Alumni success ‘spotlight’ interview with Nathalie Taylor

We are so proud of our Make Art That Sells Alumni, that we are pleased to continue a series of spotlight interviews showcasing their successes and artwork. We also ask them to share how the MATS courses have helped them learn and grow. You can see more Alumni Success stories here

Today, we have an interview with Nathalie Taylor. Nathalie has taken MATS A/B, Assignment Bootcamp and our Creating Collection for Home Décor.

Tell us a little about how you got started in art and design

I always liked to draw. As a child, with my three brothers, I was constantly tinkering something, our house was always upside down filled with one or another’s artistic project! My mother was an artist and my father a press photographer.

I studied industrial design and earned a degree in graphic design. I worked in this area for almost 25 years, but something was missing, I didn’t have fun, worse than that, I was completely bored and frustrated. I ended up losing confidence and my creative process completely dried out. I had become incapable of drawing or creating. I dropped out everything to become a Feldenkrais practitioner (which I recommend to all, but that’s another topic!). About six months in this training I slowly began to draw again just for fun and by pure luck I met the work of Helen Dardik … I was blown away because I did not know you could do that to earn a living. In trying to find out more about Helen, I found a MATS class that happened to be starting, so I dived in and I never looked back. I had my first contracts pretty quickly.

Lilla always says “People buy your joy.” What brings you joy?’

Very simple things: being with my family and friends, take a long walk in the woods, cats, birds, rainbows, the change of seasons… chocolate. I like a good laugh and do unexpected things.

From ‘Glass’ week in the MATS: Creating Collections for Home Decor class.

Which is your favorite market(s) to design for and why?

I like several markets. In facts it’s almost a problem, because, I cannot make up my mind! Above all, I love anything that allows fantasy and use of bright and joyful colors.

What are you working on currently?

I am currently working on a children’s songbook project.

What are some of the key things you have learnt from the MATS experience?

I am learning to work hard and trust myself, to cut work in small bite and not be afraid. I know now that I’m at my very best when I’m playful, lighthearted and feel totally free to do whatever pleases me without thinking to much about end results. I learned to stop trying to control everything, I now have faith that the creative process will come up with a solution, this way I’m more confident about the choices I make and the work unfold before my eye as if by magic!

How have the classes helped your artwork evolve /grow?

It’s quite magical, I didn’t know I could do what I did in class. Really, I had absolutely no idea. There is a clear bold line in my portfolio : before and after MATS. It’s a complete new world for me. I surprised myself!

Lilla is very inspiring. I admire her great ability to make the best out of myself and my classmates, I find this absolutely magical from a person I’ve actually never met !

I hoped to take the plunge in illustration for a very long time. Many years back, I followed 450 hours training in advertising illustration. The training was well designed to show us different mediums: pen, watercolor, oil, dry brush, pastel, computer drawing, etc. We also worked with a dozen of qualified professional illustrators who taught us their respective techniquel. I was very good and everything worked well for me, but at this time, I did not manage to make the transition to become an illustrator. I knew how to draw, but I had no idea what to do to have jobs. I didn’t know how to structure my work, I was not told about making art that sells, how to make contact with art directors or agencies… Many things were missing.

Lilla’s classes are not only well structured to cover all markets, Lilla herself is an outstanding motivator! I think most of us already have quite a bit of talent to draw, it’s not a technical matter. We especially need encouragement, we need to understand the market, we need to learn to have fun at what we do and above all we need the energy of the group! No one before Lilla had been able to do that for me.

Any aha moments during MATS you would like to share?

Yes, I don’t know how to explain this but, I had a 25 years background in corporate graphic design which was very rigid, Cartesian and colorless. I learned to be more relaxed in my drawing, embraced imperfection and introduce textures, naivety and color into my work.

Illustrations I made for a new children book to be released next October by Auzou publisher

What are your key successes since taking a MATS class?

I made 6 facial tissue box designs for Canadian food retailer Metro. Two of those designs were chosen by the art director directly from the gallery of my very first MATS class. I had several contracts with Bayard Press kids monthly magazines: Chirp and ChickaDee. I also had 3 children’s book project from one particular illustration I made in editorial week in MATS B (Montréal) : a scrapbook for Auzou French publisher; an album published last January by Québec Amérique; and a booklet for a public library of the City of Montreal. I also worked on labels for a honey producer and had a mini textile collection for a headband manufacturer.

How would you describe taking a MATS class to a fellow artist looking to develop their art

It’s a celebration of creativity, like vitamins for your creative process! It’s a secure place if you are shy about showing your creativity like I was. The community is very supportive and encouraging. I can describe my personal experience with MATS classes as profound life-changing.

What is your dream gig for your artwork?

I would very much love having my own home decor collection.

See more work here: Website | Instagram

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Graduates of our courses have gone on to win work from clients such as Hallmark, Robert Kaufman Fabrics, Oopsy Daisy, Uppercase Magazine, West Elm, Midwest CBK, and more. It is industry learning that works in the real world. Find out more HERE and start today!