Carol Taylor - Award Winning Quilt Artist

Several years ago I attended a workshop and had the good fortune to sit next to Carol Taylor. At that time I did not know Carol or her work but over the course of the workshop learned I had met a dynamic, talented and positive artist.

Carol Taylor

As part of the preparation for this article I requested a resume and bio and I was completely astounded when I read the list of her accomplishments. Here are just a few of those: 496 completed quilts since 1993 and Carol tends to make large quilts; six "Best of Show" awards in her career, each a different quilt; operated a successful business for 22 years; and currently teaches in numerous venues all over the world. Most recently Carol's work was in Quilt National 2009. The piece is from her new Foliage Series.

Foliage Series: Abundance - 62.5" x 62.5"

Carol has been a friend since that meeting and has graciously assisted me on any number of occasions with information and guidance relating to the ins and outs of the quilt world. It is my pleasure to present a few Questions and Answers with Carol Taylor.

Question: When and how did you begin to work with the quilt making process and did you think of this as"art-making".

Carol: I began quilting in 1993 when I signed up for a sampler class at my local shop. But the class didn't begin until March and it was January, so I bought a couple of books and completed 4 quilts before I started class.( a king, a queen and 2 wall quilts) And I haven't changed much since as far as my desire to create and speed at doing it. My "traditional" quiltmaking lasted only about 6-9 months, and then I was on to making my own creations. So, no I didn't think of it as art making at first and in fact it was difficult to call myself an artist at first, even when I was making my own work. Experience has definitely made me better though, and I've now made 496 quilts since 1993, and just coming up with ideas for that many has probably given me more experience in a shorter time than most artists.

Gong Series: Crescendo - 67" x 86" - 39th piece in series installed in collector's home

Question: How do you develop your ideas? Do you journal, keep a sketchbook or do you like to design "on the wall"?

Carol: I do not keep a journal, but do keep several notebooks of photos or magazine clippings of work I like to inspire me. And because I had no confidence in my drawing abilities, I didn't keep a sketchbook at first, but worked my way into my own style of drawing and have kept one now for the last 8 years or so. I do however tend to mostly design on the wall because things change as I go along. In fact, I think that is one of the things that keeps me interested. I would be bored if everything always turned out just like my sketchbook drawing. It's much more fun to change things as I go along and I don't think any of my pieces has ever turned out exactly like I first envisioned them...and that's a good thing!

Formations Series: Sedona: Red Rocks and Blue Skies - 44.5" x 78" - Carol won a Best of Show at Form Not Function with juror Arturo Alonzo Sandoval with this work because he loved the figure/ground work.

Question: You have a wonderful ability to follow an idea and do works in a series. Have you ever made a piece that you loved but were unable to develop into a series?

Carol: I do enjoy working in a series, because I think as I work, I keep getting more ideas, and instead of trying to cram them all into that one piece, I now sketch out my idea and make it into the next idea in the series. I think I've always been able to make at least 3 pieces in a series, and have several series of only 3 pieces, but most of my series range from 12-39 pieces. I believe it stretches you to try to start with the same motif or technique and try to use it in different ways, and I enjoy that challenge.

Confetti Series: Dispersion - 68.5 " x 78.5" - Also a Best of Show winner this image appeared in a catalog demonstrating the quality of a particular copy machine brand.

Question: Do you or have you ever worked with any other art processes and if so has that supported your quilt making?

Carol: I have probably tried most arts and crafts through the years because I just enjoy them. I'm definitely not a painter though, and my lack of confidence in my drawing ability has probably had something to do with most of my work staying in the abstract realm. Color has always attracted me whether in art or decorating my home, and I'm sure working in these various art forms has increased my ability to use color and value effectively. I love making value a focus of my pieces and do it often.

Arc-i-Texture Series: Moonglow - 35" x 53" -Best Wall Quilt at AQS 2008

Question: With all the travel and teaching you do, how do you stay in touch with your studio work?

Carol: When I closed my recruiting business after 22 years, I really had planned to go home and quilt. However, more and more people discovered that I could teach and the number of venues has now increased to about 25-28 per year, so I'm not home to quilt nearly as much as I planned. I do try to make the most of my time at home from Thanksgiving until Jan. 10th, and also try to teach less in the summer when it's nicest in Upstate NY and I can quilt and enjoy the weather here at the same time. And of course, I'm always thinking of ideas, and so look forward to coming home and starting a brand new piece.

Question: What is the best piece of advice you have been given in regards to being successful as an artist?

Carol: The best piece of advice for being a successful artist wasn't necessarily given to me, it's just the way I approach most of my endeavors. I think my work ethic is what usually gets me through. I may not be the best at something, but I always work harder at it than most people. I'm definitely a type A, driven sort. So, I think just consistently giving one's all in both time and effort is what has given me so many experiences and what makes for success. I also don't think I'm a typical artist because I come from a business background of owning my own business for 22 years, and that experience has served me well in both scheduling my time, marketing my work, and taking on this international teaching career that I never expected. The paperwork doesn't bother me, and I tend to have a very organized approach to both my business and my art, and perhaps that is why I am able to create so much work. And I learn something from every piece I make and try to just accumulate that knowledge and put it to work for me.

Carol in her beautiful studio.

Question: Tell us something in your art career you would love to accomplish or perhaps have not been able to accomplish or obtain up to this point.

Carol: I don't know that there is something special or a goal I'd like to accomplish as such. Of course, I'd like to be innovative enough to get into Quilt National every time, and have good enough work to continue to win prizes and get invited to do solo shows, but those are goals that really just provide an incentive along the way. And I think those goals have a possibility of being met if I can just keep making the best work I know how to make. I think that's all I can ask of myself. Winning prizes and getting into shows will happen if I just continue to make good work, and isn't that what it's all about? So, I guess my goal is to continue to have the enthusiasm, energy, and good health to keep producing the art I love to make.


Thank you Carol for sharing your artwork, some of your history and your philosophy with us. I feel like I need to get working!

You can see and read more about Carol at: http://www.caroltaylorquilts.com