Kirsten
Get to know Kirsten:
Growing up in the heart of our awe inspiring mountains of Cranbrook and Kimberley, with a family who loved the outdoors, I was greatly influenced in my art practice with themes of nature and magic. From a young age, I knew I wanted to be an artist which lead me to Vancouver. There I obtained my Bachelor of Graphic Design from the Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design. Many of my inspirations come from children’s book illustration and mythology. My goal has been to create work that inspires, educates and offers a glimmer of light and fun in this complicated world. I work in a variety of creative genres, including, theatre set design, painting, printmaking, sculpture and ceramics, graphic and interior design. I recently completed a Masters in Illustration from Falmouth University of Art & Design in Great Britain.
My art reflects my love of rich colour, a sense of whimsy, humour, and a huge imagination. I push my boundaries and reach for ideas that embrace metaphors and above all tell a story. I am a storyteller with my own unique visual language, a human being with a need to make and create. Great design comes with a lot of hard work and determination, as well as being willing to surrender to the process.
Many times the initial ideas simply take on a life of their own and change literally on the wall or set of a play. I remember painting a jungle mural for many months. I sat looking at my work and laughed that the eyes peering back at me were more than I had ever expected. One must be willing to let go and embrace change, welcome creative surprises that pop up in the middle of a project. Sometimes we have to let go of what’s not working in our lives and try a new path, a new colour or shape and have the courage to become who we are meant to be.
As a teacher I believe in bringing my own life experiences into the class room and sharing them with my students, all of the successes and mistakes that have made me who I am. I think that my professional design and art work over the years has given me life experience to pass on to my students a little “know how” to help when they get out and start their lives. I want my students to find their own voice, discover what kind of story teller they want to be and be honest with who they are. I want to teach them to be brave and courageous with their art and be willing to step out of their comfort zones. In the end, I want my students to feel a sense of accomplishment and a sense of pride in their work so that they may contribute to their community and world at large.
Being brave might include honouring the truth about who they are and coming to terms with what “identity” means to them. For me, one of the biggest Kirsten Taylor - Bio/ Artist Statement challenges was looking at my own “self portrait” of who I am. This exhibit is yet another opportunity to explore what that means in the bigger context of our community and trusting another artist to represent me. I have learned that identity is not a static concept but an ever expanding and growing “sense of self”. Being part of the “Faces of Pride” allows the expansion of my identity and to embrace that with the support of our community.