Summer 2024

Butter Fly Brushes

In a culture where most kids’ creativity is being stifled due to dwindling music and art programs, there are a select few young people who go against the grain and take the road less traveled. Taylor Hall seems to be one of them. She defines herself as “pleasantly weird” admitting that she isn’t into all the typical things other teenagers seem to be engrossed in. To put it simply, she traded social media for a paintbrush.

Taylor Hall is 14 years old and is a Freshman at Altha High School. Not only is she an artist, but she played middle school basketball and Varsity Basketball at Altha High. She is proud to tell that she is the mascot, Claw’d the Wildcat, for her school. She also boasts of being in Junior Beta Club where she serves as chaplain. She also won third place at State Convention for her Butterfly Painting and will go on to National Convention in Savannah, GA in June of 2024.

Other of her many achievements are:

•First place, State Level, in FCCLA for the “Repurpose and Redesign” division for making “Taylor’s Teeter Totter” for Altha School’s pre-K and kindergarten students. She advances to the National Competition as well in June, located in Seattle, WA.

•First place at the North Florida Fair with her Cow Painting, also through FCCLA.

•Elected Treasurer of Altha School’s Student Government Association.

•Member of AHS Art Club

•Boasts a 4.0 GPA!

Taylor’s life hasn’t been all paint brushes and canvases filled with beautiful art. As with talented people, emotional pain is often the driving force behind the art. “One of my biggest challenges that I face is not having my best friend to paint and draw with anymore.” Taylor was blessed to not only have her artist grandfather as an influence who first exposed her to drawing and painting, but also her great-grandfather who was member of the artist guild in Marianna, Florida. She fondly recalls being as young as 4 years old and her grandfather teaching her how to draw from different pictures online. Her great-grandfather, J.C. Blanchette passed away In February 2017, but then in June, her main influence Bo Blanchette, the man she affectionately calls “Papa” died in a motorcycle accident. Taylor’s mother and grandmother decided not to let these tragedies stop Taylor from exploring her own budding talent, instead they supplied her with everything she needed to keep going.

She sees her art as a way of “zoning out” and allowing her mind to rest. “Painting and drawing has been a type of therapy for me. I absolutely see it as a way to stay connected to my grandfathers and deal with hard times.” During that same time she changed schools and for a young child that can be a hard transition however, she speaks fondly of the change. “I never realized how much Altha Schools would help shape me into the person I am today. Every teacher and staff member has been so encouraging and they praise me every time I create something! Winning with my paintings is like a thank you to them because I am my own worst critic.