A painter, lecturer, entrepreneur, and world traveler Bryan Mark Taylor is a true renaissance man.
As a painter, Bryan has traveled around the globe, carefully observing and capturing what he calls vanishing landscapes, going through rapid changes due to technological, socio-economic, and climate issues.
Whether it is farm country of the western United States, or cities and towns of China, India, South America, and Europe, he is passionate about recording the changing dynamics of these places.
What’s your preferred medium to paint, and have you tried different mediums before?
I've tried and enjoyed experimenting in all different kinds of mediums over the years, but I keep coming back to oil paint for its flexibility, depth, and range. For example, sometimes I use oil paint like watercolor for specific effects in my cityscape paintings.
Who was your biggest supporter when you decided to pursue art as a career?
My wife and I have been married for 22 years and when we were first engaged I told her I wanted to be an artist, and she cried because she was so worried we would be poor. To her credit, however, she has stood by me through all the challenges of getting started and helped me build a rich and fulfilling art career. Really couldn't have done it without her help and unwavering support.
What do you do to get out of an artist's block?
I will travel to a place in the world I've never been to before. I find traveling and meeting people with diverse cultures stimulating to my senses. When I immerse myself in new sights, sounds, smells and tastes, I can't help but be inspired to create.
What advice do you have for someone who wants to make art for a living? at do you listen to when you are painting/creating artwork? Why?
Finding a good mentor who is making a living doing what you love to do can help you in so many ways. Also, develop as much skill as you possibly can.
Imagine you are hiking Mt. Everest. If you filled your backpack with the best supplies and tools it will make the journey so much more attainable and rewarding. Acquiring skills through discipline and consistency is like putting those supplies in your backpack.
Do you feel it’s necessary to finish your painting before beginning another? Why?
To achieve certain wet-in-wet effects I will often work on a painting from start to finish in one sitting.
However, if I'm doing a larger more complex piece that requires multiple sittings, I will work on it on and off with other pieces so I can get away from it and get a fresh eye. It also helps me to see it grouped with other paintings so I know how it will hold up among other artworks in a gallery setting.
When you receive unsolicited critiques or comments, how do you think/react?
I'll admit sometimes those comments can sting when they aren't solicited but at the same time a comment from an honest observation is a true gift if we are willing to accept it.
To some degree, we are all blind to the deficiencies in our work and it takes a jarring comment to recognize it. I know I've benefited from candid comments especially from my young children who are completely uninhibited from social norms.
What are your favorite Trekell products?
My favorite brush is the 1" golden Taklon wash. I feel like I can almost do an entire panting with it including the details. I also like the legion brush series for precision strokes. I also love the gesso panel eggshell surfaces. The panels allow me to make painterly marks and I find it is a forgiving surface that's not too absorbent.