“For many reasons I will never forget that night. I felt like I was in exactly the right place at the right time. It might sound crackers but it was like stars aligning.”
Megan is an Artist/illustrator by day: working on commissions, projects and often drawing live at weddings! In the week she can also be found working part time in a fabulous Art Gallery, Shop and Framers in Margate called Lovelys. Check out her website!
We met Megan her at our Sketchy Bitches x Little Bit event back in October - and thank our lucky stars we did! Fingers crossed, we'll be kicking off regular Sketchy Bitches meetups in Margate in the new year - with Megan at the helm!
Meanwhile, we asked her a few Qs…
So Megan! Tell us a little bit about your creative journey and background.
I studies Textile Design at Saint Martins in London. I went straight in to Trends and Insight working as a researcher for various design agencies in London and as a Colour Materials Designer for Nokia and Samsung. I stopped drawing during all my time in London and started again when I moved to Margate 5 years ago.
Which Sketch Appeal event/s did you come to and what did you get out of it?
I found it on instagram a while ago but never came to a session until it came to Margate this year. I thank my lucky stars I went that dark night when I could barely pluck myself off the sofa to do anything. There it was my salvation, all those wonderful friendly faces and a table full of colourful pens. My spiritual home!
In a few lines, how would you describe the experience to others?
Magic! It was heartwarming, real, relaxed creative and illuminating. That quiet creative hum in between the lovely chats and giggles. That is priceless and you don’t get it all time so when you do you cherish it. For many reasons I will never forget that night. I felt like I was in exactly the right place at the right time. It might sound crackers but it was like stars aligning. Xxx
Did it inspire you to draw more, or go to any other creative events?
It inspired me to keep going with my creative endeavours, to be truly me, to do things like that for me more. To put my learning and experiencing new thing’s first. To DO not to dwell. To not take it all so seriously and to not hate on my face so much.
How does drawing make you feel, and has it played any part in improving your mental health?
It has brought me back to life in my darkest times. I was recovering from a terrible mental breakdown when I grasped a pen and drew again. Little by little as my drawings got better so did I. I had an outlet I had a place to be honest with myself a playground I had forgotten all about that I had desperately needed all along. Drawing makes me happy, it releases something in a cathartic way, it feels natural and fun.
Favourite materials to draw with?
A beautiful Japanese fountain pen with waterproof black ink I found after a bit of a hunt. I love it. The thicker the water colour paper I use the better. Bright and white with a bit of texture. But often it’s whatever I have to hand so it might be the back of a recipe and a Biro if things get desprate!
Any artists or illustrators we should check out on Insta?
I adore @raionsaida a Japanese painter on instagram. We did an art swap and I was so amazed when I got a massive package with a beautifully framed picture of some swimmers diving. Also @photo_landfill he does street photography but actually its from the top deck of all London's bus routes' From The Upper Deck' is his website where he's been cataloguing it for years. They are always a delight, like a lovely surprise on my feed, funny and tongue in cheek.
Any other cool creative workshops or events you’d recommend?
I think I’ve been too busy running workshops myself and doing commissions to go to anything. I have all sorts of wild ideas for workshops so watch this space!
Any books you’d recommend people wanting to get creative and draw more in 2020?
I’m not sure about books but it’s the outside world that inspires me more than anything along with my own experimentation. Look up more, go to exhibitions drink too much coffee and see where that leads.
All I want for Christmas is… Hide every device I have, even put down my pen. Hug my niece and nephew as much as I can and see how much we can laugh this holiday before it all goes Pete Tong!
Favourite Christmas song: It’s a tie between E17 Stay Another Day and Maria All I want for Christmas is You.
Megan at our workshop in Little Bit: looking pretty chuffed with the portraits drawn of her in the warm-up! Check out more pics from the event here.
