Meet Candice Tavares

Candice Tavares is a self-taught wood artist from the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA. She received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Virginia and her Doctorate of Pharmacy from Howard University. None of her formal education has any connection to woodworking or fine art, but her experiences as a Black woman working in healthcare and existing in spaces that are not predominantly Black have absolutely shaped the way she sees the world and the art that she chooses put into it.

Candice primarily focuses on using wood as a natural medium to reflect on and celebrate the natural beauty of Black women. She places heavy emphasis on including a wide range of complexions and hair textures by incorporating multiple species, stains, and techniques to create images that feel representative to women across the diaspora. She hopes that Black women and children will walk away from her work feeling seen, valued, celebrated, and fortified. Reminded of their inherent beauty and value, and encouraged to love every part of themselves just as they are, just how God made them.

Hi Candice, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a digital illustrator and wood artist. I started to experiment with digital illustration as a way to release feelings of frustration and disappointment with the treatment of Black people in this country, but over time my illustrations transitioned from images to express my frustration to images that really celebrate Blackness. I started to focus on creating art to celebrate Black love, beauty, and culture. In that way my art really counters the constant stream of negativity and Black trauma that we are constantly exposed to.

More recently I have expanded my practice to include wooden art. I love to use different colors of wood stain to represent the many different shades of brown that can make up a person’s skin. Using a natural medium like wood also allows me to take advantage of the natural beauty of the wood as a nod to the natural beauty of Black people.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Trying to learn the business of art and marketing is definitely a challenge but it is one that I enjoy tackling. When I decided to pursue a career in art I made a conscious decision to take advantage of every opportunity that presented itself to me and I have been extremely fortunate to be able to work with exciting brands locally and internationally. I’m sure there is still a lot that I can learn about expanding my audience and building brand partnerships, but I’m super grateful to see how far I have come.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I would love for readers to know that my art is really designed for them. Whether they are interest in adding small wooden pieces and prints to their homes or seasoned collectors interested in investing in original pieces my goal is always to create art that makes them feel something. Sometimes that feeling is joy, sometimes love, sometimes hope and occasionally sadness but my goal is always for the lines, curves and calming brown colors to make you connect to the art on an emotional level.

One of the things I enjoy most is watching peoples’ faces to see how the art makes the them feel.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I have amazing family and friends who are incredibly supportive of my art journey, but I have to attribute a lot of my drive and determination to my parents who never set limits on what they thought I was capable of doing.