Zeek Taylor - Our Interview With The Award Winning Arkansas Watercolorist
Zeek Taylor photo by John Rankine
Zeek Taylor
Our Interview With The Award Winning Arkansas Watercolorist
By Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong
We had the pleasure of dining with award winning watercolor artist Zeek Taylor in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
Please describe your art in one sentence:
Although I sometimes work in acrylic, I am primarily a watercolorist known for my drybrush technique, intense use of color, and sense of pattern.
What is your art specialty and ongoing theme?
I am best known for my paintings that depict clothed chimpanzees. I give each chimp a name and I strive to create a personality for him or her.
Each painting has a theme and is accompanied by a short story. I strive to create a narrative using paint with the desire that the viewer will complete the story.
Besides the chimps, I also paint florals, and I’m particularly attracted to Iris as subject matter.
I surround all my paintings with intricate hand painted borders. The borders have become “my signature.”
How does your personality come through your art?
I am an eternal optimist. When creating, I try to work with a sense of childlike hope and wonder. I’m a happy person, and I want my work to make the viewer happy.
I am not offended by the description of ”beautiful” or even by the word “pretty” when my work is critiqued. On the contrary, creating beauty brings to me a sense of fulfillment, thinking that perhaps I’ve brightened someone’s day. That is my ultimate goal.
Why is Eureka Springs your home?
I was attracted to Eureka Springs because of the town’s reputation as an art colony. More than 250 artists live and work here. I wanted to be in the company of other artists. I not only wanted to make art, I wanted to talk art, and to share ideas. I sought a support system. Simply put, I wanted to have artist friends.
Besides artists, Eureka Springs has long attracted other counter-culture folk, and free spirits. All are accepted here and embraced. The town has been labeled as, “The place where misfits fit.” We are proud of that label.
An added benefit to living here is the beautiful Victorian architecture, scenic mountain vistas, various festivals, and great restaurants. When I moved here, I found my tribe. I found “home.”
Why is art important in our lives?
It is hard to imagine how dull and boring life would be without art. Art can inspire, provoke, stimulate, and move us. It decorates our world, adds color, and often influences decisions when used to promote items or ideas.
Art has documented history just as importantly as has the written word.
It is an international language that is interwoven into everything that we do. Art enhances our lives.
How may people view and purchase your art?
My work may be viewed and purchased through my website at www.zeektaylor.com
I also have a showroom that is open by appointment.
In Eureka Springs, my work is available at “Iris at the Basin Park Gallery,” or in the “Serendipity Gallery.”
More about Zeek Taylor:
An award winning watercolorist, Zeek Taylor is a recipient of the Arkansas Arts Council Govenor's Art Award for Lifetime Achievement.
His work has been displayed four times in the Arkansas Arts Center, twice in the prestigious Delta Exhibition and twice in the International Toys Designed by Artist Exhibition.
Zeek gave a TEDx talk in Bentonville, AR, and four of his watercolors have been displayed in the Arkansas Governor's Mansion.
He was featured on the Tales From the South Tin Roof Project NPR Radio show and his "tale" was heard by 130 million listeners worldwide.
His awards and exhibitions include:
Our Interview With The Award Winning Arkansas Watercolorist
By Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong
We had the pleasure of dining with award winning watercolor artist Zeek Taylor in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
Please describe your art in one sentence:
Although I sometimes work in acrylic, I am primarily a watercolorist known for my drybrush technique, intense use of color, and sense of pattern.
What is your art specialty and ongoing theme?
I am best known for my paintings that depict clothed chimpanzees. I give each chimp a name and I strive to create a personality for him or her.
Each painting has a theme and is accompanied by a short story. I strive to create a narrative using paint with the desire that the viewer will complete the story.
Besides the chimps, I also paint florals, and I’m particularly attracted to Iris as subject matter.
I surround all my paintings with intricate hand painted borders. The borders have become “my signature.”
How does your personality come through your art?
I am an eternal optimist. When creating, I try to work with a sense of childlike hope and wonder. I’m a happy person, and I want my work to make the viewer happy.
