Noticing Neighbors Taylar’s Take

Taylar Sanders looks at the world with an artist’s eye, and paints beautiful images that give you Taylar’s Take. Being the lead painter and owner of Taylar’s Take, Taylar provides paintings, workshops, and illustrative street murals. Just recently, in honor of Black History Month she partnered with Kendra Scott for the Give Back Event—providing a live painting experience, where 20% of the day’s sales benefitted ArtsTech KC.

Painting in a way that uplifts her values is not new to Taylar, and she sat down to share what it’s like to create original art.

Hayley: I’ve got to tell you, you just have this glow about you when you share what you do. How long have you been painting?

Taylar:

Well, thank you so much for that. I've been watching your page, and I love how you guys Notice people. I just love it, it’s so sweet. It's the type of thing I want to see in the world, but I've been painting for about five years.

Hayley:

Wow.

Taylar:

Yeah. This is my fifth year.

Hayley: Is it typically acrylic, oils, or what do you like to work with?

Taylar:

I like to work with both. I really use about half and half—but I started with acrylic, and now I paint more with oil.

Hayley:

What do you like about oil?

Taylar:

I love the blending. I feel like you can get a much more blended look and a lot of times gives it a more realistic look, when I’m going for realism.

Hayley:

You paint a lot of subjects that seem like they're near and dear to your heart. Like, they just seem to be authentically you. How do you choose what to paint?

Taylar:

I would say it's definitely feeling based. I get my inspiration from everything—from conversations, people I meet, and nature is a big one. If I get a feeling that I'm really passionate about and can't stop thinking about it, then I need to paint.

Hayley:

Is there one that you remember where the inspiration part of it was meaningful?

Taylar:

Lots of them. I would say one I did recently.

There's a painting of a little boy smelling a flower, and I loved it. I saw it on Facebook, it’s my friend’s son. I just kept looking at it. I loved it so much because it would be normal for a little kid to run by and pick a flower—but it was so sweet that he stopped to smell the flower instead, and he was so gentle with it. Hayley: Yes. Taylar: His mom said that he is very gentle by nature, and that he’s also gentle with his siblings. I really wanted to draw attention to that part of him. That sweet, gentle nature.

Hayley:

After you’ve had an insight like that, what are you experiencing while you’re painting?

Taylar:

It gives me so much passion. I know it fills me up. Like I can paint, and I'm lost in it for hours. There are times it stretches to 3:00 in the morning. I love doing it, I don't get tired of doing it, and I think that passion just pushes me to keep doing it. It gives me energy, and while painting I like to focus on the things I want to see more of in the world.

Hayley:

I love that you said it gives you energy, and that it’s reciprocal. Is there anything that you do in your environment to create a painting space?

Taylar:

Yes, definitely. I try to pick up. I like to have it that way. I'll have my art supplies in an organized mess, and I love having plants around. I guess it just feels kind of like nature where there's life around. So I love having plants, and I love candles, so I light candles all the time.

Hayley:

This is beautiful. Are there any pieces you are working on right now?

Taylar:

Let’s see—I've got three or four works in progress.

Hayley:

Can we talk about one of those?

Taylar:

So I'm working on a neo-soul piece, which is a genre of music. I'm painting these three R&B singers because music is huge for me. You asked if there was something that sets the mood for me to create, and music is huge. These are three of my favorite artists and three artists that help me to ground myself.

There's so much going on right now in the world. I've really turned to music to help with that, so I wanted to paint them for that reason. Hayley: What else are you painting? Taylar: I'm painting an image of some hands, and it's going to be called Healing Energy. It's some hands, and they're kind of like holding a ball of energy. It's evolving as I work on it, and that's one I'm super excited to finish.

Hayley:

Have to keep an eye out to see if you post any progress on it, because that’s beautiful.

Taylar:

Thank you. Yes! It's coming.

Hayley:

Another thing that I've seen that is really unique to you is that—while you're so talented, and have put a lot of time into the craft—you keep it feeling accessible for people that are following. It seems like the joy of creating is still there.

One way I've seen that is through these videos you’ve posted that show the creating process. There’s such an invitation to the person looking at it to join you and feel like it's approachable. Was there anyone that inspired you to be that way about your art?

Taylar:

Yes. There are so many artists, and I love watching process videos. I love watching people do their thing. I follow other artists, and it's encouraging to me. The end product looks so amazing to see! It helps to see the steps: they started here, and then they just worked on it. It encourages me to trust the process—it'll come together. It makes you feel like you're on the journey with them, which is what I love about it.

Hayley:

Specifically surrounding your art, how have you seen goodness since going on this whole journey?

Taylar:

In so many ways! When I say this journey has filled me up in so many ways, it’s been over the span of five years. With portraits, I've had the opportunity to paint loved ones that have passed away and to see how much that meant to their family. It's something that is invaluable—to give something that helps them during that time. I've had other artists tell me, “I love that you post your work. It encourages me to do the same.” There definitely was a point where I was just not confident enough and not ready to share my work. I now enjoy that piece of it. Hayley: I’m so glad you do.

Thinking back, are there any paintings where sharing it publicly allowed you to connect with people? Taylar: Working on the Camp Bow Wow mural in Midtown, definitely. As I was working on it, people would walk by and they would just smile. Being able to be a positive part of someone's day like that is just huge.

Hayley: And you know that with your mural, you created something that is still meeting people in their day to day life. Taylar:

Yes! Hayley: Even after you’ve left.

Taylar:

There were so many cool experiences with that project. There's a daycare nearby, and they would come by holding hands while staying in a line just to check on my progress every couple of days. It was so cute.

Hayley:

That is such a sweet image. If there are younger artists, or people that are just itching to try their own hand in art, what would you tell them to get started?

Taylar:

I would say: just do it. Just get started! There's no wrong way to do it. You can't do your art wrong, so just get started. If anything, it'll be a great outlet for you. You don't have to share it, but hopefully you do. I know it will encourage other people and it will also encourage you once you get that positive feedback. There is no wrong way to express yourself.

Keep up with the latest works and progress videos from Taylar’s Take through their Instagram. All media originally published by Taylar’s Take via their online platforms, with a mural photo provided courtesy of Camp Bow Wow Westport.