Watercolor Artist Don Taylor

BY DIANE MERCADO; PHOTOGRAPHY BY RICK COOPER

Vibrant colors, minute detail, and familiar subject matter in Don Taylor’s watercolor paintings quickly catch a viewer’s eye. “My paintings employ a combination of realism and impressionism with a touch of the abstract,” he states. “My hope is to evoke the same feeling to the viewer that I feel when first seeing the subject, the sense that there is more to it than a mere rendering.” A native of St. Augustine, Don and his wife, Louisa, arrived in Bay County in 1972 to join a veterinary practice. He graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. He then earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University. He also served three years as an officer in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam conflict. Art has always been a treasured avocation, a way for him to relax. Don remembers when growing up he liked to help his father who earned a living with commercial art and worked with sterling silver to create jewelry.

“When I was in fifth grade, my teacher would pay me $5 to paint wedding invitations that she would later give as gifts,” Don recalls. “That was a lot of money for a kid back then.” His first foray into painting began with oils in 1963 and acrylics in 1972. He finally settled on watercolors in 1975. Throughout that time, he attended national workshops with prominent and highly recognized artists such as Judi Betts, Frank Webb, Don Andrews, and James Brantley, among many others. Throughout his veterinary career he always took at least one week a year to attend a national workshop. Don continued to practice veterinary medicine full-time until 2000 when he sold his share of the practice and worked part-time. Now he practices veterinary medicine on an as-needed basis while his painting has taken precedence. Over time he has accrued numerous awards and became a well-recognized artist in the South. Not only has he garnered recognition locally and regionally but he has become a nationally well-known watercolorist having won several prestigious awards. Once he finishes painting something he deems show-worthy, it goes on a list. This list tracks the shows each painting has been entered in, where it has been accepted by a jury, when it should be returned, and when it is expected at the next show or exhibit. At any given time, there are several paintings ready to go on display or in transit. Many of Don’s award-winning paintings have been selected for publication in books such as The Best of America Watermedia, Best of Worldwide Watermedia Artists and International Contemporary Artists, a Who’s Who for artists working in various water-based mediums. He has served as board president to several watercolor societies, and the Panama City Artists Association. Much of his subject matter comes from his experience working with animals and from traveling extensively in the U.S. and abroad. His work covers a gamut of subjects, although he is best known for his animal, architectural, and figurative paintings. Lights, darks, bold colors, lost edges, shapes touching each other, come together to re-create feelings associated with the subject matter. “I try to apply the illusion of detail in many of my paintings so viewers can use their imagination to complete the image in their minds. Sometimes less is more.” Don knows it has never been easy for artists to make a living through the sale of their work. However, it has become increasingly more difficult in recent years. Galleries have been closing everywhere, he said. That’s one of the reasons why he enters so many shows, but that can become quite costly when considering matting, framing, entry fees, and shipping costs to and from the shows. Many artists have moved more toward holding national workshops to earn a living. Even that has changed, going from a typical week-long timeframe to three or four days. Don started teaching on a limited basis in 2002 at the urging of fellow artist friends. One of his students, Pam Kennon, has been in the class since the beginning. “I bought some of his early paintings,” she remembers. “I have seen his work with oils, acrylics, and watercolor. He was winning local awards even before he switched to watercolors. He is patient with his students and demonstrates techniques to show us how to improve. Everyone who has worked with him has improved. He is always positive and encouraging. Don wants everyone to be successful.” Don just smiles with his blue eyes as his rugged hands point to an area in one of the paintings that needs adjustment. He remains humble about his own success. “Somebody once told me I’m lucky because my vocation supports my avocation. Not very many people can say that.”

Don Taylor, Contact Info:
(850) 215-9424
www.dontaylorart.com
dltaylor215@gmail.com