I am not offended by the description of ”beautiful” or even by the word “pretty” when my work is critiqued. On the contrary, creating beauty brings to me a sense of fulfillment, thinking that perhaps I’ve brightened someone’s day. That is my ultimate goal.
Why is Eureka Springs your home?
I was attracted to Eureka Springs because of the town’s reputation as an art colony. More than 250 artists live and work here. I wanted to be in the company of other artists. I not only wanted to make art, I wanted to talk art, and to share ideas. I sought a support system. Simply put, I wanted to have artist friends.
Besides artists, Eureka Springs has long attracted other counter-culture folk, and free spirits. All are accepted here and embraced. The town has been labeled as, “The place where misfits fit.” We are proud of that label.
An added benefit to living here is the beautiful Victorian architecture, scenic mountain vistas, various festivals, and great restaurants. When I moved here, I found my tribe. I found “home.”
Why is art important in our lives?
It is hard to imagine how dull and boring life would be without art. Art can inspire, provoke, stimulate, and move us. It decorates our world, adds color, and often influences decisions when used to promote items or ideas.
Art has documented history just as importantly as has the written word.
It is an international language that is interwoven into everything that we do. Art enhances our lives.
How may people view and purchase your art?
My work may be viewed and purchased through my website at www.zeektaylor.com
I also have a showroom that is open by appointment.
In Eureka Springs, my work is available at “Iris at the Basin Park Gallery,” or in the “Serendipity Gallery.”
More about Zeek Taylor:
An award winning watercolorist, Zeek Taylor is a recipient of the Arkansas Arts Council Govenor's Art Award for Lifetime Achievement.
His work has been displayed four times in the Arkansas Arts Center, twice in the prestigious Delta Exhibition and twice in the International Toys Designed by Artist Exhibition.
Zeek gave a TEDx talk in Bentonville, AR, and four of his watercolors have been displayed in the Arkansas Governor's Mansion.
He was featured on the Tales From the South Tin Roof Project NPR Radio show and his "tale" was heard by 130 million listeners worldwide.
His awards and exhibitions include:
- Third Place ANA / Exhibition, 2015
- Best in 2D, Bentonville / Art Market, 2014
- Top Ten Best Artists of NW AR list, CitiScapes Magazine 2013
- Best in Show, Eureka Springs Fall Art Show 2013
- Arkansas Arts Council's Governor's Art Award for Lifetime Achievement
- 38th Annual Toys Designed by Artists entrant, Arkansas Arts Center
- 54th Annual Delta Exhibition, Honorable Mention, 2012, Arkansas Arts Center
- TEDX Talk, TEDx Bentonville 2012
- International Toys Designed by Artists entrant 2010-11, Arkansas Arts Center
- Delta Exhibition Acceptance 2010, Arkansas Arts Center
- AR Governor's Mansion / Engagement Calendar 2009
- Best In Show / Zarks Invitational 2008
- Award of Excellence Grand Prize Water Media / American Juried Art Salon 2007-2008
- 1st place two-dimensional / Eureka Springs Fall Art Show 2007
- Best in Show Eureka Springs Fall Art Show 2006
- Best in Show Central AR Society / Iris Art Show 2006
Zeek Taylor and his husband Dick Titus were the first male couple to be married in the state of Arkansas.
To learn more about Eureka Springs, Arkansas, read our article Eureka Springs, Arkansas - We spent six days exploring the Ozarks and what we found was amazing! at http://www.gaytravelersmagazine.com/eureka-springs-arkansas.html
Zeek Taylor photo by John Rankine
Article by Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong
Copyright 2016 Sunny Harbor Publishing
Sunny Harbor Publishing
PO Box 560318, Rockledge, FL 32956
Phone: 321-446-7552
[email protected]
www.SunnyHarborPublishing.org
Article by Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong
Copyright 2016 Sunny Harbor Publishing
Sunny Harbor Publishing
PO Box 560318, Rockledge, FL 32956
Phone: 321-446-7552
[email protected]
www.SunnyHarborPublishing.org
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