Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Montague.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I have been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember. As a child, my parents would provide art supplies to create with, and I would get lost for hours making pictures… I recall thinking ‘what a special world it was—one that allowed me to focus or reorganize my perceptions and create something beyond the reality that I normally inhabit.’ However, I was always intrigued by my immediate surroundings… observing simple things like the way light would play off of different surfaces, buildings and forms, and appear to change colors throughout the day. I explored various subjects and styles in my early years… from surrealistic dream-like depictions, comic art, album art, to straight forward portraiture. In 2001 I attended Laguna College of Art & Design, where I gained a deeper understanding of art history, which ultimately lead me back to depicting my surroundings, painting from life, and really looking closely at all the possibilities within the Southern California landscape. In 2010, I graduated with a Master’s degree in fine art. Since then, I have been making paintings based on local scenes, exhibiting my work, teaching classes, taking commissions, as well as raising a family.
Please tell us about your art.
My goal is to defamiliarize the look of the everyday without losing its unassuming qualities. The subjects that I tend to paint are not flamboyant or shocking, but rather quotidian spaces which allow for contemplation, and seek to elicit interest in what would otherwise remain overlooked.
The paintings in this series of work explore the way coastal-suburban spaces are viewed/depicted and, by implication, inhabited. Often observed firsthand, then later finished in the studio, these works aim for a balance of gestural indication and representational specificity.
Choosing a creative or artistic path comes with many financial challenges. Any advice for those struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns?
Art requires a leap of faith — it comes from a reality beyond the physical, yet it is made with tactile forms and substances. So what it requires is balance. In any area of your life, if you can find a balance between beliefs and facts, imagination, and practicality, you are already on your way. Start small and try to get the most out of simple things. There are resources available to artists such as grants. It does not come without struggle. I applied for the Elizabeth Greenshields Grant for seven years before I received the honor in 2011. On top of researching foundations that support artists, I would suggest attending gallery openings and developing relationships with people working in the art world.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I have work available to view on my personal website: www.taylormontague.org. I post my work regularly on Instagram @taylormontague. I also currently show with George Billis Gallery LA.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.taylormontague.org
- Email: tmontague1980@hotmail.com
- Instagram: @taylormontague
Image Credit:
Taylor Montague
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