ARTIST & DESIGNER
Carol Taylor
To overcome the deep depression and PTSD triggered by coming to terms with Carol's catastrophic injury, her devoted husband Robert started her on an artistic journey of discovery and self-healing. With his makeshift modifications to pencils, brushes and tools she taught herself to draw, to paint, and to create.
Prior to her injury she could barely draw a stick figure, to un-tap this part of herself has been an awakening. Her journey to this point had been a long one but art was the first step. Art gave Carol the confidence to keep wheeling through open doors. Art for Carol is a form of therapy.
In 2018 she was honoured to be the recipient of the QLD Access Arts Achievement Award.
She's since gone on to win multiple prizes for her artwork and studied under notable Australian artists.
the love of painting
From Sydney to the Gold Coast
A move from Sydney to the Gold Coast in 2005 gave Carol the time to concentrate on her love of painting. Initially concentrating on oils Carol studied under well known Impressionists Colley Whisson, John Wilson and Barbara Suttie before being seduced by the radiant translucency of watercolours. Acclaimed artist, mentor and dear friend Maryanne Holmes was instrumental in aiding Carol to continue on her artistic journey.
I found a way
To Draw, To Paint, and To Create.
With Rob's support I was determined to find and embrace the beauty in life. I spent years teaching myself from books and DVDs and with the help of Rob's makeshift modifications to brushes. I found a way to draw, to paint, and to create. Initially I concentrated on oil painting before being seduced by the translucency of watercolours.
Art became a form of therapy, a way to cope with the enormous life changes with which I was faced. Art became my yoga.
ART BY CAROL TAYLOR
In Love with Colour
Carol is a current member of the Watercolour Society of Queensland and the Royal Queensland Art Society, Carol lives in Tallebudgera Valley on the Gold Coast QLD with her husband Rob, son D’arcy, and a menagerie of crazy animals.
Love for Colour
Art on Adaptive Fashion
In 2019, Carol debuted her adaptive fashion (under the initial name of MeQ Designs) at the 2019 Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival Brisbane.
The brand was committed to supporting Australian artists with disability. Did you know that in Australia artists with disability earn only 40% of their able-bodied counterpart? Each of Carol's designs features an authentic hand-painted art design by either myself or some other Australian with a disability. Each design has been ethically acquired and licensed with royalties from sales going directly to the artist assisting to provide a source of income in an already under-utilised sector of the Australian community.
Carol said, "I absolutely love colour! If you want to be outstanding then you first need to stand out! Many of my designs are a colour explosion. Bright colours make me feel happy and for someone with a disability that can often be the very first hurdle of the day. I like to think that I might be on wheels but my fashion moves me forward”.
You can watch Carol's beautiful adaptive fashion showcased on a first time all-visible disability cast of models in the link below.
