Lori Taylor's Biography

Lori’s love of nature began as child growing up on five acres of pines and pond in Clarkston, Michigan, a natural playground and mystical place of nature study for the artist. Since then, Lori’s artistic skill has had her illustrating and interpreting Michigan landscape. Her layered, mixed media works, have been in many juried art shows and her commissioned murals and educational exhibits can be seen in several Michigan nature centers. As a graphic artist for Oakland County Parks & Recreation, her work educates the public. As a children’s author/illustrator, she presents children’s art/nature programs that promote environmental literacy and the preservation of nature’s story.

Lori Taylor's work can be seen on her website  www.loritaylorart.com

 Lori Taylor's Artist Statement

“Inspired by nature, story and myth, and art forms from ancient petroglyphs to children’s book illustrations, I create artifacts of my outdoor experiences. The balancing of my altered and layered watercolors along with the raw energy of sketches, capture moments that tell nature’s story. My pieces become artifacts that instill a sense of wonder and generate awareness of Michigan flora and fauna, its people and history. As an artist, I strive to preserve the spirit of “wild place” by emotionally connecting the viewer with my subject. It is this connection that is needed to create positive change and vision to instill stewardship.”

   Accomplishments

• Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Artist-in-Residence (2007)
• Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park Artist-in-Residence (2008)
• Whisper in the Woods Nature Journal, Vol.7 #2, Featured Artist, (Issue 2008)
• Kirtland’s Warbler Festival, Featured Artist, Roscommon, MI, (2008)
• Michigan Alliance of Environmental Outdoor Education Certificate of Appreciation (2010)
• Lissy-Lost!, Written/Illustrated (2003, 2011 second edition)
• Magical Adventures in Michigan, Paint Creek Press, Illustrator (2003)

 Artistic Process

After a general theme and composition that I usually find popping up in my mind, I sketch out the overall design then begin by glazing or painting the substrate (from masonite to watercolor canvas or guitar) that will cradle the piece. Then as puzzle pieces, each item that tells the story is painted in watercolor then torn or cut and altered with a variety of mediums from graphite to color pencil or paste. The pieces are then woven or worked into the piece in layers. I use everything from fibers and natural materials to coyote teeth and fur to animal tracks that I have cast myself.

 

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