Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathleen Taylor.
Hi Kathleen, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My first love was a new box of crayons and a clean sheet of drawing paper. A blank
white page and a sharp pencil still make me happy. I started drawing as a preschooler
and haven’t stopped. Making art, when the process is flowing, can be a magical
experience.
My art career began in corporate design as an illustrator/designer for children’s wear
and toy manufacturers. I also worked in publishing as a writer/editor/ photo stylist. I
created my own design studio in 1992. As a hopeless collector of vintage junk and
furniture I began by painting one-of-a-kind pieces and selling them to retailers and
decorators.
The furniture business evolved into “Kathleen Taylor Studio” which marketed and sold
my images as framed and matted prints. The art has been licensed over the years into
many different gift products.
Currently I am a full time painter and collage/mixed media artist. It’s a great way to
incorporate my collecting habit into the art. My work is sold through American
galleries, juried art shows and my website.
My subject matter is inspired by home, family, friends and pets. I hope to translate my
life experiences onto my canvases. My large and amazing family keeps me anchored and
inspired. I’m grateful to be able to work at something I love
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s always a struggle to make art and then to try and market it. I don’t like approaching a gallery and asking them to carry my work. It would be nice to have someone do that for me!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I consider myself a contemporary folk artist. My images come from my imagination, not what I see around me. Lately I’ve been bouncing between acrylic paint and watercolors. I’m known primarily for my whimsical, colorful paintings of animals and family related topics. I’m most proud of being a working artist at my age.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
The best networking I’ve found is through other artists. I have a group of painter friends that gather for coffee occasionally. We share galleries, techniques, and information about our work.
Contact Info:
- Email: kathleentaylorart@etsy.com
- Instagram: paintedpieces
- Facebook: kathleentaylor studio
