I sold my very first piece of artwork by accident. It was a small sale, only ten dollars, and the shop I was working for at the time kept the money, but it stirred something in me. However, being a bit of a perfectionist I was my own worst critic and didn’t believe that others might enjoy my artwork.

My art was never good enough in my own eyes. Eventually, I squashed my own creativity, put away my art supplies and moved on with “life”- convincing myself that art was a hobby I didn’t have time for.

As the years went by, I would catch myself doodling, or drawing pictures for my young son to color, getting lost in the joy of forming shapes and playing with colors. I would often find myself enthralled at the patterns sunlight made as it hit the leaves of a tree or the layers of color in a sunset. In fact, I remember with stark clarity, sitting on a hill in Eastern Washington, fascinated by the way the strong wind kept reshaping the clouds. I may have stopped creating, but I could not unplug my artist’s eyes or the way color and texture moved me.

On a bright Spring day in my late twenties I had an epiphany. Art was not just a hobby, but the best part of me. By denying my artistic expression I was rejecting a part of myself and who I was created to be. I pulled out my long unused watercolors and spent the next couple hours happily immersed in colored exuberance. I felt so light and free! All of the artistic energy that was bottled up inside of me flooded the page swirling around flowers amid pops of color. When I finally stopped, I was holding “Wildflowers”, which remains one of my most popular works. I haven't looked back since.

My favorite artists include Monet, Klimt, and Van Gogh. Their bold colors, emotive styles, and studies of life inspire me and you can see their influence in nearly all of my work. I am also particularly fond of the Art Nouveau movement with the swirls and flourishes it celebrates. Very much like Van Gogh, who so desired to touch people through his paintings, I want to share the beauty I see in this world. And even, if only for a moment, inspire joy.

I am the descendant of a long line of creative people including my Great-Grandmother, Elise de Celles Beaton, a ballet teacher and artist from the Carmel area of California. In fact my family tree includes many aspiring artists, photographers, and musicians. I love that their rich heritage is a part of my artistic expression.

 

A painting by Megan's Great Grandmother, Elise de Celles Beaton