Karen Taylor’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

Karen Taylor shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Good morning Karen, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What are you chasing, and what would happen if you stopped?
In addition to my regular art practice, I have a million new ideas bouncing around in my head, all fighting for attention.

They are constantly put aside, waiting for some magical spare time that doesn’t exist. There are always deadlines, exhibitions, marketing, paperwork, and the many other tasks involved in being an artist. Last summer, I made time to explore them. I wanted to give each idea the airing that it deserves.

Initially, they were small projects that I played with for fun, but surprisingly, others came together to form my newest body of work. Experimenting with different forms of printing, and dusting off an old microscope, have yielded interesting results.

I have now built in time for play and exploration. This not only leads to fruitful ideas, I have realised how integral it is to who I am. It was a part of me that I had forgotten in the busy schedule of running a business.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m an abstract artist living and creating in Toronto. In the nearly 20 years that I have been painting professionally, I’ve worked on a variety of different series, each with a natural lifespan of around five years.

Currently, I’m working on Cultivated, a seed-to-artwork project. I grow vegetable plants in my allotment garden, harvest them, slice them up, and examine them under my vintage 1950s microscope. I take photographs of what I see through the eyepiece and use those photos as source material for paintings and monotype prints.

My inspiration for this new series came from a nostalgic find at a flea market: an old microscope, very similar to the one I learned on at university, back when I was a scientist. I was instantly captivated by what I saw, whole worlds of cells, each plant very different. In my first moment of seeing my own plants in this new way I knew that this would be my new obsession.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was a very curious kid. I was constantly creating, utilizing whatever materials were at hand. I was always learning a new skill: painting and drawing, fibre crafts like crocheting and knitting, experimenting with paper sculpture, and exploring everything from weaving with different media to embroidering and dressmaking. When my hands weren’t occupied, my head was invariably lost in a book.

How often I was told to go out and play? Too often to count. I was an introvert navigating an extroverted world. While sociable, I was equally happy on my own, inventing and discovering new worlds. As an adult, not only have I had the freedom to pursue what I love, but have also turned it into a career. Today, I am grateful to have found a community of people who genuinely cherish the same creative pursuits.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could go back, I would tell myself that there is nothing wrong with me. To simply be myself. To lean in to my identity.

I was the weird, nerdy kid who was forever picked on. That was difficult as a young person trying to fit in. Although I had friends, I knew I was never going to be one of the popular girls.

I didn’t know then that I’d blossom later. Now I naturally attract like-minded people more like myself, people who share my world and who like me for who I am and not for how they would like me to be. My art, which I create art solely for myself, is much better for it.

Ultimately, I wouldn’t have found those wonderful people if I hadn’t been true to myself. Always be yourself.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
I’ve never been a follower of fads or fashions. They often seem designed to undermine your choices and encourage you to buy new ‘fixes’.

We naturally absorb influences that appeal to us, but that doesn’t mean that you must make a conscious effort to emulate current trends. Trust your own voice and create the thing you genuinely want to see.

I believe that if you remain true to yourself, fitting in is irrelevant. Authenticity in your creations is what will attract others. Don’t follow the fads and shifts, become the change.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
This is the space where I live as an artist. The only voice in my head when I create something new is my own. When an idea takes root in my mind, I am compelled to construct it to see what form it takes. Otherwise, it remains there, a persistent niggle, until I finally bring it to life. This process isn’t about creating for others.

When I start a new series, I never put it out there until it is fully formed. Only then is it released, and then the reaction to it will be what it will be. If I can clearly articulate the initial thought in my head, then it’s a success for me, regardless of its reception.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.KarenTaylorArt.com
• Instagram: @KarenTaylorArt
• Other: BlueSky: @KarenTaylorArt

Image Credits
Karen Taylor
David Harcombe