The unconventional watercolor portraits of Carolyn Taylor achieve more than a likeness - each one is a highly individualized personality study of her subject.

The portraits are revealing, honest, intimate, and suffused with warmth and grace. Unless a client insists, the artist seldom resorts to traditional, formal portrait poses. Like the characters inhabiting the paintings of Mary Cassatt or John Singer Sargent, the subjects of Carolyn's paintings are often shown engaged in workaday activity, at quiet play, or deep in reflection.

At their initial meeting, Carolyn converses with her subjects while observing characteristic gestures, posture, and facial expressions. It is to this early step that the portraits owe their intimacy. Quick color studies are made at this time, and one or more rolls of film are shot. Actual sitting time depends upon the subject’s availability and obviously, in the case of a child, his or her age. Photography provides a valuable reference aid to the painting process--but an artist cannot rely on photos for insight into flesh tones, hair color, etc. The artist may request an appointment for further color studies, more photos, or a subsequent session in which final adjustments to the painting are made.

Carolyn graduated from Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a degree in Painting, Design, and Sculpture. She has continued her portrait studies in North Salem, NY, with renowned portrait artist Daniel Greene, and polished her watercolor technique with Hungarian-born watercolor master Zoltan Szabo. She has taught painting at the college level.

Carolyn is a signature member of the Portrait Society of America, and a member of the PA Watercolor Society, Pittsburgh Society of Artists, South Hills Art League, and South Arts. Her commissioned paintings are in private collections in the United States and abroad.

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