Darlene created this mural at Hippie Soul, located in Idabel, Oklahoma. The inside and outside of the entire building is painted to resemble “Alice in Wonderland” scenes and Vincent Van Gogh’s style.

Darlene Taylor’s business card reads, “Have brush, will travel” and that she does. A woman of many talents, Darlene stays busy most days painting murals across various state lines, designs and sews elaborate historical costumes, and works with many groups throughout Texarkana. An assistant at the Regional Arts Center, Darlene greets visitors with a big, welcoming smile ready to give exhibit tours.

TRAHC and the African American Council just completed a lovely selection of fabrics in an exhibit labeled “The Fabrics of Our Lives,” which is the twentieth regional celebration of African American artists. Darlene also served as a guest lecturer for this exhibit. Each piece on display is rich in detail, history and storytelling. Darlene is very proud of being a part of this exhibit since one of her creations is on display, a quilt she made with her husband’s ties and other sentimental fabrics. Darlene is an artist who is in tune with her work, and when she creates, whether it’s a mural or a costume, she does so with gusto and incredible talent.

*Darlene’s painting brings color and contrast to her kitchen window.*

Darlene’s history in art goes back to when she was just 5 years old when her mother sat her down with the comics and asked her to draw them. She recalls drawing for hours, just recreating the pictures from the comic strips. Taking an interest in art early on enabled her to continue her education which encompassed some sort of visual creativity. A graduate of O.D. Wyatt High School in Ft. Worth, Darlene entered the Army for two years after which she enrolled in the Dallas Institute of Art where she focused on studying Graphic Design and 3D Animation. She was recruited by her brother-in-law to begin work at a television station in Haltom City, Texas, to be their commercial graphic artist/designer. She stayed in this position for several years, and then became the Program Director when the station became Black Contemporary Television.

*Darlene and Andy were married on September 9, 2018, and she wore her own design which has been featured in two arts shows.*

Darlene moved to Texarkana in 2009 and worked simultaneously at Lowe’s and Julie’s Deli while also spending time with her son, Derrick Crane, her only child. She recalls how she and her two younger brothers grew up with a strong single mother and drew her own strength as a single mother from this upbringing. Her mother, Charlene, passed away in 2014. Working at Julie’s instilled in her a very strong work ethic, and for this, Darlene credits owner and friend, Julie Furlow.

Darlene is grateful for the endless support and love as she moved into her career as an artist. One day while working at Lowe’s, a friend and coworker introduced Darlene to her father, and they hit it off. Despite their 23-year age difference, Darlene and Andy Taylor seemed to be made for one another and were married in 2018. Andy passed away very suddenly in 2019 which was a devastating blow to Darlene.

One day in 2020, Darlene was busy painting the outside of their house when a Texarkana Gazette writer drove by and noticed what she was doing. A gorgeous mural of sunflowers took up the side of the house which Darlene reported simply needed to be painted, and it had taken on a life of its own. From that point on, as a way to express herself and deal with the grief of losing her spouse, Darlene began painting many murals for organizations, businesses, and others who saw her work on social media and in local publications. She has stayed busy since January of 2021, practically working non-stop. She recalls how hard it was to leave Julie’s Deli after becoming like family with her coworkers but she said she had the best support of friends for her new endeavor. Her first professional job was creating murals at El Frio Express and the Hideout for her friends, the Wrights. Now, she has many other murals across Texarkana and surrounding areas.

*This original Darlene Taylor mural is painted on the side of the M&M Tire and Auto building, located on North State Line Avenue.*

One trademark of her murals is what she calls her “Tiny Andy,” which is a hidden sketch of him sitting under a tree or spelling out his name somewhere in the painting. She has so many special memories with him, particularly ones where they dressed in Renaissance costumes. Stitching many different Victorian dresses and outfits for Renaissance fairs is another talent of hers which goes back to 2000 when she first attended the Scarborough Festival in Waxahachie, Texas. She and a group of friends attended every year and became a part of the Royal Guard at the fairs.

Darlene began making the elaborate, detailed costumes for the different roles they played during the fair. She would spend a year getting them ready for an upcoming event and was involved with the Texarkana Renaissance Fair for seven years. Her wedding to Andy was actually Renaissance themed for which she sewed all of the attendants’ clothing, as well as hers and Andy’s. She says she is contacted frequently to make a costume or special outfit for someone but has to turn them down due to her busy painting schedule. She travels quite a bit for commissioned work, and some of her upcoming projects include painting murals for the police station in downtown Texarkana, Arkansas, one in Waldo, Arkansas, and another one in Shreveport. She also enjoyed doing face painting at the Viking Faire in Jefferson and will serve as a judge during ComicCon at Crossties May 14-15 where she will also have a booth. Her murals are located throughout the ArkLaTex and surrounding areas such as De Queen, Atlanta, Idabel, Horatio, Tyler, Camden, Hope, and Glenwood. She is also often asked to be a guest artist during various community events.

*Knock on Wood Vintage Supply Co.’s storefront window in Downtown Texarkana features one of Darlene’s murals.*

Darlene not only takes great pride in her work but in helping the community. She has been very active with providing art for the Tough Kookie Foundation which raises money to fight breast and childhood cancers. For such contributions she won the TRAHC Art Heroes Award. She works with TRAHC’s ArtsSmart program, providing two-hour sessions for three days during the summer for children in grades 1-8. She has also been a part of the Pin Up for Vets where she designs and makes period costumes. After school on Wednesdays at Texas Middle School, Darlene works with students on artwork, particularly cartooning. Other accolades she has received include the Arizona Cleaver Stamens Award which is sponsored by Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. Local news station KTAL also featured her art during Women’s History Month and commentary honoring remarkable women.

Darlene describes herself as being an artist who is spontaneous, meaning she does not have a set pattern or plan but creates as it comes to her. In particular, when completing a mural for a client she will take in the details that they want, and without a sketch or design she will just create as she goes. This plays a big part in her work, and she usually will not stop once she begins, even if it includes painting for hours on end without a break. When asked what her goal as an artist is and what she wants others to learn from her work she responds with, “I would like to be everywhere, all over the world to travel, paint, and share my art with everyone.” Her mother taught her at an early age to try to learn something new each year, and Darlene heeds this advice each year on her birthday. When she’s not busy creating, Darlene spends time with her son, daughter-in-law, Jennifer, and her two granddaughters, 4-year-old Lacy and 3-year-old Aria Ann, or “AA.”

Darlene credits many friends and peers in the art community. In addition to her mother and Andy, another role model is her friend Cathy Brown Smith. Darlene adds, “She [Cathy] worked so hard to bring Be The Blessings to life. She did it to help those around her. I want to do the same with my art. Whether through my charity work, teaching kids at schools, or presenting at lectures, I want to make an impact in people’s lives.” Other local artists and friends serve as inspirations to Darlene and includes Jes Weiner, Christopher Bachers, and Jenny Stevens. She loves admiring other artists’ work and emphasizes how much talent is in this area. Other local favorite works are by Polly Cook, Joseph Raymond, and Mary Jane Orr. She says that Texarkana artists serve as her greatest inspiration. Since she’s always striving to learn something new, one art form she wants to improve in is small canvas work. For now, Darlene’s creations are big and impressive, from sides of buildings to fabrics, and her talent is like her personality, fun and infectious.

Feature Stories

Have Brush, Will Travel