Books, Plays, Films, and Art: Creator Meagan J. Meehan Discusses Projects Circa 2019

Meagan J. Meehan is a creator who works in a variety of mediums. From books, to mixed-media artwork, to plays, screenplays, and shoes, Meagan has found numerous ways to express herself and find outlets for her creative energy.

Meagan anticipates a busy 2019. She is working on several screenplays, a novel, a PhD and is both partaking in and curating a number of art shows. The founder of the art movement/style Conscious Perceptionalism, Meagan is actively promoting the movement while also raising awareness about her shoe collection, impending children’s book and more.

Meagan recently discussed her artistic endeavors, inspirations, and more via an exclusive interview.

Q: When did you first realize you had a talent for storytelling? 

Meagan J. Meehan (MJM): I’ve always been able to make up stories. I remember being like two or three years old and making up these elaborate plots as I played with my dolls in their dollhouses. I think being an only child was hugely beneficial in many ways, but mostly because it allowed me to really exercise my imagination and learn how to entertain myself.

Q: How soon thereafter did you get into making art? 

MJM: I’ve always loved to paint and draw with crayons—my mom says when I was two years old I tried to make renditions of Rothko and Calder (I don’t think I was very successful). My parents were always taking me to art museums when I was little and they are big fans of abstract art. My parents absolutely influenced my love for the arts and they nurtured it throughout my life. They’re incredibly supportive.

Q: How would you describe your artwork and how did you develop your unique style and use of various mediums?

MJM: My work is very sculptural, even my paintings have sculptural elements. I also love to incorporate found objects—like bottle caps, toys, metal bits, wooden blocks, etc.—into my work. I describe my paintings as “sculptural wall hangings” but all of my artwork can be described as “colorful crazy creations.” As long as they make you smile then they have done their duty. I developed this style over time. I don’t know exactly when it happened, but at some point in my 20s I just sort of snapped and wondered: “What would happen if I tried to glue a clay sculpture into canvas?” I tried it, the method worked, and ever since it’s become my signature style. I’m constantly evolving though to include new materials and more complex painting patterns.

Q: How did you go about breaking into the art industry? 

MJM: It is an ongoing process since there’s really no clear-cut way to do it. I feel very grateful for the success I’ve had so far but I hope to go much further. I’m not a known name in the art world—yet—but I can’t complain too much. I’ve been showing for less than ten years and have won awards, sold quite a bit of work, enjoyed solo shows, and attained gallery representation. My first show was in July of 2009–I showed a single piece of abstract digital artwork at a group exhibition at the Fire Island Lighthouse on Long Island. Most of the other work there was realistic, so even then my abstract style stood out. After that I started attending group shows at the East End Art Council in Riverhead. I partook in juried shows and won awards for my “Outsider Art” style which I regard as a compliment. Since then, I have managed to win 3rd place, Honorable Mention, and even 1st place in some shows around the Island. I’m known for partaking in the annual 10 x 10 show at the South Street Gallery in Greenport. That’s a wonderful venue and I really enjoy that exhibit. Back in 2012 I sold my first two pieces of work there! I also have work on permanent display at hospitals and doctor’s offices throughout Queens and Long Island. Even more surreal is the fact that my art is present in global private collections found throughout the United States, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Brazil and India! That’s so crazy to me, but so wonderful!

I’ve shown at A.I.R. Gallery for their postcard show. In 2015, my work was showcased on Governors Island courtesy of the Sculptors Alliance. That same year, my work was displayed in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, via a RAW Artist showcase and at the now-defunct Gateway Art Center in Manhattan. Other venues include the Bayside Historical Society, Theater for the New City, Central Park’s Arsenal Gallery, Gallery Petite, Guild Hall in the Hamptons, Studio East Gallery, BRIC Media, Miami Spectrum, Art Expo and locations associated with the Oyster Bay Artist Rotational and BACCA of which I am a member. Right now, I am represented by the Abbot Gallery in Farmingdale, Long Island. My artwork has also been featured in a range of publications, websites, and broadcasts including WhatIsArt Magazine, A5 Magazine, Artblend Magazine, Artavita Magazine, Loomings Magazine, the Adam Mouski Blog and WVOX “Eye on the Radio.”

