New Blog and A Recap of September

It has been awhile since we've blogged and I've decided to jump back into the game with a sleek new design!

This month at Elliott Fouts Gallery has been very exciting - Bryan Mark Taylor's one-person show Atmosphere, Light, Land garnered a generous amount of attention and it's no surprise that 3/4 of his show has sold. A solid review by The Sacramento Bee's Art Critic, Victoria Dalkey, brought in several new clients and confirmed that critics and collectors agree, Bryan Mark Taylor is one artist you must add to your collection.

Here's why:

• He's young. How many 34 year old artists can say they've sold 19 / 28 paintings in a month-long show? Not many. He has a well-defined style and has created what I like to call, a "tripartite" oevre consisting of cityscapes, farmscapes, and seascapes.


• He's academically trained. An artist with an artistic education behind their career is usually one step ahead of the next. Painters learn the fundamentals of painting in school, and whether they continue to pursue "academic" subjects like the nude, for example, or go on to create abstract works, a strong background is key. Picasso didn't jump right into Les Desmoiselles d'Avignon.


• He's an award winner. Bryan goes to plein air festivals around the state throughout the year (which means he's a go-getter, too!) and not only is he showing his work, he's also getting the attention of the festival jurors. He has a couple of "Best of Show" awards under his belt, including one from the 2009 Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational.


• His work is still affordable. Contemporary "masters" of plein air painting are asking for an upwards of $15,000 per painting. Why even spend $10,000 when you can get one just as good, or even better, for significantly less?

While many pieces have sold - here are two that are still available, along with reasons why they they shouldn't be.

Valley Farm Oil on canvas 16" X 20"

Valley Farm epitomizes Bryan's unique style with its obvious surface texture and fragmented brushstrokes. The sky, for one, is a testament to his ability to create the sense of atmosphere with ease, as it sets off the highly detailed buildings in the foreground.

California Coast Oil on canvas 11" X 14"

Bryan painted four coastal scenes for the show, three of which have sold. The spatial arrangement of the composition of this piece is especially noteworthy - a strong central diagonal makes its way from the upper left corner to the middle right side, drawing the viewer across the entire painting. The rocky formations on the coast are realistic depictions of weather-worn cliffs, further proving Bryan's rendering skills when painting en plein air.

Finally, if you're interested - click the link to Victoria's review of the show.

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/09/10/3014881/art-review-bryan-mark-taylor-captures.html

More to come.

- Michelle