An Introduction to Meg Owen Art...
Whether you've bought a painting from me before, know me from years ago, or have somehow just stumbled across my Instagram or website, hello- and welcome!
I'm Meg and I have been painting since I was 15 and drawing long before that. Writing, on the other hand, is not my forte so you're going to have to bare with me here until I get used to this!
My First Commission
I guess, technically, my professional art career began when I was 16. I was asked by a friend to paint a picture of his dog and I was so excited to be receiving any cash in return for my work. I spent weeks and weeks on this piece and I was chuffed with the result. After this, more friends - and friends of friends - were asking me to paint their dogs. So, I took on this new challenge: pet portrait commissions.
Why Landscapes?
At this point, I barely knew what a commission even was but I learnt as I went. This gave me the confidence to try and sell some original work, which for me, has always been landscapes. As I write this I'm trying to think what it is about landscapes that inspire me so much. I think I have a deep connection with place. A place holds memories and the way you perceive a space dictates the way you view the next. I think it's the sentimental and reminiscent part of me holding on to my experiences through painting the places that have meaning to me.
Painting Home: Witherley
This landscape journey began with painting the village in which grew up in. The first 22 years of my life were spent in this village and that's saying something because I'm 23 when writing this! Witherley village inspired my first set of original paintings that sold. This was such an achievement that I didn't realise such at the time. Now, trying to sell original work is so much harder without a community around me in the same way.
A New Chapter: Pembrokeshire
Last September, I moved to Pembrokeshire, Wales. As a family we had spent the past 10 years of summers visiting the area so I had some familiarity to the place. An opportunity came up to study Foundation Art and Design at Pembrokeshire College. After a few years in and out of university degrees, trying to find the right path for me while battling physical and mental health challenges, this was the perfect avenue to the path of finally studying what I was meant to: Art.
Growing My Community
Being new to the area, I don't have the same connections and community that originally gave me the exposure to sell work and have work commissioned. This is where this reintroduction comes in... My work now is heavily inspired by the coast of Pembrokeshire. I would love for people who also know and love this area to recognise my work and engage with it, the same way people did in my home-town.
What's Next?
My next steps are to use this summer to continue to promote and rebuild trust on my socials, paint as much as I can and prepare for university in London (fingers crossed) starting at the end of September.
It's an exciting, slightly terrifying, and very important time for me and my art.
Thank you for reading this blog post; Whether you've been here from the beginning or you've only just found me, thank you for being here. Feel free to connect with me through my online request forms or instagram @megowenart
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