Joy and Purpose Through Art for Meg Shaw
Art brings me joy. I particularly love being in the ‘flow’ state of creation – when I’m absorbed in the moment – so much so, I have no sense of time.
Another aspect that’s engaging for me is being able to express myself in an open, yet intimate way via painting.
Art also gives me a sense of purpose in life and the ability to direct my own course.
Feedback from fellow artists or those who appreciate art is often uplifting and gives me the opportunity to reflect on my work through fresh eyes.
The Inspiration of Tasmania
Tasmania is inspiring because of it’s diverse, vibrant scenery and vast areas of untouched, natural beauty.
As a visitor over decades and now a permanent resident, I’ve been privileged to travel to numerous areas.
One of the most fascinating aspects of travelling around this unique island is that the scenery changes quickly and quite often, dramatically.
Another, is you can smell the fresh air, which immediately boosts your mood and lowers stress.
Some parts remind me of beautiful spots on the mainland and others are uniquely Tasmanian.
Art as an Intrinsic Element of Self
Art has always been an intrinsic part of me for as long as I can remember.
It was my strength and passion thoughout school and beyond.
Practicality led me to realise I needed to work to support myself.
I became a primary teacher (later, an ESL teacher), married, shared a mortgage with my husband and had two beautiful daughters to co-parent.
Immersion in Art
Nevertheless, I continued to express myself through art in some form or anorther.
As retirement approached, I realised I could immerse myself once more.
So, I built up my supplies, materials and equipment in preparation to jump back into it once again.
Flourish with 10 Inspiring Creative Goals for Artists and Makers in the Year Ahead
Elevate your artistic journey! Discover 10 inspiring creative goals for artists and makers in the coming year with Art Trails Tasmania. Unleash your creative potential now!
Creating Art in Adaptable Spaces
My workspaces have always been humble – an old card table, the kitchen table, an island bench, the floor or a board resting on my knees.
More recently, in our Geelong home, I occupied a small spot in our garage with my husband. I’ve never had my own designated, creative space.
Now, I’m thrilled to have a small, converted (it’s a work in progress) garage to call my own.
Creating Art with Oils
I was given a large set of Windsor and Newton oils many years ago by my husband.
I worked with them whenever I had time, replacing the precious tubes as I could afford to.
Both my daughters used them throughout their senior secondary school years, with my younger daughter using them during her university architectural degree.
Moving to Acrylic Paints
In my later years, I found oils didn’t agree with my health, so I switched to a wonderful Australian made, environmentally friendly acrylic paint.
I also enjoy working with inks, alcohol inks, pens and pencils. Recently, I’ve been using spray cans, too.
The Evolution of Art
My artwork has evolved over the past several years.
Looking at old photos makes me realise how I’ve changed and developed.
When I retired, some years ago, I remember standing in front of a canvas thinking, “I can’t do this!”.
It felt beyond my ability after all the time I’d waited.
Painting was once, second nature, now it was a puzzle.
Finding Clarity
I knew I no longer wanted to paint people as I had done in the past.
I knew I wanted to move onto landscapes. “How do I do that?” I thought.
At first, I had fun doing a lot of ‘messy’ paintings to take the pressure off. Then, I created a series of abstracts.
Found Collected Dyed Stitched Workshop with Textile Artist Aukje Boonstra
Discover the Found, Collected, Dyed, Stitched Workshop with Textile Artist Aukje Boonstra at Tin Dragon Trails Cottages with Art Trails Tasmania
Unlock Colour DNA Art Retreat with Richard Klekociuk
Escape to an art retreat & learn how to make colour work for you & grow creatively with the award winning Tasmanian artist Richard Klekociuk in the beautiful North East at the Tin Dragon Trail Cottages.
Finding Your Signature Style
Finally, I felt confident enough to experiment with landscapes.
I eventually moved into a semiabstract, expressionistic and impressionistic style.
Now, when I paint, most people expect me to create a variation of a contemporary landscape – it’s now my signature style.
Intuition and Memories
I don’t pre-sketch before painting; nor do I paint en plein air or use a photo directly.
People are often surprised by that statement. I have travelled around Australia, particularly NSW, Victoria and Tasmania for decades, so I have many memories, impressions and photos of inspirational natural environments.
More importantly, l feel a deep connection with natural environments.
Instead of preparing to paint with a clear plan or a photo to copy, I begin painting immediately on a blank canvas using only my memories, intuitive feelings and ideas of design.
Eventually, the creative process kicks in and a painting evolves.
Nurturing Creativity
To nurture my creativity, I set time aside to on a painting.
Just as importantly, I set time aside to do other positive activities, like listening to music, gardening, craft and walking.
