We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Taylor Manoles. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Taylor below.
Taylor, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.
My parents have always been my first and biggest supporters of my art. I have three other siblings, so crayons were always broken, marker tips abused, but my parents always had art supplies around. My mom got me a sewing machine for my birthday when I was about 9 years old, we made pajama pants together, and more pillows than any household needs. She taught me how to crochet, and everyone got handmade scarfs for the next three Christmases. It got to the point where my sister (snarkily) started asking “is this gift handmade or store bought” before opening a present from me. The trips with my mom to Michaels craft store were a haven, and even though we didn’t have a lot of money, my mom always met my incessant need for a craft.
My parents never channeled me into more “practical” hobbies or career paths, but encouraged me to follow my giftings and passions. Fresh out of college, I decided to sign up for a summer art fair in my hometown, my first attempt to sell my work publicly. I painted a series of clouds. It rained 2 out of the 3 days, I sold a handful of cards (mostly to friends), but no paintings. I packed up all of my work, broke down my ragtag display system, and drove home. I was standing in my parent’s kitchen that night feeling so defeated and embarrassed, on the brink of tears. My dad walked over to me with a check in one hand, and a little cloud painting in the other, purchased it and put it proudly on the mantel.
I’ve always known that I have their full support. They encouraged all of us to do what makes us come alive.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am a landscape oil painter, based in Central Oregon. I’m almost 30, married to my best friend, Joe, and have a border collie named Finn.
I majored in Art Education at North Dakota State University, with an emphasis in paintings. After graduation, I taught middle school art for one year in North Dakota. Although an exciting and valuable experience, I quickly realized that teaching was not where I was going to thrive. We moved to Oregon, I substitute taught and started painting on the side for a few years before going full time with art in 2020.
I have lived in many different places and climates; the desert of Arizona, Minnesota and the Dakotas, the PNW rainforest. I love spending time outdoors, hiking and backpacking, rock climbing, skiing. Painting is how I process and share my experiences. I am captivated by beauty, color, light, and finding ways to communicate the indescribable feelings, mystery, beauty, wonder I experience in nature. I paint both from pictures I’ve taken on adventures, as well as plein air.
I’m inspired by the impressionists and paint with thick strokes and rich color. I paint mostly with a palette knife, texture is a key element in my work. My paintings seek to hold space for the longings and questions in life, and celebrate the beauty and goodness of our world.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect is being able to see someone have an emotional connection to your work. One time, a woman picked up a greeting card with my painting of the Oregon Coast printed on it. She started tearing up because it reminded her of her late mother, and she had a specific person she wanted to send it to. To be a part of that connection was so special.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Being an artist is an incredibly vulnerable job, and is a constant series of highs and lows. Triumphs and defeats. And without “coworkers” or creative team around you, it’s often up to you to find the resilience to keep going. Applying for shows, residencies, opportunities, comes with a lot of rejections. It is a job where you have to advocate and believe in yourself, because what you get out of it directly correlates to what you put in. Even something as simple as finding a studio space has taken me 5 years. I’ve had to be very creative with using parts of my home, garage, friend’s garages, as my studio. You have to assert yourself as a professional and believe that you have something beautiful and valuable to offer the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.taylormanoles.com
- Instagram: @tmanolesart
- Facebook: tmanolesart
- Youtube: Taylor Manoles
