Dave Taylor’s Art Autobiography
Artist Dave Taylor was born in Victoria, B.C., Canada and has lived and worked on Vancouver Island most of his life. Early in his working years in Victoria he met the late Robert Wood, a local teaching artist whose work he very much admired. Robert’s students often displayed their art in the window of the store where Dave worked. The seed was planted . . .
“Someday I will learn to do this. Perhaps when I am older.”
Work and a busy young family meant Dave’s time did not permit learning to paint, but he filed the notion away. It was never far from his thoughts. After his retirement to Parksville, B.C. and at the urging of his wife, Christina, he decided to pursue his lifelong dream and learn oil painting.
Dave Taylor, West Coast Artist, working on 'Headed for Home', which won the Peoples Choice Award in the Major & Monk Gallery annual fall show 2010.
Having spent many years in the outdoors walking through the British Columbia landscape, old growth forests and along the coastline, he often thought that what he was seeing would, “make for a great painting”. He decided that he wanted to recreate the scenic beauty of British Columbia’s west coast. The majestic trees and old growth forests, rivers, lakes and mountains are his favourite subjects, along with the old Totems of the west coast, Haida Gwaii (formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands) and Alaska.
With no formal art training Dave studied under local teaching artists in order to learn the techniques and intricacies of placing the surrounding beauty on canvas. His studies are ongoing, as is shown by the quality and depth of his original works. Although he has studied watercolours and worked with acrylics as well, he chooses to work in Oils, his preferred medium.
Dave’s work is or has been displayed at The Old School House in Qualicum, The Longwood Pub Nanaimo, The Nanaimo Art Gallery, Gallery 223 in Nanaimo, Major and Monk Gallery in Parksville, and “Smashin’ Glass and Anything Art” in Parksville. Dave was honoured to have one of his pieces printed onto street banners for downtown Parksville BC. light standards by the 2010-2011 Parksville Downtown Business Association’s Public Art Banners Project.
“To be surrounded by the never ending beauty of Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and the B.C. coastal area is truly inspiring. I am awed by the mountains, old growth forests, streams, rivers, lakes and ocean. I invite you to take the time to enjoy the landscapes, seascapes and historic totem poles with me.”