Can you paint tar paper? Vintage garage, raw interior

[HomeownerPatti]

Hi forum, a 1930 Spanish house at the beach

with a one-car garage, interior is raw beams and tar paper, no drywall. Dark. We'd hope to spray paint white. I read on an old thread a recommendation to paint with PRIMER, that's all. No paint, as it would bleed and look grimy. Sounds valid, any input from others? Power wash first to rid of 91 years of grime, spiderwebs. TIA!