I am grateful to live around New York City and Long Island. I’m a Long Islander by birth since I was born in Manhasset and I’m very proud of that. Long Island is a wonderful place and it’s given me a lot of awesome opportunities. That said it’s also good to be close to the city since it’s a big deal to exhibit in Manhattan and Brooklyn and there are many opportunities for local artists out there.

Q: How did you secure spots at the popular art fair Art Expo and your first official solo show at a gallery?

MJM: I’ve been writing for Artblend Gallery and Art Agency for several years now and the owners are very nice. They have let me exhibit compact pieces on the walls of their expo space since there’s usually a tiny bit of room left. So, that’s how I got into Art Expo. I also got into Miami Spectrum courtesy of Mint Art Haus. They are another really cool art promotion company that I met through Artblend.

My first official solo show was held at the Demouzy Contemporary Gallery in Rockville Center, Long Island, in January of 2018. It was so amazing! The curator and owner, Reine Emeish, is truly a wonderful person. She’s always been so supportive of me and my art and she was honored to give me my premiere solo show. The opening reception was crazy! Dozens of people showed up–way more than we ever expected! It went on for hours, I sold work, there were free cookies and cheese, and everyone had a great time. I cannot wait to have another gallery-based solo show!

Q: You founded an art movement called “Conscious Perceptionalism” so can you explain what this movement is all about and what your major goals for it are?

MJM: “Conscious Perceptionalism” describes a style of artwork—typically abstract, although the style is handy for floral depictions as well—in which an artist intentionally creates pieces which are intended to be viewed from all directions. Essentially, artworks that adhere to the style of Conscious Perceptionalism do not have a definitive up, down, left, or right. Instead, their forms remain comprehensive regardless of what direction they are turned. Pieces rendered in this style subsequently ensure that the art is strong from a 360 perspective; something which is quite suitable considering that I regularly rig my paintings to turn on a wall so they can be enjoyed from all angles.

I got the idea to create this movement after working with this style for several years. I started making 360-degree pieces when I was a teenager and I realized how cool some of my work looked when I saw it from an angle which I had initially perceived as “upside down.” Those early experiences truly opened my eyes to just how subjective abstract art can be. Conscious Perceptionalism is really just a different way of considering art and I want to share the concept with other artists. I’m planning to present it through workshops at libraries and hopefully other venues like museums and galleries. I am also hoping to start an artist collective and base several curated shows—both online and offline—centered around this concept and style.

Conscious Perceptionalism, as I coined and define it, is an art movement that is akin to a form of visual language. Heavily inspired by Expressionism, Conceptualism, and Art Brut (more commonly known as “Outsider Art”) but with more emphasis given to individualism and open-mindedness, the movement seeks to make modern art accessible and compelling to viewers by making the pieces more interpretative and, by default, more interesting.

Conscious Perceptionalism is easy to learn so I want to teach classes and give speeches aimed at both children and adults to enlighten them about the newfound style and its limitless potentials. Most of these premiere classes will be held in libraries in the Long Island and New York City area. Furthermore, the movement can encompass a large body of abstract styles such as sculpture painting, digital, installations and creations using recycled/reused materials, so it’s accessible to a wide range of artists, mediums, and artistic styles.

Through my journalistic work, I have made several valuable connections with an array of artists, organizations, and exhibition venues which will help me in the promotion of the Conscious Perceptionalism art movement.

I’m also working on a PhD right now via the University at Buffalo (SUNY) which basically focuses on Educational Psychology and how people learn. I think I can employ a lot of those practices into the designing of art classes to teach people of all ages—both masters and beginners—how to consider abstract artwork in a new and multifaceted way and thereby embrace the principles of Conscious Perceptionalism.

