Who We Are
Meet Tamara Holland — attorney, artist, and the enthusiastic spirit behind Bean Up The Nose Art.
The Story Behind the Name
When she was little, Tamara Holland ran up to her mom and announced, "I don't have a bean up my nose!" Of course, she did. That same spirit of curiosity, enthusiasm, and pluck has never left her.
Today, as an attorney and artist with grown-up kids of her own, Tamara channels that energy into Bean Up The Nose Art — a Bay Area solopreneur mixed media company based in Marin County, California. She founded it after realizing that what she and the world really need are more enthusiasm, color, whimsy, and creativity.
Tamara's mixed media collages are reprinted in small batches at a local, family-owned print shop near her studio. Every piece reflects her belief that art should be joyful, accessible, and a little bit unexpected.
Tamara Holland's journey from attorney to mixed media artist is a testament to the power of embracing one's full creative spirit. Her work, rooted in the same curiosity and pluck that once led a little girl to announce she did not have a bean up her nose, bursts with enthusiasm, color, and whimsy. Each collage begins as a playful conversation between found materials and imagination, layering textures and images into something entirely new. Printed in small batches at a family-owned shop near her Marin County studio, these pieces carry the warmth of handmade care. It is art that invites you to slow down, look closer, and remember that bravery often starts with a willingness to be a little silly.
The creative philosophy at Bean Up The Nose Art is built on the belief that the world needs more joy and fewer rules. Tamara's dispatches from her studio celebrate the messy, delightful process of making something from nothing, encouraging fellow artists and dreamers to exercise their bravery muscles. Whether musing on nature, sharing prompts for creative play, or simply praising the courage it takes to begin, her blog and books offer companionship for the journey. This is not art for hushed galleries and white walls. It is art for greeting cards, luggage tags, cafe walls, and the nooks of everyday life, designed to spark conversations and remind us that enthusiasm is its own kind of superpower.
Boss of Herself
Tamara's path hasn't been a straight line — and that's the point. Balancing a legal career with a thriving creative practice, she embodies the idea that you don't have to choose just one thing. Her work is a testament to following your inner voice, even when it leads somewhere surprising.
Through her art and her e-books — including Starting to Make Your Art Your Business: 100 DIY Tips — Tamara encourages other creatives to take their own work seriously and build something meaningful.
Want to say hello or ask about a collaboration?