Meet Artevaggio’s Featured Artist: Phyllis Taylor

When did you first realize you were an artist?
I have been drawing ever since I was a young child. All children scribble and I just never stopped scribbling. I would scribble on the walls of my parents home, in drawing books and coloring books. Then one day I found out it was acceptable to draw outside the lines.

Could you tell us about your work?
Most of my work is done with a graphite pencil because its inexpensive, its always handy and there is usually always paper available for me to draw onto. Of course, when I do my more serious work I use archival paper with various weights of pencil leads. I also paint, draw with pastels and am currently learning to use colored pencils. As for my subject matter, I tend to focus on human faces. There is something about the individual expressions that attract my attention and make me want to draw them.

What artists have influenced your work?
Well, my favorite artist is Paul Cezanne. I would say that it is his Impressionist style and carefree way he paints his figures in landscapes. I also love Frida Kahlo’s work. There are many artists throughout art history that have influenced my work.

What is your creative inspiration?
I am a portrait artist. There is something I see in a person’s face that just intrigues me. I don’t know if it’s the sparkle in their eye or the tilt of the head or the way somebody smiles but there is always that instant that I know that’s it.

No Words to Express small by Phyllis Taylor

What other interests do you have besides creating art?
All of my interests still go towards art just different methods of creating art. I like to paint floor cloths in an abstract style which I discovered accidentally by the paints drips that were left on my drop cloths. Then I did some research and found that this was an actual form of artwork. I’ve painted several of these floor cloths for people since that time and have several throughout my home.

What advice would you give to a new artist?
Practice and keep practicing your craft. Don’t ever stop. Keep painting and drawing and soon it won’t feel like work anymore. It will be just a part of what you do.

Could you give some advice about the business side of being an artist?
I would love to have someone market me because I think that is the key. You have to get your work out because otherwise people won’t know to purchase it. I began telling people I was an artist and drew portraits and the more I got the word out, the more people would come to me to ask them to draw their portraits. Always let people know that you’re an artist and exhibit your work publicly.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years from now?
Ten years from now I see myself painting and continuously producing a great body of work to be exhibited and shown in homes everywhere! As I take it one day at a time I’m working on drawing and painting one thing a day until I secure the time and resources to simply paint all day!!

CLICK HERE to see Phyllis’ art studio and read her Studio Spotlight Interview.

CLICK HERE to visit Phyllis’ personal site.