Welcome to our Gators Eye artist feature! Each week, we highlight a different student artist and their unique and beautiful work. Today, our artist is Lauryn Taylor.

Lauryn is a junior at GLHS. She’s been an artist since she was little, from around late elementary school. In the years since then, she’s spent her time trying all sorts of creative outlets: writing, music, sketching… but painting has stuck with her. It’s a chance for her to relax and escape from her stress. While she is a painter, Lauryn is also an athlete. “Outside of art, I enjoy running track and working at a magazine,” she says.

Lauryn loves to paint. It’s her preferred medium, and while she usually does it on canvas, she’s also up for experimenting with different surfaces. “Although I [use] a lot of traditional canvases, I recently thrifted some old records that I am excited to paint on,” she shares. Lauryn uses vivid colors to block out shapes and shadows in her paintings. Her simple patterns and bold hues pop off of the canvases, creating beautiful pieces.

If Lauryn could give one piece of advice to other student artists, it would be to not let your art define you as a person. You can be an artist without limiting yourself from other interests. “ It is okay to have other hobbies,” Lauryn encourages her classmates. “Art is more about expressing yourself. You can be an athlete, scientist, employee, and still be an artist.” We’re still young–whether you’d want to pursue art as a career or keep it a hobby, there isn’t any reason to push away from anything else you like. Nobody needs to fit into a box.

Thank you to Lauryn Taylor for her interview! If you would like to recommend yourself or a student for our artist spotlight, please email [email protected].

Gallery • 2 Photos

Lauryn painted these gorgeous pink flowers!