Featured Artist Megan Wheatley
We are thrilled to be exhibiting the work of Megan Wheatley. We have a series of seven mixed media paintings of Megans now available..
Megan allowed me to Interview her so below is a wonderful delve into the artist behind the paintbrush.
Can you talk a little about your journey to become an artist?
Once I completed my GCSE’s, I decided to enroll in a two-year Art and Design diploma at college and this is where my art journey really took off. My interest in printmaking led me to discover a Drawing and Printmaking course at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) and following a successful application, I enjoyed three years studying in Bristol. Over these three years, I experimented in many ways to be able to express myself with total transparency and honesty. Having started the course predominantly as a printmaker my practice has changed and developed hugely. I am now completely devoted and obsessed with painting and the freedom it gives me. Since graduating I have continued my painting practice through residencies and working in the space and time my job as an art technician allows me.
What inspires you to paint and do your other interests influence your art?
My paintings are an informal yet intimate representation of my inner thoughts, by using a gestural language that sits in the balance between written word and abstraction. It has taken substantial self-reflection to be able to share my unfiltered emotions with the canvas and to feel like the true concept of my work is to embed my own sense of identity into each piece. I have always been highly involved and interested in movement and dance, and I believe this has helped advance my artistic expression through my gestural mark-making and fondness of working large.
Megan Wheatley in her studio
Which artists inspire you?
Often, my interest in artists stems from their more emotive ideologies and the personal processes they go through to generate their work rather than the aesthetic properties of their paintings. A movement that has completely shaped my practice is abstract expressionism and artists of the post-war American era: Helen Frankenthaler, Cy Twombly, Willem de Kooning, and Joan Mitchell to name a few.
If you could choose any piece of art by any artist emerging or established to hang at home what would it be?
Willem De Koonings’ 1945, Pink Angels would be my first choice. However I would also love work from the German artist, Yvoone Robert, or the Swiss painter, Gabriele Herzog.
You recently graduated from UWE Bristol what would be your favorite way to spend a day in Bristol?
I loved living in Bristol and I think it will always be somewhere I feel at home. My favourite things to do would have to be browsing some of the many independent shops and businesses across Bristol, having a look around any art shows and going out for food on Gloucester Road. My favourites were PizzaRova, Koocha Meze and Biblos! I was also lucky enough to have my studio space on the top floor of the Arnolfini which was very special too.
Are there any exhibitions you have recently been to that you might recommend or are looking forward to visiting?
Helen Frankenthaler: ‘Radical Beauty’ Dulwich Picture Gallery , Dulwich. I haven't been yet but I have been meaning to go!
You can follow Megan via her instagram