Meet Taylor Slater

Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Slater.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I grew up in South Florida with my beautiful mother and five younger siblings. My mom taught me everything I know and everything I believe in. I grew up surrounded with the support of my beautiful friends, encouraging mentors, and strong God. When I was fifteen, my family dynamics started changing drastically and affecting me dramatically.

I don’t want to list details, but you know those days where it feels like everything is crashing down? Well, it was like that, but it was everyday for a few years. My life changed a lot, and it forced me to grow up and mature quickly. After graduating high school, I had no idea what I was going to do with my life; where I was going to live, what I was going to be, etc. A lot of people had a lot of opinions about what I should do with my life, but what did I want?

My first year as a high school graduate, I studied psychology while working as a lacrosse coach and construction worker (yes, you read that right). The next year I lived in New York City and studied business at a fancy business school. I hated it, so I moved back to Florida. I became really depressed after my first year in the city. I felt like I lost myself there. This was when I decided to forget everything I was doing to start something that made me happy and proud. This was when I started painting.

I started painting with a mission to find something that would help me gain control of my mind; something that would help me be myself again. Painting took my mind off of the negativity in my life and instead helped me focus on the positive and find peace and joy for a few hours each day. Painting has been a huge part of my healing.

Painting was always a hobby for healing until *enters* Danielle. Danielle came to me one day and asked me, “What do you think about having an art show?” This was the first time I considered painting as a career option. I always loved art, but I never thought I’d be the artist on the gallery walls. A few months after this conversation with Danielle and only two years after I began painting, I had my first art show in Montauk, New York at The Montauk Beach House. It was not only a sold-out show but was also the most humbling experience of my life.

Everyone I met offered everything they could to make sure this was a successful show for me. People kept telling me that my art is an escape into a more peaceful place; they felt comfort when they viewed my paintings. This was the moment I knew why God had me painting. He was using my paintings to transfer peace to others. This changed my life and gave me an even deeper meaning as to why I should keep painting.

Just four months after this, I had my second art show in Hawaii. My long-term goal was to have a show in Hawaii, but it only happened in a few months. To think that my art is up in a gallery in Hawaii right now is so insane! I only have the generosity of beautiful people to thank for this show. Not once in my life did I ever think my job would be painting.

Up until two years ago, I always thought I was going to pursue a job in photography. For two years I really struggled to find my place in this world. Although I don’t think I’m entirely there, I definitely know I’m on the right path. The only piece of advice I can give is, pursue something that you are passionate about and something that keeps you sane, and then watch as God takes you on crazy adventures and uses your talents to bless others.

Everything I thought wasn’t possible was now possible. The only reason I’m a creative is because I decided to stop listening to people that didn’t know what made me happy. I stopped listening to others that believed there to be only one route to happiness and success — everything I said why not to ended up being my best decision. Choosing a different path from the majority is hard, but I know it’s my only road to being happy.

What I’m trying to show you is how uncertain and confused I was because I kept trying to do stuff others told me was right for me. I made some bad decisions, and I made some good ones too. Although the beauty of those years is that they were not a waste because they got me to where I am right now.

Now, don’t let me fool you, I’m not the next Pablo Picasso by any means, but I am able to do what I love for a living. Although, I am not anywhere near where I want to be. To be honest, I don’t think I’ll ever get to where I want to be. I think the most beautiful part of someone’s journey is the road it takes to get there rather than the destination. For me, this is just the start of my full-time passion project.

I want to encourage you by telling you that any hardships you’re facing today will make sense tomorrow. Every moment and piece will fit in perfectly at the end. This is the story of you. It may sound cheesy, but be the leader and the maker of your story. Don’t throw away what you love and what you believe in just because you fear what will happen, or because your friend’s parents say its a bad idea. It might be hard, it might be easy, but either way, stay true to yourself. Besides, why not?

Has it been a smooth road?
Definitely not. It has been a very rocky terrain. It took me two years following high school to find out that painting was something I wanted to do forever. It took a lot of trials, failures, hardships, and time to get to where I am today.

The hardest thing for me was coming to terms with the fact that I have to go against the norm and make hard decisions in order to really be happy. I love all things creative (photography, design, painting, etc.), but family and friends expected me to learn business, medical, etc. Not following my friends to college and not pursuing what my classmates were pursuing was the biggest struggle for me. In the end, this turned out to be the best decision. You can’t let fear keep you from doing what you love.

Another struggle I had to overcome was not being afraid to share the art I created. It took a while for me to be confident enough to share the paintings I was making. I still struggle with this today, but I have learned that as an artist, you need to make things for you to love, not for other people to love. Art is all about expressing yourself and in a way exposing your mind. There’s no right or wrong about it. I know this is the truth, but believing it still continues to be a struggle for me.

Lastly, and kind of a given, building a business without any prior knowledge is way more difficult and tedious than I thought it would be! Finances, paperwork, emails, budgets, etc… all things I never thought of until I needed them!

We’d love to hear more about what you do.
My official business name is called TS Art Design. I specialize in visual arts that are inspired by and built around the ocean, but I mainly specialize in resin paintings. Besides painting, I also love photography and sell prints of my photos as well. Additionally, as of this month, I am currently creating apparel as I am printing my paintings on shoes and hand-painting sweaters and jackets.

I am most proud of the overall vibe and feel of the brand. I like to think I pay close attention to the details and I like to keep everything I make very seamless, minimal, and visually appealing. I believe that everything I make connects back to me, where I come from, and what I’m passionate about. The ocean has played a huge part in my life, and it inspires everything I paint and photograph.

Each photograph, painting, and piece of clothing goes back to the simple truth that I love the ocean, and I am on a hunt to discover and spread peace. I think that a lot of companies are here for others and just follow trends. I like to think that my company stays true to me and what I believe and isn’t easily influenced by outside factors.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Miami has a great art scene. I haven’t had a show in Florida yet, but I have had a few customers here. I think it is a great place for artists and I think it has great potential for my business, but I haven’t tried to get into the Miami art scene yet.

I am more of a traveling, freelance artist. I am based in Florida, but most of my sales have happened out of state. I wish there was a place artists could go to hang out, work, show, and meet other artists. A place that could help local artists find an art community close by.

Pricing:

• Paintings range from $195.00 to $2900.00. Although, custom paintings have an additional 20% commission fee.
• Sweaters: $40.00
• Shoes: $140.00

Contact Info:

• Website: https://taylorslater.com
• Email: taylrsltr@gmail.com
• Instagram: taylrsltr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taylrsltr/

Image Credit:
Audrey Rudolf, Jacob Thompson

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