W James Taylor     

About the Artist

 

W James Taylor is a contemporary Fine Art chalk pastel painter.  His core artistic exploration is based on Vicissitude an abstract geometrical triptych, expressing what he felt and experienced as a young man of the turbulent 1960's with the challenges of integration. He incorporates the stories his father, Eldred Libby Taylor, told him of his childhood in Georgia during the Jim Crow period and the Civil Rights struggle with powerful subliminal imagery.

 

The idea for Vicissitude came to him over a six year period, with each panel representing a different time in the history of African Americans.  His mission is to engage his audience in conversation about the enormous sacrifice his ancestors made, during the Civil Rights struggle for freedom and equality.  When he's not creating images for Vicissitude, he loves composing songs and playing them on his classical acoustic guitar.  He plays for local and national senior living communities and other venues throughout the United States.  As a professional drummer with different bands in the 60’s he opened for famous Motown Artist performing on the Chitlin Circuit like, Rufus Thomas and Mary Wells, later in the 70’s opening for acts like Parliament Funkadelic and Bill Withers, both at the civic coliseum in his hometown Knoxville, Tennessee.  Art, music and his annual children’s art camp “MFAC” continues to be his passion.

 

 



 

Vicissitude

 

 

Every Artist Has a Story …

and Every Story has its Vicissitudes

 

My story began as a young boy painting a picture of a cantaloupe for my Mother “Geneva”, of course she said it was the best still life  painting she had ever seen. This started me on my journey into the Fine Art World, absorbing everything I could about the Past Masters and Artist of the day. I set out in 1975 to explore the Fine Art Community and to educate myself on the finer points of the Fine Art Industry. My passion is to educate my viewing audience with Chalk Pastel Paintings, Graphite (Pencil) drawings of the 1960 civil rights struggle with powerful subliminal images depicting the stories told to me as a child by my father Eldred Taylor about his life and what he had to endure during the “Jim Crow” years and the effect it had on the African American Artist living during this time in history.

 

This journey has taught me a lot about what it takes to be relevant in today’s fine art market.
It’s not always the best that win, but it’s always the persistence to continue a dream with no resistance
that makes you a winner.

 

The majority of the material I use for painting I see in every African American Artist’s work. I notice that we draw from the same sources outwardly and as well deep inside our soul, it’s inevitable. So I ventured on a slightly different path.

 

I want my audience to see beyond the so called “Black Artist” label. I want them to first see the vivid colors, composition and
beauty of the images, then to recognize its meaning and ponder the many questions associated with the stories they tell of our vast history. Images like Burning Village, Black water, Strange
 Fruit and Busing tell a story that I feel needs to be preserved and remembered always.

 

It’s no longer the question of African American Art and its place in the Fine Art Community, we have been here all along, it’s time for us as artist to embrace the fast rising Fine Art Market and learn how to communicate effectively beyond the labels.

 

Geneva Galleries Inc. is about the business of Educating the consumer on the Vicissitudes of a Race of people through my personal Chalk Pastel Paintings and Motivational Seminars.

 

Helping Emerging Artist’s with Career Management Strategies designed specifically for GicleePublishing and targeted trade show Inclusion.

 

It is my hope that with the many years I have worked in the Fine Art Trade something that I reveal to you can help propel your story as you experience the Vicissitudes of your life.

 

 

 

“When Love and Skill work together, expect a Masterpiece”

 

 

 



 

 

 

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