Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Daum.
Taylor, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
When I was in second grade, I won my first international art contest, and so I knew I was an artist from a very early age. However, when I got to college, I felt like pursuing a fine art degree was not logical, so I got a degree in Art History and Business. Throughout my twenties, I bounced between different corporate jobs, but my compass would always come back to art. I even started a company called GO ART GO!, and offered painting parties at local venues and apartment buildings. It was my attempt at a more “logical approach” to my passion.
Over the years, I never stopped painting, but all the while I dealt with an internal battle: I wasn’t truly being authentic with myself. It’s funny how sometimes, when disaster strikes the answers become clear. This is true for me, and I experienced two pivotal moments that helped me correct my course and step into my light.
The first was after a breakup. At 33 years old, I moved from CO to Dallas and back in with my parents. I had no job and was heartbroken and healing. I didn’t know Dallas anymore and felt very alone. I decided with all of my might that I would make it back to Denver, and it is this decision that forced me to take the scary first step of listing my art online for sale. Within 24 hours, I had made $3000 and sold around 8 paintings. I was astonished. I realized that there was potential for me to really do what I love and also make a living. Eventually, I made it back to Denver but must not have truly gotten the message because within a month I was back behind a desk selling billboards.
Enter COVID-19. This was the second “disaster” that ended up being the greatest blessing of my life. I was furloughed from my position selling billboards, and instead of sitting around and collecting unemployment checks, I went out and rented a small 160 sf art studio close to home. I decided to test the waters to find out if I could make it as a full-time artist. I would get to the studio at 8 am every day and stay until 5 (there wasn’t anything else to do…we were all in lockdown). I spent my painting, meditating, and expanding. I started selling my paintings with so much consistency that I was able to start taking road trips to deliver artwork around the country. When work finally called me back to the office, I said no thank you. I had finally gotten the message and was ready to answer the call and do whatever it took to make it as an artist.
I have been living in Dallas for almost two years now, and my time here has been utterly magical. I founded, curated, and promoted an art show this year which brought together 11 new artists who I am honored to now call friends. I had my artwork featured in Gum Tree Magazine and recently won third place in an artist call at Art Gallery Pure. I now have gallery representation, commissions in the pipeline, and a new stable, wonderful part-time job working with people that I love which elegantly fits into my schedule to allow me to paint.
I feel like my journey has only just begun. My dream is to start a large artist studio building where artists can rent affordable studio space and get connected with each other and the public. If the stars keep aligning the way that they have been, I can see this dream becoming a reality very soon.
Never stop going after your dreams. Stay focused, open, and aware. The universe is here for all of our good. We just have to listen.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
As discussed in the last section, my journey has not been obstacle free. I have hit many bumps in the road and have almost quit many times. The interesting thing is that every time I get right to the edge of saying fuck it, something magical happens to make me stay the course.
Deciding to be a full-time artist is not easy. You have to love the process of creating but also understand this is a business and your livelihood. It took me a second to learn that lesson, and I have found that balance can be achieved in a variety of different ways.
One last “obstacle” is the unpredictable cash flow when you venture off to start an endeavor like being an artist. There are some months that are killer and then some months when you may sell one or two paintings (not enough to support yourself). Learning how to navigate this without taking on a full-time career job has been hard. I finally got the recipe right. I now have a part-time job that I love and that affords me the ability to sustain myself, invest in my art, and maintain the freedom of mind that is necessary for me to create from a place of love and not fear (fear of not being able to pay your bills is a nightmare). I see a bright future for myself. These so-called obstacles are honest teachers. You can’t find the light without experiencing the darkness.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work is inspired by nature and by energy. I practice meditation, EFT tapping, yoga, talk therapy, and consistently explore the deeper world around us. Before I start any painting, it is paramount that I get “good” and I ask God/The Universe to use me for the highest good. I approach the canvas with the intention to create something beautiful for myself and the world. I loosely paint the word “love” on every canvas and expound upon those guiding lines. My signature floral style obviates this. However, I have other styles that are more rooted in meditation. My dotted paintings and my “graffiti” paintings are truly meditative practices. The graffiti paintings reveal to me my own inner world. Messages, symbols, and words come through and I honestly have no idea where they come from. It is my own subconscious that incarnates and sometimes it is mind-blowing.
After 12 years in Denver, I found a deep connection to nature. She became my muse and my paintings are an interpretation of her beauty and the energy that I am able to harness.
We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking?
Um yeah. Quitting my job at the media company where I was hitting my sales goals, making good money, working with an awesome team, and having a 401K and health insurance was one of the scariest risks I have ever taken. But I am also a risk taker by nature. Life is too short to wonder “what if”.
Risk is simply a step into the unknown, and as Tony Robbins says, “one of the core human needs is certainty.” But my personal opinion is that if you aren’t taking risks, you really aren’t experiencing all that life has to offer. Think about it…every time you get into a car, there is an inherent risk that you will get into an accident. But that doesn’t stop you from driving to the grocery, or to work, or to dinner. Life is the same way… painting is the same way. You may not always know the outcome, and you may not even know where you are headed or what you are doing, but you have to move boldly forward and trust yourself. Listen to that inner guidance system. Failure is one of the greatest teachers, but you cannot meet her unless you can take the risk. In failure, we grow. Do you want to grow, or do you want to stay safe? Even if the risk leads to a reward, the process of one is growth. Stagnation opposes life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.taylordaum.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylordaumart/
