Canadian Artist, Linda Diane Taylor describes her art as taking an idea or a vision to the canvas and molding color and dimension to create a message, a question or an emotion. Her influences come from the old master oil painters, tribal designs and visions. Her style is eclectic, ever changing and developing.

In her portfolio you will find amazing pet portraits, personal portraits, ideas from visions, tribal designs and copies of old masters.

She makes drums for other artists to paint and develops her own designs and personal designs for others.

In the late nineties she painted indoor wall and ceiling murals paintings in the homes of the "Street of Dreams" in Coquitlam, British Columbia. She continues to paint indoor murals and hopes to one day work on large outdoor murals.

Art Education: Fraser Valley Academy of Art 1985-1987 under the direction of Atelier Sandor Meszaros. Self taught through experimentation, extensive research and travel throughout US, Canada, Europe and South America. Art as Therapy: Study of Art Therapy through Vancouver Counseling and Hypnotherapy Institute 1989. Drum Making taught by Dene and Métis Elders.

RV: Do you have Native Ancestry?  

Linda: My native heritage is Ojibwe.. however it is all hearsay, as my fathers family did such a good job of hiding his identity there are no physical records .. and that is a whole other story.. thank you. all my relations.. Linda
 

I would like to thank Linda for her time and sharing her story with Native Digest. If you would like to see other of Linda’s great artwork, please visit her site at: www.taylyn.com

RV: What inspires you to create the images what you do?

Linda: My art is sparked in the heart by a piece of music, a writing, a photo or a personal experience or concept I am working through. Much of my original art starts with a vision while meditating, standing in the shower, sitting in nature or dropping off to sleep. I consider it all a divine gift and record it in my note book with a quick sketch to be developed and nurtured until the time is right to share with the world. I think deep emotion inspires my work. Like a feeling inside that I can not express verbally comes out in my paintings.

RV: Who was influential in your work?

Linda: My oil paintings are much influenced by the old master painters of Europe and my old teacher teacher Atalier Sandor Meszaros. Eugene Hunt encouraged me to try my own drum designs and showed me how to actually paint on a drum. I had a unique experience with Norvol Morriseau where he talked to me about creating Ojibwe art. Visionary Artist Bruce Harman out of Santa Cruz California gives me encouragement and has shown me his techniques. Then there are muses. I am fortunate to have had a few, a nurse coworker, a boyfriend and a photographer friend.

RV: How old were you when your interest in art began?

Linda: Even though I was not exposed to much art as a child I was deeply intrigued with patterns in nature, like the spider webs and the designs on leaves and the textures on trees. I also would look at the totem poles in and around Vancouver and would try and copy the designs. In school somehow I go the idea I could not paint or be an artist and left the creations to mostly craft type things. Then in the mid eighties the Head Nurse I worked for invited me to visit the art school she attended. Next thing I know I am painting copies of Leonardo da Vinci.  

RV: What are your hopes and aspirations? Where would you like to see your gift take you?

Linda: I admire the artist within all of us and it is my dream to have a space, an open studio where people can come and paint and create and tell their stories. I have written a rather lengthy piece on my web site about my story.

RV: What event would you say was a turning point for you with regards to your art?

Linda: I have always used art to de stress from life's challenges. It was the art that brought sanity back into my world. The biggest turning point in my art was when my whole world came crashing down.

RV: Can you tell me about a piece that you created that is very meaningful to you and why?

Linda: Most of my paintings come from a life story. For example "Car Wash" comes from my near death experience and dancing from life comes from the joy of relationship. The water goddess now known as "The Lady of All Nations" has a great story.

As I painted the Lady of All Nations, which came from a vision. The vision occurred just prior to the start of the Vancouver Olympics. I was sitting on a bench at Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver looking at the City across the inlet and I saw this figure rise out of the water. I took out a very large canvas and started painting. At first it was a man, then androgynous and then it became a woman. What is most interesting for me is that I could not decide what race she was. At first she had very pale pink tones, then she had very dark skin, I made her Asian, then changed it to Indian, then I had her looking like a hindi goddess and her eyes were closed. Then I heard open her eyes, so had to redo the face to have eyes opened. Working in oils allows this type of molding. Many people have made comments on who they see. The ladies in Brazil call her Yemaja, a spiritual goddess, a British friend called her the lady of the lake as in Camelot, my hindi friend told me he could see a flame in the center of her forehead (it was there once-but not visible now), some see her as oriental. Those close to me say she is me. In a sense it was as if I was painting all the parts of myself. I have a mixed heritage and appreciate all cultures and their diversity. And I certainly needed to rise. Her name The Lady of all Nations seems right. Please follow this link to read more about this piece.

RV: I noticed that you create drums as well, where did you learn to do this?

Linda: I learned to make drums from a Dene Elder in Fort Fraser British Columbia, funny she rather gave me permission. I also learned from a Metis Elder and developed techniques on the advice of the artists I made drums for. Many like the side of the frame covered and they want it smooth. So I experimented until I found a way to do that.

RV: What other interest do you have?

Linda: My main interest at this time is to spread more love into the world and appreciate this great earth of ours.