Meet the Artist: E. Vern Taylor

Interview with Painter and Print maker E. Vern Taylor

Inspired Journeys at the Prairie Art Alliance Gallery is on view until Thursday October 9th. 

You have described the theme of your work in this show as “Beginnings”.  What does that mean to you?

Oh Joy...'One' Rite of Spring!

Beginnings in the next phase of my Life.  Beginnings in another way of producing a painting or work of art.  Beginnings in the senior years of my career as a fledgling artist.  Beginnings with a deeper, more meaningful means of expression - emotionally, physically, and spiritually.  I chose "Beginnings" for the title of this particular collection because of the unwanted, long hiatus I was away from my painting - the very thing I've come to focus on, more and more as I continue this march in my retired years.  It's one of the things that keeps me active and alert, as I'm finding out what the elemental and fundamental joys of painting really boil down to, in creating a piece of art "that I feel good about."

Each piece is paired with text you have written, many of which are lyrical poems.  What comes first, the writing or the artwork?

The artwork always comes first, then the—what I've always called, my "Lyrical Writings"—comes after, or during the making of the piece, sometimes when it's almost completed.  It is said that "a painting always speaks for itself," but, I guess, I try to add a story or a little more depth by doing my Lyrical Writings (which I learned to do in my college Art classes) and it just blossomed from there.  Writing is a favorite pastime of mine and has been for many, many years.

How do you feel the text is connected to the piece? 

If it's a "Lyrical Writing," it has everything to do with the poetry of the painting, or the story behind the piece, or of the image.  Expounding on or explaining my motivation for doing the piece.  The Lyrical Writing completes the "cycle" for me—if I'm inclined to do a Writing or feel it needs it.

Toddlin' toward Losin' the Blues

While the pieces in the exhibit are quite varied, they all are connected to landscapes.  What draws you to this subject?

This is a direction that my "wandering eye" took me—for what reason, I know not, or why.  I adore the complex simplicity of and by Mother Nature—her greenery has captured my senses, all of my life!  Being of this Earth, which is all we know, I look forward to each Spring—these are all images of Spring I'd like to remember; holding them close to my love of Spring—and I am working on many more Spring pieces.

Tulips!

Light plays a strong role in many of your pieces but is often used to backlight elements of the image.  How should the viewer interpret this inner glow?

It had been mentioned to me, that the "inner glow" of my paintings may represent my religious or spiritual beliefs.  If this is so, then the naturalness of my pieces is manifested with markings of Nature's innate and wonderful complexion, which appears to us all—particular during its Awakening (Spring), when she flaunts and beguiles us with some of her best "outfits."

Follow our blog to meet the other artist featured in "Inspired Journeys" on view until October 9.