It is with a sad heart that we tell you Paul passed away on Wednesday, January 23, 2008.  Paul was an active member in the art association from the very first day he joined.  Always volunteering to help with check -in days at shows, especially the Art Classic and the Barnes and Nobles shows.  When we had our galleries - he was always there to help as well.  Several years ago he had a stroke and his presence was dearly missed by those who really knew him.  Paul was such an individual and I think that's why I liked him so much.  He was so different from anyone I have ever met.  You either embraced his witty and eccentric personality, or you didn't like it at all.  I chose to embrace it, and we became good friends.  He taught me so much about this business of art that can at times be so overwhelmingly puzzling.  He always told me to, "paint and draw whatever you like, the heck with everyone else."  I was always worried about "will this sell?"  Over time I learned that Paul was right.  Your art should be created with whatever you have a passion for, and the sales will come, and they have.  If you Google Paul Lawson Taylor you will find a list of all the Random House Pop Up books he designed and illustrated.  There is much more to his life and career and below Paul tells you in his own words. He will be missed dearly and remembered always.     Diane Bruckner

In His Own Words...
For many years, some members of my family have been heard to say, "Ever since he could walk, Paul was always drawing, drawing, drawing.” My own first awareness that this was, in fact, quite true was when I chose not to play the routine childhood games with the other kids, but to be by myself and make pictures or fill coloring books  with those wonderful CRAYOLA crayons; all those great colors! To this day one of my favorite media is still these sensational crayons; When combined with India Ink, I have managed to garner some excellent ribbons in juried art exhibitions, including several best of shows. 

My High School art teachers advised me not to attend art school, but to try for a career in the commercial art field. Thus followed so many LP album covers, book jackets, children’s books, full page adds in national

publications, advertising brochures, gift catalogues, Hallmark greetings cards, Random House, Simon and Schuster, Angel Records, capitol Records, Merle Norman, Max Factor, Mattel Toys and so forth. 

My first entry in a juried exhibition was in 1987 for the Pasadena Presbyterian Church’s Annual Art Show.

It was an ink drawing of a British Hamlet. It won a ribbon. There were three judges for this show, one was Gerald Brommer. 

Another high point for me was winning a gold medal in the 1994 California Art Club’s Annual Show. It was also an Ink drawing and one of the judges was Neil Boyle. 

Should anyone ask me, "Paul what is – are – your all time favorite pictures?" I will always answer, My next three.