Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Myers.
Hi Megan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve been interested in making art for as long as I can remember. I attended Seattle University, where I studied fine arts with a focus on painting. After graduating, I stayed in Seattle, painting in my free time while working in arts administration and surrounding myself with creative people.
One of my biggest career breaks came when I landed a job as a project manager for Dale Chihuly, the world-renowned glass artist. I spent five years working on large-scale art projects and learned so much about the art world.
Eventually, I moved to Portland, Oregon, where I found myself figuring out my next steps. I took a job at Trader Joe’s and lucked out when they needed a sign maker. I spent three years hand-lettering signs, drawing on chalkboards, and creating art in the back of the store. It was a great opportunity to develop my illustration style, and during that time, I launched Megan Marie Myers Art.
My next big step was moving to Bend, Oregon, to be closer to nature and explore the outdoors. By then, I had established my style as an illustrator, but living in Central Oregon helped me better express what I wanted to communicate through my work: bringing people together, celebrating our connection to nature, and exploring how our relationships with each other and the planet shape our world.
My illustration style is intentionally simple and playful, often reminiscent of childhood cartoons. I was heavily influenced by Hanna-Barbera cartoons and Calvin and Hobbes, particularly their humor, playful landscapes, and ability to communicate relationships through simple illustrations.
When I moved to Bend, I decided to give my art business my full attention. I’ve been fortunate to build a successful career in a community that shares many of my values, and I’m incredibly grateful for the support I’ve received along the way.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of the biggest challenges wasn’t necessarily making the art, but learning how to run a business. I didn’t study business in art school, so figuring out how to turn my artwork into a sustainable career came with a pretty steep learning curve.
Along the way, I made plenty of mistakes, but those experiences were some of my greatest learning opportunities. I was fortunate to find mentors, resources, and people in the community who were willing to share their knowledge and offer advice. Those relationships and experiences helped me grow as both an artist and a business owner, and ultimately made it possible to pursue my dream of running my own art business.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I create art in a variety of ways. Painting is probably my specialty, and I love working on large canvases with paint and brushes. I’ve also illustrated three children’s books and written and illustrated a children’s book of my own.
I’m probably best known for my distinctive illustration style. Over the years, I’ve developed what I think of as my own visual vocabulary, a recognizable way I draw certain characters, animals, trees, and landscapes. By weaving those elements throughout my work, I’ve created a style that people can recognize as my voice.
What I think sets my work apart is the storytelling, particularly the relationships between my characters, animals, and the natural world. While some people might see my artwork as something created for children, the characters really represent the child in all of us. Their adventures and interactions are meant to remind us of our own connections to nature, each other, and the world around us.
I’m incredibly proud to have my artwork displayed throughout Bend and to have built a business that allows me to create the art I want to make. And on a fun side note, Robert Plant once bought some of my artwork, which is pretty cool, haha!
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
It’s probably no surprise that my biggest concern for the art industry over the next 5 to 10 years is AI and how it will impact artists and the creative landscape.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.meganmariemyers.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganmariemyersart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meganmariemyersart
