Meet Tay Paulson | Photographer & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tay Paulson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tay, why did you pursue a creative career?
When I graduated 5th grade my teacher Mr. Swift gave me my first camera and made me promise I wouldn’t give up on my dream to become a photographer. As I got older I kept that promise but when I turned 21 I decided to give painting a try. That’s when I fell deeply in love with expressing myself through the tip of a paintbrush too. I put all my negative emotions into the form of art. People seemed to deeply relate to my art and the meanings behind them. I also realized how much more I could express through painting than I could through photography; that was until I got older and discovered different types of photography. I use to take photos of nature and my dogs but began doing photo shoots of my friends for fun. It was then I discovered that I loved taking pictures of people and showing them how great they did. Making people feel some happiness, proudness and even confidence intrigued me to pursue other types of photography that involved people. I’ve fallen deeply in love with shooting Boudoir photography because I help women see just how beautiful they really are and that means so much to me. The look on their face when I show them a great shot makes me feel good. The look on my customers faces no matter if it’s a painting or photography is exactly why I continue to pursue it. The feeling I get before selling a painting or doing a photo shoot is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
A lot of my paintings are based off of mental health. I struggle with depression, bipolar and ADHD so a lot of my paintings tend to reflect that. I think that’s one of the things that makes me different than other artists. I’m not producing art for it to be liked and bought; I’m producing it for people to relate and feel emotions. I took a few long breaks from my art and photography while dealing with my mental health issues which made me lose a few supporters and made coming back and building clientele also very hard. I’m very proud of how far I’ve come and how much I’ve overcome though. Dealing with mental health and living a normal life can be hard but adding in your own art and photography business can make it so much harder. I’ve learned that not every one is a fan and that’s okay. I’ve had people be very judgmental about my work and at first it use to beat me down and make me doubt my artistic abilities but now it actually helps lift me up and feel a little more confident. If they’re judging your work, they’re looking at it and putting thought into it. They’re noticing you!

What I’d like people to know about TnP.Art is that all of my art is based off mental health awareness and all photography is based off of supporting all body types no matter the size or gender. I like my art to be different and to speak volumes to the right audience.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting I’d take her to Bishops Castle, Miramont Museum, Estes Park, Stanley Hotel and to Santa Fe Art District in Denver. We might visit Voodoo Donuts and Meow Wolf as well.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people that deserve a shout for supporting me throughout all the years to be honest. My fifth grade teacher Mr.Swift for giving me my first camera and believing in me at such a young age. My family has been the biggest support system through the years. My mom always cheered me on for every piece and photo shoot I produced. My sister Michelle and her husband Zak have provided me with the support and tools I’ve needed to successfully do my photography. My friends Kirsten and Alexa have been my biggest fans over the years. If it wasn’t for them cheering me on I wouldn’t of gotten as far as I’ve come. I’d also like to thank every single one of my customers whether they’ve bought a painting, did a photo shoot or just purely showed support. I couldn’t possibly be here without any of them.

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