and finding a sense of peace.
What began as a way to earn extra income while staying home with my baby quickly became something much more meaningful. Painting gave me a creative outlet, but it also gave me a passion and sense of purpose that I had never experienced before. Over time, art became less about making something and more about creating something that feels meaningful to me.
I am primarily drawn to wildlife, landscape, and occasionally portraiture. I love capturing personality and emotion in my subjects and finding the small details that make them feel alive. Animals, in particular, allow me to explore expression and connection without words. I am often inspired by the natural world, my family, and the moments of beauty and innocence I encounter in everyday life.
I primarily work in oils and acrylics, allowing myself to experiment with texture, colour, movement, and expressive brushwork. I want my paintings to feel alive rather than perfectly polished. I am interested in capturing a feeling or a moment and creating work that allows the viewer to connect with the subject in their own way.
Every painting I create carries a little piece of my own experience. I approach my work with love, curiosity, and passion, and I hope that sense of connection comes through in the finished piece.”
— ARTISTS STATEMENT