My creativity is boosted by my habit of visually absorbing scenes and I accept that I have a different way of thinking or seeing things, like many others artists.
I know and embrace it as part of my artistic leanings, e.g. where another person might see a pile rusty metal, I see a sculpture; where someone sees a tree, I focus in on the patterns and intricacies of the bark.
Connecting with nature is an essential for me as natural environments are both inspirational and calming.
Remaining interested and curious is important and I can’t imagine ever feeling bored while engaging in art.
The Mixed Blessings of Art Exhibitions
I have engaged in several exhibitions and have mixed feelings about them.
On the negative side, I often feel nervous and exposed.
In addition, I have found lighting and positioning of an artist’s work can be an issue, impacting significantly on presentation and viewings.
Curators can also favour known artists, at times. On the other hand, during exhibitions, I’ve had a lot of positive feedback, made valued connections and enjoyed engaging with visitors.
I recall one particular time when a mother brought her artistic ten year old daughter along to chat to me about the many aspects of artistic creativity – a treasured memory.
Figuring Out a Creative Business
The business side of being an artist is challenging for me, as many fellow artists will agree.
It can seem counter-productive to creativity, plus it’s time consuming.
A while back, a work colleague approached me and asked to manage the business side of my artwork, while I concentrated on creating.
She had a lot of great ideas, so we formed a partnership. Unfortunately, covid completely changed her circumstances and her work responsibilities increased considerably.
Sadly, we had to dissolve our partnership. The business side remains a challenge for me, but I’ve concentrated on making myself known to gallery owners, having an active Instagram account and connecting with other artists for advice and support.
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Seeking Creative Joy in Your Art
Simply speaking, I enjoy what I do and try not to worry about things beyond my control.
The joy you get out of creativity is both beneficial and constructive.
I look forward to and am cognisant of my artistic growth.
I am also very much aware of the importance of exercise, a good diet and adequate sleep to stay healthy, so that I can keep creating.
The Path to Building Skills
To build my skills, it’s essential to practice, regularly.
When I was a carefree child, I drew, coloured or painted every day.
Now, as an older person, I continue to paint regularly, but I think ‘art’ constantly.
Aware of Design, Shape and Colours
I remain aware of design, shape, colours and anything that peaks my interest.
Another building skill is to steer clear of comparisons to other artists.
I often remind myself to just be ‘me’.
I can happily admire others artists’ work, but it’s essential to stay on my own course of growth and development.
Connection, Narrative and Nature
I try to create atmospheric scenes that tell a narrative and connect viewers to the elements of our land and, in turn to themselves.
I rely on my paintings to ‘speak’ to me as I work, so I would regard myself as an intuitive artist to a degree.
I often ask of my work (not myself), “What are you trying to say?”.
My tools are brushes, fingers, palette knives and rags.
In the past few years, my husband Paul, has been making my stretched canvases and frames, so my artwork is authentic and has a personal connection from start to finish.
About the Artist
About the ArtistI have enjoyed creating art all my life, but chose a career in education.
Firstly, as a primary teacher (and later as an EAL teacher, often using art to support language).
I married Paul in 1975 and had two daughters, both artistic in their own ways.
Now, happily retired in Tasmania, I am free to do art once again, without too many responsibilities.
Be sure to follow the Meg on Instagram for her latest work, sources of inspiration and latest news.
Read Another Artist Profile…
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Read What Our Members Say About Belonging
Join the growing, supportive artists community today and have your Artist story told here.
Belinda is doing a great job creating a professional looking artist hub online. Check out the profile I posted recently to see how well she does them. To all my artist friends let’s help make this THE go to place to discover local artists.
You won’t regret joining Art Trails Tasmania . It’s a welcoming community for creatives at any career stage.Becoming an Art Trails Tasmania member wasn’t a hard decision for me to make as it’s such a wealth of knowledge and support.Being member provides a quality way to showcase your creative endeavours and it’s quickly growing in reach.
We operate a home based picture framing business and recently joined Art Trails Tasmania as a means to giving us exposure to the wider artist community. We have almost immediately seen increase in activity thru our online sites, which I am certain will lead to more opportunities to grow our business.
Artist Profile Stories
I want there to be more arts and crafts in our world, in our communities and in our own lives. Hopefully you’ve found this blog post inspiring and interesting.
So I’m creating, with your help, Art Trails Tasmania, allowing all of us who feel this love to create more of it.
And the Art Trails Tasmania blog is a key part of making this happen, telling the stories of members. It’s about what they have happening with workshops and classes, exhibitions, open studio trails, where to find their outlets, markets, fairs and festivals so you can shop their creations as well as their art and craft retreats.
Also being shared are the supporters of our artists, the galleries, shops, cafes, art societies and groups, places to stay and artist in residencies.
