At its highest, quarantine was a time of solitude and reflection. At its lowest, it was claustrophobic and lonely. But while the walls might have closed in on us some days, other days the walls themselves became a source for creative exploration. It’s little wonder that with most of us staying in, we’ve known a thirst for interior design this past year.
Peter Tarka’s imagined interior landscapes provided us with a source of inspiration. Minimal, geometric, and altogether captivating, they present the ideal home for quarantine and beyond. Tarka’s use of color is also striking, inspiring us to experiment more with pinks and blues when it comes to our homes.
Entirely self-taught, Tarka’s motto (and advice for other aspiring artists) is simple: “Work hard and get enough time of sleep (repeat until the end of your life).”
An award-winning art director, graphic designer, and illustrator, amongst his accolades are a Silver Cannes Lions for Art Direction & Design and a Bronze Cannes Lions for Use of Social Platforms. His unique aesthetic hasn’t gone unnoticed, having collaborated with brands as big as Apple, Google, Instagram, Microsoft, and LG.
But according to Tarka himself, he gravitated towards this minimalist, digital aesthetic mainly because he couldn’t draw without the aid of a computer.
“I started pretty early with Photoshop CS2, which I got from my father’s friend (I’m almost sure this was a pirate copy),” he shared with Medium. “I always liked drawing, so I started creating really simple stuff with brushes etc…”
“In 2011, I started thinking about giving more depth to my illustrations, so I used simple 3D tools from illustrator and then retouched them in Photoshop to give them a more natural feel,” he further explained. “After this I moved onto Cinema 4D, which has turned into my main program along with Photoshop.”
The end result is both captivating and inviting. And while our homes and interiors are far from ideal, Tarka’s digital landscapes are something we can aspire to… at least in theory.
