The Artistry of Tamara Vanessa

•Full Bio •

Tamara Vanessa is a multi-disciplinary artist whose creative journey began in early childhood. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana and raised between South Florida and Southern California, She began sewing at the age of six and started playing viola at the age of eleven. Through out her middle school years, Tamara performed in numerous school concerts. At just fourteen, while still in the 8th grade, Tamara was one of many selected violists to perform in the Miami High School Honor Orchestra, showcasing her talent at the University of Miami in 1994.

  in 1995, Tamara relocated to Los Angeles, to attend the prestigious Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA), graduating in 1998. During her time there, she performed in concert with the Claremont Young Musicians Orchestra (CYMO) at venues across southern california including Bridges Hall & Lyman Hall in Pomona college, Disneyland’s Carnation Plaza Gardens, & The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. Tamara studied the "Suzuki Method" with violin & viola teacher Laura Roski-Santoni. In the summer of 1997, Tamara toured Europe with the CYMO, performing at prestigious venues such as The Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria; Rudolfinum in Prague, Czech Republic; the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria; the Kleine Theater in Oberammergau, Germany; and at the South Bohemia Music Festival in Bechyně. Czech Republic.

  She continued her classical music education at Florida International University in Miami, Fl. from 1998-2000, where she composed electronic music in Dr. Kristine Burns classes and took private viola lessons with violist Chauncey Patterson. It was at Florida International Universtity where tamara expanded her path into costumes, working as an assistant to the costume designer in FIU’s Theatre Department. There, she contributed to numerous theatre productions, building and altering costumes while continuing to perform viola in university concerts.

 In 2002, Tamara returned to Los Angeles to study Fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. From 2004 to 2016, she worked as office & photo assistant to renowned photographer Christopher Voelker as an office assistant, supporting photo shoot production, cataloging archives, and occasionally modeling in his fine art projects. During this time, Tamara also identified a need for protective clothing for hairless cats, leading her to design the original product line for Sphynx Cat Wear—a brand dedicated to Sphynx cats. She developed early prototypes, drafted patterns for mass production , and oversaw fittings and production for the line.

Tamara has performed as a session and live violist throughout the greater Los Angeles area. Her work includes demo recordings for artists such as Kan Wakan and Jenny Sayaka Nono. She has performed live with singer-songwriter Miho Hanna, contributed to Ezra Buchla’s experimental music project CatFact, and appeared in a theatrical production of Miss Julie.

Currently based in Hollywood , Ca , Tamara works in the Entertainment Department at Universal Studios Hollywood, focusing on Costume Fabrication and Production. She specializes in costume fabrication, distressing, and alterations for large-scale productions including Halloween Horror Nights and Grinchmas. She is a proud member of I.A.T.S.E. Local 768 (Theatrical Wardrobe Union) .

Tamara continues to bridge her classical music background in viola with her deep expertise in costume technology and design, photography, painting and other Creative mediums.

•Seamstress & Wardrobe Skills •

•Costume Fabrication & Alterations • Experienced with Industrial straight stitch, Industrial zig zag (Consew) & Industrial overlock machines • Sewing-On-Set • Synch-On-Set• Millinery• Aging, Distressing & Dyeing • Hand Sewing• Prototype Design • Pattern Drafting • Crafts • Workroom Manager • Wardrobe Inventory• Wardrobe Maintenance • Fittings• Organizing • Returns •

 Education • 

Los Angeles County High School for the Arts - Viola Performance - Alumni 1998.

Florida International University - Viola Performance - 1998-2000

FIDM - Fashion Design - 2002

 • Inquiries •

Tammytones@gmail.com

 • •

Sewing / Costume Design / Costume Building/ Patterndrafting/Cutting

Universal Studios Hollywood

Crest Complete

Custom Characters

Badland Wives

The Costume House

SphynxCatWear

Total Woman Gym + Spa

Karen Wischmann

Alisa Damaso

Florida International University Theatre Department - Costume Designer’s Assistant

Wardrobe Stylist•/ Assistant/ on-set Tailor

Pop & Suki Handbag promo - On-Set Tailor

Jason Preston INC - Wardrobe / Warehouse Management

Christopher Voelker - Photo Studio & Wardrobe Assistant / Designer for Sphynx Cat WEAR

Julien Meriot - Wardrobe Styling

Jasz Couture  - Wardrobe Styling

Viola Performance / Recording

CatFact - Live Performance

Jenny Sayaka Nono - Demo

Kan Wakan - Demo

Play - Miss. Julie - Live Performance

Miho Hannah - Live Performances

Florida International University Orchestra - Live Performances

Claremont Young Musicians Orchestra - Live Performances & Recordings

Los Angeles County High School for the Arts - Music Department's Chamber Orchestra & Orchestra - Live Performances & Recordings

Miami High School Honor Orchestra - Live Performance & recording

on -set Photography •

CBS Dreamteam “Recipe Rehab” -Instagram Profile & BTS photos: