It's no easy feat to call yourself a full time artist. And to say you're one in Dallas is a rare accomplishment in itself. Just ask the bevy of creatives in the metroplex who are secretly hiding out in the bland cubicle of some corporate entity that have hired their talents in attempt to make their company cool. This unfortunately forces them to make their own creative venture a side-hustle.
It's a necessary evil in order to pay the bills. An evil that J. Taylor has managed to gradually evolve from since settling in Dallas eight years ago and marketing his artistry to the masses. ”I never had this plan to take my art full time. I just kind of evolved into it. I've been an artist since I was kid. There were so many requests for my work that it eventually got the ball rolling allowing me to do what I love to do.” he says.
If you’re not familiar with him as an artist you’re definitely familiar with his work. It has been featured in highly publicized magazines, galleries, and blogs across the country. Born in Southern California, J. Taylor was a natural artist from childhood. This Dallas based, Los Angeles bred visual artist has contributed a unique collection of work that is cutting edge and versatile. Through the use of mixed media, he combines rich colors, deep shadows, and dynamic compositions that make each painting unique. The intense colors reflect his personal connection and emotion to each subject. "It's all about the art. I never approach any piece of art with the intent of how much money I can make off of it cause it's all about the art. I'm not necessarily trying to be rich off my art. I just want to be able to support my family. It's gotta start with this idea, this concept that people can see and for that to have some sort of effect on a person. Whether it's good bad or indifferent. That effect is worth a whole lot in itself." he says.
He splits his time between his home in Dallas where he works and his studio in Los Angeles. Dallas made sense logistically being that DFW acts as a hub for the southwest regarding travel. It also became a home for his family, his art, and he recognized a range of opportunities for his work to flourish. "There is a void. There is this gap that needs to be filled. The creativity lives here but it just needs to be brought to the forefront." It’s in these different environments that he finds his inspiration. “I always say the smell, sound of a city and it's environment. The taste of the food where ever you are. Those things set the tone, the vibe you're going to have when you step into the studio to create. My work that I paint in my studio in LA is so different from the work that I do here. To the point where I'll pick and choose the type of series I'll do here versus there.” However in his upcoming series entitled “The Father Project” he drew his inspiration from a more personal place. "As an artist, I've wanted to explore the concept of fatherhood for several years. As a fairly new father, I've spent the last three years experiencing it first-hand. I never knew this much about myself until I was blessed with my daughter Marley Jae.” he says. Set to make its debut on Father's Day, he describes it as a collection of abstract art pieces created from the emotions, ideas, and thoughts of various men on fatherhood. Rather than focusing on the perspective of a son and his relationship with the parent this project explores the perspective of the father and his relationship with the child. "My first love when it comes to painting is the abstract. I like all of it. It's all cool but there is this power in the unknown that is just a thrill for me. Not where you can take that painting but where that painting can take you. It's amazing really.”
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