Meet Taylor Trbo Donohue | Multidisciplinary Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Taylor Trbo Donohue and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Taylor Trbo, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
All my life I have had a front row seat watching a brilliant example of a business owner, that I get to call dad. One of his mantras to me and my brother has always been the phrase “design your life” Being an artist has been a lifelong dream of mine so there was never really a question about doing this- the only questions were when, how, and what medium. (Except for a brief moment in 7th grade when I thought I wanted to be a physical therapist like my dad- until I was told I needed to take physics.) I’m 6’3″ so I was devoted to sports since I was 5 but my incredible mom always made sure I never stopped drawing. So thank you, mama!
I got my degree in fine art from the University of Hawaiʻi in 2021 but I knew long before I even got to college that this is just what I was born to do. And thats a fact. I slowly started working on building my business in my seemingly nonexistent windows of “free time” in 2019 when I had to medically retire from playing collegiate basketball. I started designing and printing small quantities of shirts whenever I saved up enough money, taking commission jobs of all kinds- anywhere from branding/logos to paintings/portraits of lost loved ones, shooting events, engagements and graduations, and I learned how to tattoo.
During the lockdown in 2020 I started my body of work of monochrome watercolor titled “SOME CALL IT SALT WATER, WE CALL IT HOLY WATER.” and I have not stopped working on it since then. This project taught me so much, with a *lot* of trial and error, but also showed me that I can seriously do this for a living. In May 2021, my BFA graduating cohort had a 2 week exhibition for our thesis projects that we worked on all semester. This gave us the opportunity to showcase our hard work and put our pieces up for sale. My personal portfolio consisted of 22 new holy water pieces. We also curated a gift shop in the space so I made shirts and bags with some of the paintings printed on them. I ended up selling out of almost everything and actualized that this is something attainable for me.
So really, my thought process was not really thought- I just trusted in God, put my head down and worked. And have been working tirelessly to not only make this business work, but also change the world in a beautiful and colorful way, one project at a time. Doing anything else would be a disservice to myself and God’s plan for me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think what really sets me apart from others is my work ethic, across a variety of mediums. I wear so many hats and juggle all of them weekly- if not, bi-weekly. I paint, draw, sculpt, photograph-digital and film, graphic design, tattoo, and more. I love being able to juggle the different disciplines, I never get bored! Im really proud of how far I have come but Im even more excited about how much more I can do, and how much more I can learn and expand. I think the one thing I’m super stoked on as of recently is partnering up with my mom and her small business Aloha T’s Screen Printing and Design! I have a ton of mini clothing drops coming up within the next year and it makes it even sweeter knowing my mom gets to pour part of her heart into these projects too. There is just a LOT coming into fruition this upcoming year and I can’t wait to share more about everything, as it arrives in due time.
I got where I am today by the loving village that surrounds me! And the long hours that I put into my craft. Countless hours, really. My whole life has been helping me train and “perfect” my craft to where I am today. This has not been easy whatsoever- if art were easy everyone would do it. This whole journey has been less thinking and more doing. By doing, I also educate myself. I don’t have all the answers, and no one really does, so I learn by getting things wrong. And right, sometimes. Most deep learning comes from the wrong, though.
The biggest lesson that has been taught to me time and time again would be to continuously create fearlessly and relentlessly. To journey with grace and courage. Letting go of controlling the outcome, surrendering to the flow state and listening to God; being His hands and feet. Doing things without fear. I truly don’t have the time to be scared! And doing things because I want to do things, not because someone else is telling me to do things. These virtues have been the pillars to believing and trusting in the story that I get to write.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Surf and a bonfire, for sure! San O is my family’s home break. So many great memories there, I love that beach so much. A tour through ProSport, just because my dad is the sh** 🙂