Q: You started getting into curation in 2017, so what has that been like? 

MJM: I love the idea of getting into curation more and more. I first co-curated a show called “Wishful Salutations” with the Demouzy Contemporary Gallery on Long Island at the end of 2017. I know many artists and galleries/venues through my work as a journalist so I am happy to make connections to help other artists further their careers. I also like the idea of using art to support charities. I am now in the process of planning the curation of a group exhibition at a “cat cafe” on Long Island that will benefit a charity that rescues and finds loving forever homes for cats. If that’s successful, I absolutely want to branch out to arrange shows to help other charities gain recognition and proceeds. I’m most interested in animal causes, but I’m also open to eventually branching out to charities that help people both in America and abroad.

Q: You also love fashion—you even do your own nails—and designed a collection of shoes based on a series of artwork you created. Can you tell us what this whole process was like?

MJM: Yes, I paint my own nail art! I change the design approximately every ten days and my toes always match my fingernails, even in the winter when no one sees my toes, they MUST match! I also color coordinate my outfits every day, even if I’m just going to the store. I’ve always loved shoes though and wedges are really comfortable. When I was about 18 my cousin-in-law convinced me to try them and got me hooked! I love how wedges give you the height of heels (I need it, I’m only 5’3) but are super comfy on your feet and easy to walk in. I quickly got ink collecting wedges of different colors. Then, crazier and crazier shapes.

In the spring of 2018, I decided to invest in some plain pairs of wedges and I bedazzled them in my trademark style. I used my most famous series of artwork—“The Bejeweled & Bedazzled Collection”—as inspiration and launched my first series which contains seven pairs of shoes. I got them on fashion show runways in Manhattan in October of 2018 which was a lot of fun. It was surreal seeing models walk in them in front of big crowds!

The process was slow but worthwhile. I had to draw out the designs with pencil, coat the shoes in layers of paint, nail polish and glitter, and finally seal everything with clear gel. Then I had to super glue on all the rhinestones and embellishments. It took a long time, but it was so worthwhile. I think every pair turned out really professional looking and matched the artwork perfectly.

Q: Might you eventually design other accessories like jewelry, purses, etc.? 

MJM: Absolutely! I really want to design purses and jewelry (including hair clips) to go along with the “Bejeweled & Bedazzled” series. Maybe I’ll eventually get into designing blouses and dresses too—we’ll see. I will need to partner with someone because I cannot sew to save my life. I would also like to design some glitzy shoes for kids. I teach art classes to children at libraries between the ages of four and thirteen and the girls of all ages really loved my sparkly shoes. So, I might branch out into designing some glittery shoes for little girls soon. I love sparkly stuff. It’s nice to look fancy even on average days!

Q: Is it true that you’re inspired by decorations and have marched in the famed Halloween Parade in New York City? 

MJM: Yes! I love decorations! I’m obsessed with Christmas and have used Christmas ornaments, plastic Easter eggs, and Valentine’s Day heart-shaped boxes in my artwork. I’m also a huge fan of Halloween and I have indeed marched in the famous Village Halloween Parade—always in full makeup. My first time was in 2005 and I was dressed up as Medusa. Since then I’ve matched as a Hershey’s Kiss, a playing card, a ghost, a peacock and Lady Luck which was my most popular costume to date and even inspired me to write a short play starring the character. In 2015 I served as a puppeteer and that was a really fun experience too. I love that parade; it really celebrates and nurtures creativity! The holidays even inspire my art. I’m not very religious, but I was raised Roman Catholic and have created art for Christmas shows with semi-religious themes. For example, I created a series of three sculptural wall hangings (that light up) in November of 2017 and each one was named for one of the three Kings. I call them “The Magi Collection.” The green one is “Gaspar’s Gift,” the red one is “Melchior’s Present” and the blue one is “Balthasar’s Offering.” The green one represents Christmas Eve, the red one represents Christmas Day, and the blue one represents both New Year’s Day and Little Christmas.

