r5scome • watch !. I use ;ourse say I ared to ago), f VCR wanted l makesVILLAGEIDIOTJy Jim Sullenthetesalso skiptg stories:ast. I’mg stories,atchingwatchhuman-watchming,t Stories,”tingI spend g! house or i novel, use it to p through Dance” the time it tn live, tlong, I m closet, d hookII theI’d never ng. It has n there hat iPods oxes of actors that the giant nd desktopmoney t are too aough to to weep,B floppy nsive;s that can bout 10 card in t camera m closet of ong with cell phones jelessly f date. It0 sell themdown and1 TV, I savy and as. It was iditioner was,3ow am I ' all thisproducers visit my ; to pretend theyit the place$unfcau (CapitalSUNDAY July 10,2011WWW.HOMETOWNANNAPOLIS.COMMayo artist John Taylor stands at his easel with one of his paintings Hall for the Creative Arts in Annapolis.By Paul W Gillespie — The CapitalMore than 30 of Taylor’s works are currently on display at MarylandArt that takesSouth County painter highlights birds and landscape of the bayage D2)By THERESA WINSLOW Staff WriterA glance out of the window of his waterfront Mayo studio or a short paddle in his canoe is all John Taylor needs for artistic inspiration.He might catch a cardinal perched on a tree, a heron waiting on the shore for prey, or the wind caressing native grasses He’ll make careful notes and take pictures to capture the moment. He uses these as the basis for his oil paintings.Taylor’s affair with nature and the Chesapeake Bay dates back decades. Even at 80, he still paints daily and recently completed a flurry of work for an exhibit in the Chaney Gallery at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts in Annapolis.“The Chesapeake Bay has everything I need,” Taylor said. “Some artists need to travel around all over the place, but I’m happy right here. I’m constantly learning.”The exhibit, which features more than 30 paintings of birds and fall bay landscapes, opened two weeks ago and runs until the end of the month. Taylor’s delicate images are paired with the work of two carvers.“He’s a hard working, committed artist,” said Sigrid Trumpy, Maryland Hall’s director of exhibitions. “His paintings are soft and sensitive to the landscape.”The gallery’s guest book already has pages of comments, and the word “beautiful” comes up again and again when visitors describe Taylor’s work.“I hope people see the marshes and landscapes of the bay in a new light, or if they’re already familiar with it, recognize it,” he said.Although he went to art school, Taylor is essentially self-taught when it comes to painting birds. His training consisted mainly of constant practice to make sure every nuance was perfect. He also got plenty of hands-on experience in one of his early jobs, unpacking bird specimens at the Smithsonian.He first envisioned an art career while at the National Museum of Natural History while watching people paint murals for dioramas.mCftJonu Tayloh.(See TAYLOR, Page D2)This painting of barn swaliows is featured in Taylor s book, “Birds of the Chesapeake Bay.” v , ' i vX'. ' , • ’ '• •,