A tour through my mom’s screenprinting warehouse, where the magic happens! And obviously because my mom is the sh** :))
Honestly, my parents’ home is covered from floor to ceiling in photos and art from all ages so that’s an event in itself.
Hiking behind my parents’ house with our puppy Finn. And dinner made with love! Some of the most nourishing food there is comes from our home and the hands of my family.
Women’s only elite runs with The Hoopers Collective (@thehooperscollective) LOVE this community. They have a super cute logo 😉
More surf
Alta Coffee to grab a chai tea. So yummy.
A tattoo from my ink brother Wade Gracia- the besssst!
Probably a night out with my little brother and my cousin Matt, they know how to have a good time! I love those boys!
Sunset surf in San Clemente with flaco tacos from Sancho’s and frozen yogurt from Active Culture (pom ras!!!!)
Disneyland, depending on the time of year.
Absolutely more surf!!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have sooo many magnificent influences that helped shape me and my art practice!!! I create art from the grateful space in my heart because I have been given so many angels on this path I am on. I think about and pray for you all, and express my gratitude to God about you often. Thank you to my art teachers, especially Stephanie Franich and Todd Robey- the things you taught me are the firm foundation of my practice to this day. Thank you to all the teachers of other subjects that allowed for their curriculums to include art- or at least projects that included an artistic option, especially Randy Lopez. The act of holding space for creatives to thrive just as much as everyone else in the traditional classroom setting is what kept me sane throughout my years in school. Thank you to my tattoo inspirations and mentors, especially Wade and Justine. You guys are magicians! Thank you to my coaches, especially Ron, Juli, Kristen, Matt, Lindsay, Treeana, Tuonisia, Jackie, Bob, Terri, Berry, Janae, Jess and Violet. You helped me on and off the court/field more than you know. Thank you to my San Diego family- you know who you are- you changed my life. Thank you to my professors at UH, especially Scott and Kalikoaloha. Thank you to my brilliant and talented classmates. Such raw learning and unlearning in those years of my life, you inspire me still.
Thank you to my sisters and family connected to me through the beautiful Kingdom of Hawai’i and island of O’ahu, especially “the worst freshman class in UH WBB history”, Kays, Court, Tia, Rach, Sarah, Sam, Maggie, Kellie, Victor, Kevin and Christine, you know the love runs so deep. Thank you to my soul family I hold so close to my heart- Lays, Shell, Lemon, Dom, Sham, Lauren, Deonte, Rodney, Jess, Albert- blood couldn’t make us any closer. Your love and laughter is medicine. Watching you alchemize, create, love, chase your dreams and build your empires is just delicious. Healing and growing alongside you is a miracle.
Thank you to my baby brother, I can’t wait to collaborate and celebrate with you forevermore. Thank you to my mom- my first teacher, my first coach, my first best friend. And my current screen printer for my business! (Shoutout @aloha.screenprint on insta- support local!) But I am nothing without you mom, for real. I will draw you flowers forever!Thank you to my dad for embracing my crazy plan and loving me through it all. Your continued evolution and fearless leader soul fuels my fire. I am so grateful to you both for all the love you have poured into me as a unit. I love being a Donohue.
To those not mentioned but have been apart of my journey, thank you. Thank you to those that have complimented or critiqued my work, you fuel my process of creating. Thank you to those that have purchased and will purchase my work, you keep my dream alive. Thank you to those that have trusted me with permanent art on their skin, that is an honor that I will never take for granted. Deeply humbled to help beautiful people with their own self expression. Thank you to the businesses that have welcomed my art with open arms whether that be in frames or on their walls as murals. Shoutout Ali’i Animal Hospital on O’ahu for giving me my first 90 foot long canvas (!!!!!!! Still so surreal.)
And a huge thank you to God for this life and my gifts- I do all I can every day for Your glory!

Grateful isn’t even close! I don’t have the words to properly thank you for the support, love, mentorship, encouragement and your deep belief in my abilities. I create for you. Without you, I would not be where I am.
Truly and deeply indebted to the beautiful village, that has become family, that God curated for me in this life.

Website: www.taylortrbo.com

Instagram: @taylortrboart @inktherapy__ @anglesbytaytrbo

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-donohue-ab574118a

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