Born in Wisconsin, Tanya has been painting nearly her entire life. She discovered the traditional academic training while studying abroad during college and taking classes at the Charles Cecil School in Florence, Italy.

 

After completing her B.A. in English literature with a minor in fine art from Lawrence University in 2005, she returned to Florence to enroll at the Florence Academy of Art. Having completed the drawing program and part of the painting program at the Florence Academy, Tanya moved on to study briefly with artist Rebecca Harp and eventually moved to Chicago to complete her academic training at the Ravenswood Atelier.  Currently an instructor at the Ravenswood Atelier, Tanya has taught summer school drawing and painting classes to both adults and children through Prairie Hill Waldorf School, as well as visited as a seventh grade drawing teacher. She has exhibited  at W. H. Patterson Gallery in London and Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art's Salon International.