A Conversation with Fern Tallos

Originally published on November 6, 2025

Have you ever been to the Owl’s Nest Cafe and seen the murals on the walls? How about the Underhill Plant Shop or Thurston County Food Bank?

Chances are you have run into one of many murals by local painter Fern Tallos. Tallos has a style that makes you think that Alice’s wonderland could really exist, combining plants with bright colors and whimsy.

Letting studies and life inspire their abstract art, Tallos, who uses the pronoun they, finds inspiration in flowers, herbs, plants, and the idea of “flow.” Tallos incorporates flow through adding stars, the moon, birds or really anything under the umbrella of nature that gives their work a greater flow.

Chatting with Tallos, I found them to be very kind, open, and honest, making our conversation refreshing.

Listening to their gut

Growing up in the creative community in Anacortes, Tallos felt that influence and inspiration early on. Since Tallos was little, they were making art on canvas and paper, taking as many arts classes as possible throughout their education.

At one point, Tallos was accepted into an arts school in Portland, Oregon, but chose to decline the offer.

“I had this idea that if I went to school, it would change me as an artist," Tallos said.

There is a certain point where many artists begin to ask themselves where they stand on the line between gaining skills that help you grow as an artist and having that kind of education naturally change their style.

Chatting with many artists, I have heard multiple stances on that question, and I don’t think any of them are wrong. The only wrong answer when it comes to artistic education is not listening to your gut instincts.

“Sometimes I regret that (I didn’t go to that school) because there are skills that I lack,” Tallos admitted. “I don’t know that if I had (gone to school) that I would be where I am today as a self-taught, working artist.”

In between the time Tallos finished K-12 education and became a working artist, they did end up going to school at The Evergreen State College, and their studies became a part of what inspires their work today.

“I took time to work on myself, grow up a bit more, and find myself,” Tallos shared. “I studied as a clinical herbalist, and then got a degree in public health.”

Through it all, Tallos continued to paint every night. Around their 30’s, Tallos realized that they felt grounded enough and had enough things figured out in their life. Married, houseowner, parent, they felt stable enough to start going after their big dreams and ideas.

Tallos knew they wanted to paint a mural, so they did. Afterward, they painted another mural for a local business that got a lot of attention.

“I started to get requests for other work around town, and then I started to show my paintings, and everything began to take off," Tallos said.

Tallos first mural was painted 10 years ago, and now they have been a self-employed muralist and working artist for five years.

“I don’t have another day job and I really devote myself to my practice," Tallos said.

You can scavenger hunt for some of Tallos murals by looking at the map provided in this column.

A radical act

Considering how our natural world is being impacted by climate change, I was curious about how politics influence Tallo’s art.

“I would say I’m a political person, but I don’t know that my art itself is overtly political.” Tallos said.

“However, everything is political, so perhaps it is political in the sense that I think joy in a time of crumbling democracy and late stage capitalism is a radical act. Making space for joy and making things that people really like and enjoy to see is political in and of itself.”

We can all exercise our political consciousness in many ways and participate in numerous levels of advocacy, but we must never leave creativity behind in that process.

When we fight for what we believe in, it is easy for our spirits to grow weary, or perhaps heavily burdened by anger and sorrow. If we don’t let a little light in or allow ourselves a creative respite, we will lose sight of every good thing we are fighting for in the first place. When we create, we win. 

You can learn more about Fern Tallos by visiting this website and following on Instagram.

https://www.thejoltnews.com/stories/a-conversation-with-fern-tallos,26971