Friday, April 1, 2016

Featured Illustrator Lori Taylor





MEET LORI TAYLOR



This questionnaire goes back to a popular parlor game in the early 1900s. Marcel Proust filled it out twice. Some of our questions were altered from the original to gain more insight into the hearts and minds of our illustrators. We hope you enjoy this way of getting to know everybody.






1. Your present state of mind?
   
Alert, busy yet pleased. Too much coffee?

2. What do you do best? 

Laugh. Be a clown, sometimes unintentionally.

3. Where would you like to live?
 
In the north woods, in Baba Yaga’s house—the one on chicken legs with skulls in the yard. Hey wait, that’s a lot like where I live now. Our hen coop is on stilts and we are surrounded by pines, owls, and skulls.

4. Your favorite color?
 
Chartreuse and sometimes Indigo. Favorite colors vary year to year. Still in Indigo mode. Or no, chartreuse. Don’t ask me to paint your house.

5. Three of your own illustrations















































































6. Your music?
 
Ecclectic mix of Carlos Nakai flute music, Tori Amos, Lady Gaga, 90s alternative rock.

7. Your biggest achievement?
 
Being selected artist-in-residence for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Three weeks exploring and doing art in the national park being treated like a queen. OK, thinking I was a queen.

8. Your biggest mistake?
 
Not backing up my files. I accidentally had a desktop folder get deleted that contained 20+ years of art and photo files, research, and the book dummy. Back up, people. Do it NOW!

9. Your favorite children's book when you were a child?
 
The Whispering Rabbit and Other Stories, by Margaret Wise Brown. I still have it.

10. Your main character trait?
 
I’m a playful, but fierce. I like to think I am mighty and can do anything.

11. What do you appreciate most in a friend?
 
Honesty! Being real and funny. Real funny.

12. What mistakes are you most willing to forgive?
 
Most things. Just don’t mess with my kids and grandkids.

13. Your favorite children's book hero?
 
Pippi Longstocking. And Paddington.

14. What moves you forward?
 
The excitement of creating a story or illustration.

15. What holds you back?
 
People grabbing my arms and saying, “Wait! Hold on there, Missy.” Which is good when I’m near cliff edges. But maybe fear of not getting something just right.

16. Your dream of happiness?
 
Drawing and writing, living in the woods, play with grandkids, have lots of books, travel around in a camper, and have someone call and say, “Hey, we need you to create this (fill in the blank).” I guess I have all that now.

17. The painter/illustrator you admire most?
 
Emily Carr, for her powerful, colorful, stylized, emotional nature pieces. She lived in the north woods, traveled in a camper, painting and writing with her animals—Hey, I think I have become Emily Carr, except I don’t have a monkey—but we do have two rescued beagles who act like monkeys.

18. What super power would you like to have?
 
The ability to run fast and jump high. I can do neither.

19. Your motto?
 
Dance with Life. I CAN dance.

20. Your social media?
 
 

6 comments:

  1. Wonderful! Lori's art is always colorful and charming, just like her.

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  2. I love our new blog banner! It's great to see your personality shine though in these questions and your artwork. Every time I look at your art I notice more details. Kudos, Lori!

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  3. Love the spontaneity (sp?) and color! So much fun getting to know you better. Hugs.

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  4. Hi, Lori. Your work is wonderful! My favorite story when I was young was about Baba Yaga. My grandma would read it to me when I came to visit.

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  5. I love your banner, Lori, and learning a little more about you! Was the banner inspired by one of your trips to Florida? The colors are outstanding!

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