Q: You are also a published author. So, how did you first see your writing in print? 

MJM: My very first short story was published by the monthly Long Island-based Great South Bay Magazine in April of 2005 when I was only 17. Its editor back then was a lady named Susan Bela and she inspired me to find my voice with these zany stories that were outrageous yet family-friendly comedies. In 2008, I officially became a columnist and still hold the position, publishing a new short each month. Occasionally, my poems are also featured in the magazine. Then, in 2007, four card verses I penned for Christmas and Valentine’s Day were published by Designer Greetings and subsequently sold in stores across North America! That was amazing. As of 2011, a few of my short crime stories have been published by Suspense Magazine and Akashic Books.

Q: You have written several novels and are working on two now, so how did that start where do you get your ideas from? 

MJM: I started writing my first novel in 2007 when I was 19. I learned about a mid-sized publisher called Avalon Books through a classmate of mine when I was working on my Bachelor’s degree. Avalon Books published three genres: Westerns, Mysteries, and Romances. While Mysteries are my favorite genre of the three, I decided to start with a Western since I grew up watching them. It took me nine months to complete the book which was titled Dry Heat.

I sent it to the publisher and a few months later they accepted it. Dry Heat was published in early 2010 when I was 22. By then I was almost done writing a mystery called Death Amid Gems. Avalon Books accepted it and published it in April of 2011. I’m not a big fan of romances, but decided to try my hand at the third and final genre. In 2009 I completed a romantic comedy called Dolbert Springs Holiday and submitted it. Unfortunately, the economy had gone down hard by that stage and Avalon Books ended up closing down after being in business for decades. Luckily, I eventually found American Star Books and they published the book in September of 2013.

After that, I didn’t know of any other traditional (non-self-publishing) presses that would accept work from authors without agents. Then, in 2016, I met a lady who ran a small horror press. I ended up writing a horror novella for her called Sycophant in 2016 which she accepted for publication and set to be published in 2018. Unfortunately, she experienced health and financial hardships and the book was put on hold.

In 2017, I found a small publisher that caters to Fantasy and Science Fiction novels. I submitted two proposals to them, one for a Fantasy novel and one for a Science Fiction novel, and they requested to see the manuscripts for both. So, I’m working on the Fantasy novel right now—The Sandman’s Apprentice—and then I’ll immediately start working on the Science Fiction novel which is called Solaris Oasis. I’m also hoping the publisher is interested in letting me post short story anthologies in the genres of Horror, Science Fiction, Fantasy and perhaps a book of poetry which are all genres that they accept.

Q: You’re also well known for your short stories and have even produced some comics, so how does this story form differ from your novels?

MJM: I love short stories. They are my favorite kind of literature to write. It’s wonderful to be able to create characters and settings that are well-rounded yet compact. Although anthologies are typically of the same genre, each story can be entirely unique and different and introduce readers to a range of different characters and settings in a single book.

I’m best known for my short horror stories which have been produced as audio recordings on YouTube via Chilling Tales for Dark Nights, they’re an awesome company. Since 2014, they have had their incredible narrators read several of my stories and the results are amazing. I’m really hopeful I’ll eventually be able to publish some short story anthologies in a range of genres.

As for comics, in 2011 I created a humorous one-panel comic titled Ugo the Unfortunate Urbanite which was published weekly in a local paper, The Queens Times. I wrote the script for the comic Inky and his Magic Eraser based on the character and story by Frank Italiano. The comic was released in 2016 by Scattered Cat Comics. In 2020, a series of horror comics based on some original plots I created for Scattered Cat Comics will be available. I’m really looking forward to that!

Q: You do a lot of work with Chilling Tales for Dark Nights, so how did that partnership begin? 

