Shaz Taylor: Art From a Beauty _Ada Nkong

• 

Ever heard them say “you can’t give what you don’t have”? Well I found some one who has so much to give be it joy, laughter, friendship or the beauty she expresses in her art.

• 

From a chance meeting on social media to sharing opinion on a couple of things, we got to talk about her art and I couldn’t resist sharing with you.

• 

Newsannex: What fuelled your interest in arts?

Shaz Taylor: I’ve been interested in art for as long as I can remember. There are several artists in my immediate family, and my parents exposed me to various forms of art throughout my childhood. I grew up watching my father draw every day. Once he saw me take an interest, he encouraged me to create and express my own thoughts and ideals through the paint brush – and I’ve been in love with painting ever since.

Newsannex: What inspired the charcoal drawing?

• 

Shaz Taylor: This is just one of many charcoal drawings. I was introduced to charcoal artistry in high school back in 1999. I took a drawing class and one of the assignments was to create a portrait in charcoal. Up to that point in my life, I’d suffered a great deal of racism by my non-Black classmates, and also a ton of damage stemmed from colorism by people who look like me. Likewise, almost every magazine cover seemingly emphasized Eurocentric standards of beauty and diminished the natural beauty of minority ethnicities and cultures. With this in mind, I wanted to create an image of someone Black and Beautiful. The piece I submitted ended up winning an award! I took the drawing home and dropped it on my dining room table (like usual, lol) and the next day it disappeared lol. Long story short: my Mom noticed the drawing and loved it so much she took it and got it custom matted and framed! That was huge for me, since then, I’ve completed many commission based portraits of beautiful Black people.

Newsannex: What’s your take on abstracts?

• 

Shaz Taylor: I enjoy abstract art! I didn’t explore its much when I was young, but I’ve created more abstract art in the past 5 years than ever. I love the idea of creating something out of nothing, free-flowing and unchained. Abstract art allows me to discover new colors, textures, and play with different patterns and compositions which ignites my creativity. It allows me to engage an entirely different perspective that unlocks a vault of incredibly dynamic works of art.

Newsannex:Where do you see your art going?

• 

Shaz Taylor: Everywhere there is an appreciation for vibrant, natural, and beautiful works of art! I see my art going on the walls of those who are sensitive to the many spiritual representations of people, culture and stories of the African diaspora. I see endorsements and partnerships with those who cherish my perspective and the numerous cultures of people of African decent – not because we are the ultimate definers of cool, but because we are celebrating the representation of the original man and woman to inspire future generations. I see my art becoming strong enough to hold it’s place in conversations and art education worldwide.

Newsannex: As a person how has your expression of your self through art served you?

• 

Shaz Taylor: Tremendously! The phrase, “Art Saves Lives” is REAL. I literally find life and meaning through art. Life has a funny way of pushing and pulling one away from their interests. I’ve noticed every time I got away from creating art for extended periods of time, I ended up feeling incomplete and unfulfilled. I have a bachelor’s degree in interior architecture and a masters in production design. I absolutely love designing high-end residential and film/tv sets. However, those industries often limit my creativity and are dependent on several factors out of my control. Also, there is a ton of stress in production and general uncertainty for consistent work. Whereas with visual art, I don’t need anyone’s approval to create, and I can express myself on the front-end, without limitations. I find freedom, enthusiasm and happiness in achieving my mission to fulfill my purpose on this earth on my time.

Newsannex:. What’s your advice to people struggling with getting recognition for their talent?

• 

Shaz Taylor: Keep at it and stay true! Never stop creating and refining your craft. Getting recognized for your talent is amazing, and it feeds the ego. But, it’s more important to keep things in perspective and feed your soul. If you remain humble, trust in God, believe in yourself, and stay consistent you will find success. It is also very important to be resilient – don’t let others’ opinions squash your drive! I often encourage artists to meditate to find peace. I also recommend finding a mentor you can trust, but you ulitimately must focus on your craft and your personal journey – the recognition will come. Make a honest effort to find your tribe, and when you do the possibilities are endless.

Newsannex: Tell us a bit about you.

• 

Shaz Taylor: Well, I’m the youngest of three children born and raised in the middle-class-south-side-segregated streets of Chicago, IL. I was a tomboy. I found joy in competitive sports and creative outlets growing up. In addition to visual arts, I was a thespian and very active in the theater. I love music, dance, architecture and design. My career embodies high-end residential design (in Chicago, IL) and designing for film and television shows in various studios across Los Angeles, CA. Once I became a wife and mother, the hours of working in entertainment no longer aligned with my core values so now I’m a full-time professional artist living my best life doing what I love with whom I love and who loves me!