Meet Megan McCarthy | Artist

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

Hi Megan, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I decided to pursue a career as a professional artist in 2019. I had attended a workshop taught by a dear friend at La Porte Peinte artist residency in Noyers-sur-Serein, France. It had been years since I had actively painted, and being reimmersed in that creativity reminded me just how important that was to my mental and emotional health. It was the simplest form of anti-depressant, yet I had been ignoring it for so long.

I made a plan to prioritize creativity in my life on the flight home from that trip, and within a year I had started Megan Gael McCarthy Art. Ultimately, with or without fiscal success, pursuing a life revolving around art was the best decision I could have made, and I will continue to do so.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am so excited to have just returned from a fellowship at the international art center, La Porte Peinte in Noyers-sur-Serein, France. It was a workshop I attended there in 2019 that convinced me to pursue a career in art. Fastforward 5 years, I would never have imagined they would be granting me the opportunity to return for 2 weeks and create in this magical place.

The fellowship was started by my friend and mentor, Trish Land, and the directrice of the center, Michelle Anderson. While I was there in May I worked with them both in different capacities to pursue new directions with my art and expand my knowledge. I studied other artists’ work, spent time contemplating my own art and practices, and completed assignments designed to broaden my vision.

As an artist it so easy to stay in your comfortable space, working in a familiar way, producing what you already know how to do. This was a chance to try new mediums, stretch my comfort and work in different ways. The tasks assigned pushed me to think differently as well. One assignment was to make 60 drawings, spending 5 seconds or less on each, using the prior drawing as inspiration for the next. I was also asked to find a vegetable and render it 50 different ways. I bought a gorgeous red onion, and managed to create 36 images while I was there. I think making those pieces will most directly affect my work now that I’ve returned to my Colorado studio.

Before I left on my trip I had already started down a different artistic path that I’m very excited about. It’s more minimalistic than my prior work, and I can see incorporating how I was thinking about and studying objects in France into my new paintings.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would start by looking up what live music was available, starting with my son’s band, Jake Leg. I think Red Rocks, Chautauqua Auditorium and the Gold Hill Inn are must see venues and a guarantee of a great night out.

I would certainly include a drive up into the mountains and hikes in some of our spectacular parks. Rocky Mountain National Park is a goto for sure. I love driving all the way through and spending time on Grand Lake on the western side. If they’re campers we’d stay in the park or Olive Ridge campground in Allenspark. And maybe some river tubing in Lyons or on Boulder Creek.

The Rio rooftop in Boulder is #1 for drinking margaritas on a sunny day. The porch at the Chautauqua Dining Hall is a lovely place to eat and get to watch all of the people enjoying this beautiful outdoor spot. I love Rosalee’s Pizza in Longmont, they have a quaint back patio area, and so does the West Side Tavern in Longmont.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I truly don’t think I would be pursuing this career were it not for my dear friend and artist, Trish Land. Her business, Muse Destination Workshops, is how I was reintroduced to painting. It was attending her workshop at La Porte Peinte in Noyers-sur-Serein, France that was my wake-up call to change my life for the better.

Website: https://www.megangaelmccarthyart.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mgmfineart

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-mccarthy-a2ab795a/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/megan.mccarthy.7186896