MJM: I first heard about Chilling Tales for Dark Nights when I accidentally stumbled upon their YouTube channel in 2014. I was intrigued and reached out to them asking if they wanted to be featured in an article since at that time I wrote for the Examiner. The CEO of Chilling Entertainment, Craig Groshek, got back to me quickly and we started talking. I featured them in an article and then submitted a story to one of the short story contests that they had running at the time. They ended up selecting that story—Companions—for audio narration. It was posted to their YouTube channel and received lots of great feedback via comments. Since then, they’ve narrated a bunch of my stories and now I even partner with them to teach online writing classes in the horror genre.

Q: You have published dozens of children’s books. What are they about and how did you go about finding publishers? 

MJM: I love writing children’s books but it is a tough genre to break into. I was extremely fortunate to find Smart Kidz Club in 2012. They are a publisher of eBooks got children between the ages of infant to 13. They are wonderful. They are eBook publishers, but not self-publishing. They never charge writers a penny, pay authors for their work, and create some of the most beautiful illustrations ever. I have been blown away by the quality of the books I’ve produced with them. They also have a great audio narration feature and even translate some of the books into Spanish. I published my first story with them—Animal Houses—in November of 2013. Since then I’ve published over three dozen books with them, both fiction and non-fiction. I’m currently also planning to partner with them to teach an online children’s book writing class.

In 2015, I found another publisher called Golden Bell Studios. They are publishers and toy/game designers who have won a Parent Choice Award for their contributions. I have signed a contract with them agreeing to provide them with 31-properties: 28 original books, a card game, a board game, and a puzzle. These properties will be developed and released throughout the 2020s.

I am also in the process of finalizing a book with a company called Acute by Design. The book is titled Abela’s Adventure and it’s about a parrot from Brazil who moves to New York. I’m super excited because it will be first physical children’s (non-ebook) publication. It is expected to be published in the spring of 2019. The illustrations are being done by an artist named Meg Petrillo and they are absolutely stunning!

Q: What inspires your largely free-verse poems? 

MJM: I love poetry and I am partial to the free verse style because it is so open. I get inspired by all kinds of things: coffee, clouds, even traffic cones! Most of my poems have a playful and funny edge. I really hope I can find a publisher for them one of these days. I’ve had actresses perform them aloud at fashion shows and people really seem to enjoy them!

Q: You have produced two short plays, so what was that experience like and are you working on any other theatrical projects now?

MJM: It’s absolutely wonderful, and surreal, to see my scripts acted out. To see actresses and actors speak my lines and act out the movements is just awesome! I got my first one-act play produced in March of 2016 at the Manhattan Repertory Theater. It was called The Muse and I actually heard about the children’s book publisher Acute by Design from the costume designer I met with that project (she had done some illustrative work for them). All my plays have an outrageous edge and so they require a lot of makeup and costumes.

In November of 2018, I had my play titled The Values of Gold, Silver and Bronze performed at Long Island’s Theater 294. It was their first one-act play festival so it was an honor to be part of it. I’m planning to get several other short plays performed in the future and am even planning on conducting a playwriting class soon.

Q: You also have your first film projects coming to fruition; can you tell us a little bit more about that? 

MJM: Yes, I’m really excited about this since film is a new foray for me. My first screenplay—Cleanup on Aisle 3—was green-lit for production by a film company called Unknown Works in August of 2018. Filming is scheduled to commence in a store on Long Island in June of 2020. Several of my films are also tentatively scheduled to be produced by California-based filmmaker Michael Davis throughout the 2020s.

Q: Are you represented by a literary agent? 

MJM: No, not yet, but I’m desperately looking for one! They are really hard to find and most don’t even answer inquiry emails. It’s very frustrating. I have been lucky so far and have never had to self-publish even once, I always find small or midsized publishers that accept unsolicited manuscripts, but I’m going to need an agent to get into bigger houses. I’ll focus on that—and securing a website—when I’m finished with my Ph.D.

Q: You work as a journalist, so how did you get into that and has that career helped your creative interests in any way?

MJM: I initially got my job at the Examiner.com when I was finishing up my Master’s degree in November of 2012. I covered the topics of Homeschooling, Online Learning, Toys & Games and Art. When the website shut down very suddenly in July of 2016, I moved my column to Blasting News. I also write for the Kidskintha Blog and put the majority of my Toys & Games articles there.

