Allyson Mellberg Taylor is an Artist and Professor, living and working in Virginia, USA. Her work mainly consists of drawings, prints and soft sculptures. She also occasionally experiments with egg tempera painting and ceramics. Her illustrations feature characters who emanate a unique sense of human feeling. Each character encourages their own personal story, allowing for the imagination to run wild.
Hi Allyson, Describe your process on starting a new piece of work… How do you begin?
AM-T: Hi! I usually begin by making small sketches in my sketchbook and writing notes to myself. I keep a couple sketchbooks, and always have one with me wherever I am (including during class at work) because its hard to predict when you will have an idea, especially as a teacher, I am talking about art all day, so things come up all the time. Once I have made some sketches I start pencilling things out on nicer paper, then I ink, then I paint/color… I realized recently that I work a lot like a comic book artist… & when I work sculpturally its the same thing, it all starts in the sketchbook and grows from there.
AM-T: Hi! I usually begin by making small sketches in my sketchbook and writing notes to myself. I keep a couple sketchbooks, and always have one with me wherever I am (including during class at work) because its hard to predict when you will have an idea, especially as a teacher, I am talking about art all day, so things come up all the time. Once I have made some sketches I start pencilling things out on nicer paper, then I ink, then I paint/color… I realized recently that I work a lot like a comic book artist… & when I work sculpturally its the same thing, it all starts in the sketchbook and grows from there.
What inspires you the most when producing a piece of work?
AM-T: I am very interested in nature, specifically being near the ocean (where my husband grew up and we visit often) in virginia, and in the garden here at home. I am also very interested in science fiction, and draw (literally and conceptually) a lot of ideas & imagery from reading.
AM-T: I am very interested in nature, specifically being near the ocean (where my husband grew up and we visit often) in virginia, and in the garden here at home. I am also very interested in science fiction, and draw (literally and conceptually) a lot of ideas & imagery from reading.
Are there any other artists which you’re interested in, whose work influences your style?
AM-T: Yes! I love Leonora Carrington & Remedios Varo. I also love Jan van Eyck and Fra Angelico… I am also continually inspired by my husband, Jeremy Taylor’s work… I like a lot of new work too… probably too many artists to mention but I am always super stoked on Kelie Bowman & Sto from Cinders’ works.
AM-T: Yes! I love Leonora Carrington & Remedios Varo. I also love Jan van Eyck and Fra Angelico… I am also continually inspired by my husband, Jeremy Taylor’s work… I like a lot of new work too… probably too many artists to mention but I am always super stoked on Kelie Bowman & Sto from Cinders’ works.
What materials do you choose to work with when creating your illustrations or sculptures?
AM-T: I primarily work with pencil, pen and ink (homemade walnut being my favorite & most used ink), egg tempera, gouache, watercolor… and in the 3-d realm: fabric/sewing, cotton wool & wood (I teach 3D Design at the college level, so I actually teach some aspects of woodshop which is kind of hilarious)
AM-T: I primarily work with pencil, pen and ink (homemade walnut being my favorite & most used ink), egg tempera, gouache, watercolor… and in the 3-d realm: fabric/sewing, cotton wool & wood (I teach 3D Design at the college level, so I actually teach some aspects of woodshop which is kind of hilarious)
What are you excited about right now?
AM-T: Oh gosh! Right now I am working on my solo show for Cinders next fall and I am super stoked on all of my science fiction drawings… i have been making a lot of connections between the environmental & political implications of dystopias in science fiction and what is real right now & I have been developing some of my own imagery based on those ideas. I have always had sci-fi references in my work but I think I am just cultivating it more now. I am a HUGE Doctor Who fan too… so I have been sticking some tiny who references in my work for years! (Tom Baker was my first Dr. so I have been watching for a while!) Also, its spring here and I am hugely excited and inspired by what is growing now and our garden.
AM-T: Oh gosh! Right now I am working on my solo show for Cinders next fall and I am super stoked on all of my science fiction drawings… i have been making a lot of connections between the environmental & political implications of dystopias in science fiction and what is real right now & I have been developing some of my own imagery based on those ideas. I have always had sci-fi references in my work but I think I am just cultivating it more now. I am a HUGE Doctor Who fan too… so I have been sticking some tiny who references in my work for years! (Tom Baker was my first Dr. so I have been watching for a while!) Also, its spring here and I am hugely excited and inspired by what is growing now and our garden.
The Pictoplasma; ‘Pen to Paper’ exhibition also tours to Berlin and Paris. Being from America, how do you feel about having your work touring Europe? Is it an exhibiting prospect to know it’s so far away from home?
AM-T: I have had such a great experience working with Lars & Peter from Pictoplasma. They have been so kind and have done everything they can to make me feel included even though I am so far away geographically. Fortunately, I have been lucky to show all over the world! Unfortunately, I am a working teacher, who doesn’t have a ton of money to travel. Either way, I just feel really happy that my work is out there, and hopefully some day we will be able to go with it! Also, because of the internet, even though I can’t be there, I still get wonderful feedback from people who write (like this right now!)
Any projects coming up and what does the future hold?
AM-T: Yes! So I am working on a show for Cinders Gallery (my main gallery in Brooklyn) for September… no title yet, but it will consist of drawings/paintings, a few prints & sculptures and some collaborative work with Jeremy. I love working with Cinders and am extremely excited about this show! We are also in a group show that opens next Friday April 2nd, at Lump Gallery in Raleigh, NC called “Text as Image” which should be really great! Other than that, we are planning a summer of ocean recreation, gardening, and art making.
AM-T: Yes! So I am working on a show for Cinders Gallery (my main gallery in Brooklyn) for September… no title yet, but it will consist of drawings/paintings, a few prints & sculptures and some collaborative work with Jeremy. I love working with Cinders and am extremely excited about this show! We are also in a group show that opens next Friday April 2nd, at Lump Gallery in Raleigh, NC called “Text as Image” which should be really great! Other than that, we are planning a summer of ocean recreation, gardening, and art making.
All images belong to Allyson Mellberg-Taylor 2010 http://allysonandjeremy.blogspot.com/
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