Skye Taylor

skyetaylorgalleries

329 Sales 5 out of 5 stars

Rockford, IL

723

1,079 Following 723 Followers

Hello,
My name is Skye Taylor. I’m a full time professional Artist who lives to paint.
My first experience with art was in the First Grade doing Finger Paints. I remember drawing the side profile of a smiling man’s face. When the teacher held it up for the class to see I felt proud and loved the attention. I knew I was hooked.
My mother encouraged me as she loved to draw. I spent countless hours copying her art portfolio from the 1930’s and 40’s. Her father Maurice Rio, came to America from France at the turn of the Century. He too was an Artist and carried along with him his Artist Easel. He took a Job painting pin stripes on buggies and wagon wheels. The hours were long and the conditions were dangerous. He died at 28 years old around 1919 from paint fumes. My mom Frances was barely 4 years old when he passed. The only thing she inherited was His cherished Easel, a small painting he did and a collection of Detail brushes he had in his hand when he died. Like my Late Mom, I too paint on that easel and often look at those old detail brushes for inspiration.

I began selling paintings in 1969 getting commissions to do portraits and Seascapes.
I won countless awards through Grade School and High School and won two Scholarships to the American Academy of Fine Art in Chicago. I was on total burn out and lasted barely two weeks before walking out the door and quitting.
Back then I realized it would be difficult making it as an artist and starving wasn’t something I wanted to do so I started my own business. I retired at 25 and dabbled through life doing what I wanted. I was fortunate to do a painting For the Late Dom Deluise which was in his CBS office in the early 70’s when he did his sitcom “Lottsa Luck”. In 2005 I designed the late George Carlin’s Christmas Gift hired by his staff. Other than these two opportunities My last painting to that date was over 40 years ago. I always wanted to paint in between that time but I lacked the inspiration and creative hunger and vision. I would occasionally buy Art supplies but I still had total burn out. I needed to release my creative energy in other things.
1980’s I produced and Directed a Cable Television Show Called “It’s a Dog’s Life”. I learned the Cameras and all the angles and was involved in 76 shows before retiring from that.
In the 1990’s I built a recording Studio and produced two albums. I did a Christmas Comedy album which still sells every Christmas and produces Royalties from Digital downloads.
2005 I wrote a book of all the crazy events my wife and I had experience through our lives. I was almost finished when my home burned down in 2007 taking with it everything I own including my book. The only thing that survived was the Fire box I kept my back up flash drive in, but the box was empty.
2007 we spent our days looking for a new home and found a 1907 turn of the century mansion designed by a decibel of Frank Lloyd Wright. My wife and I spent 2008 restoring it back to original and 2009 flying all over the United States to fill it with the finest late 1800’s antiques. This was my passion.
2010 I found inspiration on Youtube when I saw an abstract artist paint. On a whim My wife and I quickly packed our bags and drove from Illinois to North Carolina to find this Artist. I was able to sit in his Sacred studio and watch his genius. After he was finished he shook my hand full of wet paint. I was anointed with full inspiration and found the hunger I was searching for over 40 years. I started painting like there was no tomorrow. My first year I sold over 60 pieces of Art on EBay and other venues. I was given a 5 year contract by a major company to produce my work for Target Store, Amazon, Overstock just to name a few. Copies will be sold in 3 Retail stores open to the public as well as being distributed to Interior Decorators throughout the USA.
I was invited in 2012 to Hong Kong to do Abstracts for a Huge Hotel/Residential Project.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story and many thanks for supporting my art. It gives me much joy when my Art connects with someone special and the energy is passed from my heart to your lovely home.
Blessings to everyone,
Skye Taylor