In addition to that I also write for Entertainment Vine, The New York Optimist and I’ve contributed to AXS, The Inquisitr, The Pop Insider and Samuel French Magazine. Occasionally, I also have the chance to conduct video interviews with creative individuals at YouTube Studios and BRIC Media courtesy of fashion and entertainment producer, Alexander Gurman.

Being a journalist is beyond rewarding on so many levels. I love working primarily with interviews since it gives the subjects a chance to talk about their professions and projects in their own words. You really feel like you’re having a conversation with the celebrity when you read these types of articles. And, yes, it absolutely has helped me make many connections which have opened doors for me en mass!

Q: You do a lot of work with the toys and games industry, so why is that such an area of appeal to you? 

MJM: I absolutely love toys and games. As a kid, I was an only child and the baby of my family by lot—most of my cousins are literally more than a decade older than me—and so I always had lots of toys and games and they really influenced my creatively. In 2012, I started writing down ideas for toys and games and then joined toy groups on social media and started writing about toy companies on the Examiner which was a great way to introduce myself to the industry. Toy designs love to get reviews on their items and are even more excited to get a chance to discuss their creations via Q&As.

Although I’ve been obsessed with toys and games forever (I’m completely addicted to those “video game walkthroughs” posted all over YouTube), I first formally entered the toy and game industry in 2013 when I created stories and a personality for WikiBear. The talking teddy bear toy ultimately won a “Toy of the Year” award by the Toy Industry Association in 2014 and went on to be spoofed by Conan O’Brien! Unfortunately, due to technical issues, the toy was never officially released.

Still, I’m still constantly writing about toys and games and hope to get some of my ideas realized soon. I have a few games planned as part of my contract with Golden Bell Studios so that will certainly be fun!

Q: How much of an impact did your family life and childhood have on your overall creativity? 

MJM: Immeasurable. No one else on my family writes or makes art, but they’re really supportive. I dedicate every single one of my books to my wonderful parents, Mary and Michael, and then someone else who is close to me. For instance, I dedicated my Western novel to my Uncle, I’m dedicating a forthcoming children’s book to my aunt, and my impending Horror novella and Science Fiction novel are both being dedicated to cousins. I’m also dedicating my dissertation to yet another cousin and cousin-in-law who hold Ph.D. degrees are my inspiration!

Most of my family lives in Ireland (I’m a dual citizen—my mom’s side is from Cork and Kerry and my Dad’s side is from Donegal and Sligo, he actually immigrated here in the 1960s) and my writing and sense of humor is strongly influenced by Irish shows, comedians, etc. And I’m always texting my aunts, uncles, cousins and cousins-in-law. They might live thousands of miles away but I’m always showing them art, bouncing story ideas off them, etc., it’s like we live right next to each other! Technology is so wonderful like that.

My Irish heritage has even influenced my artistic style. My parents have lots of Celtic art around the house and I was always fascinated by the colors and intricate swirling patterns of it. I absolutely think it inspires me as much as abstract art does.

Q: You were homeschooled and go to college via online programs so what is it about distance education that most appeals to you?

MJM: I absolutely love learning online. I’m a big homeschooling advocate but I honestly think cyber schooling is the best way to go. I have indeed earned all my degrees online and my Ph.D. program is also 100% virtual. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Culture from New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) and graduated with a 3.8 GPA and Summa Cum Laude honors. I earned a Master of Arts in Communication from Marist College where I graduated with a 3.9 GPA and wrote a thesis concerning the positive effects of customization and personalization on consumer culture. I love the freedom that learning online offers and you can customize your curriculum which is super ideal.

I also liked the fact that, because I was homeschooled, my family was able to travel a lot off season. We went to Europe nearly every year in my teens–France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland and, of course, Ireland, and we were able to take those vacations when we wanted to take them. We weren’t bound by a school schedule. Traveling influenced me so much creatively. We stopped when I started college because my parents wanted to pay for each degree outright but, once my Ph.D. is complete, I hope to start traveling again. I really miss it. Trust me, if you can homeschool or cyber school, do it! You will NOT regret it!

Q: You are working on a Ph.D. right now, so what is your concentration and what do you hope to do with the degree?

MJM: As of January 2018, I have been pursuing a Ph.D. in Curriculum, Instruction and the Science of Learning via the University at Buffalo (SUNY). I am scheduled to graduate circa 2022. My primary areas of interest are Entertainment-Education and Gamification with a smaller focus on customized learning. My dissertation project and paper will focus on teaching children advanced vocabulary words by use of humorous videos and story lines. Upon attaining my Ph.D., I aspire to teach online and design content, courses, and courses for online platforms. So far, I love University at Buffalo SUNY and would recommend them to anyone!

Q: You seem to really enjoy teaching. Can you tell us about your art and writing classes? You teach both online and offline, right? 

MJM: I truly do enjoy teaching art and writing classes. It’s amazing how creative the students are! They amaze me! I frequently lead offline art classes at libraries throughout Long Island and New York City for a range of ages. I have taught children as young as two and adults in their 90s! I teach online writing classes via the Wet-Ink platform. My debut online class, “Wicked Writings,” was launched in March of 2018 and focused on each student developing and producing a polished horror story. Organized in collaboration with Chilling Entertainment, each of the stories from the class will be audio-recorded and posted on YouTube and published in a physical anthology. I hope to do this with many of genres in the future and am now actively planning a children’s book writing class, created in conjunction with Smart Kidz Club, in the summer of 2019.

Q: What was it like to become a ProjectArt teacher?

MJM: I love being a Project Art teacher-in-residence! From September 2018 to June of 2019 I’ll be teaching at the Forest Hills Library teaching art classes three days a week to children between the ages of four and thirteen. It’s a wonderful job. I take the “unschooling” approach to the classroom which means that I give the children materials and explain what I want them to do (i.e., create a sculpture). From there, I let them decide what kind of sculpture they want to create, usually after showing them photos in a range of style. Some kids like abstract work, others stick to realism, and others gravitate towards cartoonish styles. By allowing each child to use the materials to create something of their own choosing they get more enjoyment out of the class and use their imaginations more. They also come up with some awesome ideas that I never would have thought of. They truly amaze me!

Q: You also do Stop Motion, so what appeals to you about that?

MJM: I am a huge fan of stop motion animation. In 2015, my first stop motion video—The Fate of 30 Cakes—was aired in BRIC Media’s cable channel alongside an interview with me about the process! That was so surreal and fun. I plan to use Stop Motion for my dissertation study too.

Q: You’ve stated that you love animals, so how does that tie into your art and writing? 

MJM: I adore animals, especially Canada Geese! I feature animals a lot in my books and (as of now unrealized) toy designs. As for art, I’m getting into curating group exhibitions that will feature art with animal themes. I’m planning for a percentage of the proceeds of sales at these shows to go towards charities that assist animals in need. Another fun fact? I have hermit crabs named after famous artists: Miro, Matisse and Monet…everyone in my house has an “M” name!

Q: What are your biggest dreams regarding your projects and endeavors? 

MJM: I would love to get popular enough to have giant sculptures built and placed on permanent exhibition in cities all over the world. And, of course, to have solo exhibitions at all the big modern art museums! I’d also love to design jewelry, playgrounds and fountains—all with a colorful, sparkly, abstract flair, obviously! That’s my grandest goal.

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You can keep up with Meagan on her official social media and art sites: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Art Interview on YouTube, Blasting News Column, BRIC Arts Media Profile, RAW Artists Profile, Nail Art Gallery, Great South Bay Column, Akashic Books Short Stories, Chilling Tales for Dark Nights Stories, Smart Kidz Club Books and Amazon Novels.