The design of this AirBnB was PERFECT for a weekend away! 

Last weekend, a group of creative friends from TuesdaysTogether NYC gathered for a mastermind weekend retreat in the Catskills at the cutest Airbnb ever!  I am so grateful for the time spent brainstorming, dreaming big and dealing with the deep, challenging issues faced by "one-woman-operation" small business owners.  I admire the women who attended so much and really value their expertise, but more importantly, I am grateful for their friendship in a crazy new city that feels like home now thanks to so many of the friends I have been lucky to make thanks to this group.

Here are a few photos from our adventures in the mountains thanks to our very own Chi-Chi Agbim of Chi-Chi Ari.  Her photos are always just amazing! 

Seriously though, this HOUSE!  Go look up 66 Fuller House on AirBnb.  

To check out these amazing business ladies, click through to the following links: 

1. Stem & Bloom - NYC based floral subscription service.   
2. Bayith - Handmade Linens for Weddings & Home.  
3. The Warner Firm - Attorney and Legal Services for Creatives and Entrepreneurs.
4. Beyond Brooklyn - Online Boutique with the mission of providing jobs to the Homeless in NYC. 
5. Fitting Fetes - An event design and planning company specializing in intimate gatherings. 
6. Color Pop Events - A New York City-based full-service event & wedding planning company specializing in vibrant, charming, & bold events.
7. Amanda Michele Art - Brooklyn based watercolor and mixed media artist.  
8. Chi Chi Ari - NYC based editorial, wedding and lifestyle photographer.  
9. Kristen Poissant - NYC based graphic and product designer.  
10. Song and Pen - Calligraphy and handwritten art for weddings and the home.  
11. Art by Megan.  me :) 

Thankful for this amazing group of creative business ladies! 

Last week, I hosted a painting class at Maman in the beautiful Tribeca nieghborhood of Manhattan, NYC.  It was a dreamy night of painting instruction, talking about color theory and laughs.  Each of my students enjoyed learning to paint an 8"x10" abstract ocean painting on canvas and a tiny 4"x4" square mini painting. 

To read a little bit more about the amazing menu and events at Maman, check it out here.  Two of my dear friends in NYC host amazing classes on Calligraphy and Weaving and you should totally check out their classes, too!! 

Look how mesmerized we are! 

Seriously though, Maman wins for the best desserts ever. Yes, those are warm milk and cookies AND Nutella brownies!  

Special thanks to Amy of Amy Frances Photography for taking photos and to Kara, the sweetest intern for helping out with clean-up afterwards.  I couldn't do it all without you guys!  

Here is a list of "must read" books for creatives and entrepreneurs!  My favorite books listed here include stories of women CEOs, one-woman operations and businesses and people following their dreams and helping to make the world a better place in the process.  Enjoy! 

1.  "In the Company of Women by Grace Bonney". I have loved reading Design*Sponge for as long as I can remember and LOVED reading this book, which highlights 100 creatives in an interview-style format.  It's breathtakingly honest and raw, beautifully written and formatted, and gorgeous to stare at all day long.  My little daughter loves it and asks me to read it to her, too, so it's basically just the best book ever written.  Just trust me, you need to own this book.  

2. "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up" by Marie Kondo.  This book puts a lot of things in perspective.  You don't have to be an organizational freak to read it, either (I'm a little disorganized!).  It just helped me to realize that what I own should bring me joy and what I am holding onto may not have value.  It's a wonderful book and it's an amazing reminder.  In a crazy world, it's important to stop and take the time to put perspective back into our lives and this book does just that! 

3. "You are a Badass" by Jen Sincero. If you hate inspirational or self-help books, this one is for you.  There's ABSOLUTELY no fluff here, and its why I love this author so much.  Jen Sincero gives actionable, brave and courageous, and hilarious perspective in this book.  I love it and I appreciated how it focuses so heavily on gratitude as a key to happiness.  I also love that she says bad words and does irreverant things.  Because that's just so important, too.  

4. "The Creative Habit" by Twyla Tharp.  I have read and re-read this one countless times.  I love to read about the habits that other creatives develop to give themselves structure to be creative. Freedom, walks, naps and cocktails are featured, so it's basically the book I live by.  Read it!  And re-read it every year for good measure.  And then highlight it.  

5. "Daily Rituals: How Artists Work" by Mason Currey.  I love LOVE LOVE this book.  Again with the rituals.  Why do I have a ritual fetish?  Well, I will tell you:

1. I work for myself.  
2. I need someone out there to tell me to do things in order because otherwise my creative side takes over and I go wild.  
3. I love traditions.
4. I love drinking coffee every morning and need validation.  
5. I love naps and I need to know that important people throughout history also appreciated the "siesta".  
6. I am secretly (or publically?!) really nosey and love knowing what people do all day with their lives.  

The end.  Read it! 

So, my only remaining thought is, what is your favorite book?  Comment below! 

xo 

Megan 

My studio, which I decided to get and I giggled endlessly for 3 days straight.  Then, I had an "OMG, WHAT HAVE I DONE" moment.  That's when you know that the risk is good!  

Repeat after me, "Risk is not scary".

Had you told me this mantra three years ago, I would have laughed at you and said: "umm, ok".  But, the past 3 years have taught me that it's not the risk that is the "scary part" of adulthood.  A risk is actually invigorating, allows you to re-invent yourself, challenges you in ways you have not yet even explored, and pushes you to become a person you would not even believe is hiding inside of your "safe" shell.

Now, before we continue, I am writing today about taking business risks.  I don't recommend doing anything too crazy or dangerous and then saying "risk is fun"!!  I think though, that we are living in a time when people are taking new risks in inventing, reinventing themselves and becoming entrepreneurs.  It's an exciting digital time and we need to run towards it full throttle and not live in total fear. 

When I began my career as an artist, I wasn't interested in the risk element of starting a business. I was terrified of failing and embarrassing myself because I still had a big ego and I had not yet learned how to swallow my pride and just JUMP! I wanted to prove that I could do it and secretly I wanted it to be effortless, fun, beautiful and elegant. 

Then, I realized that being an artist meant owning my own business, negotiating legalities, being responsible, taking action and planning ahead of time, and getting messy (mentally and physically!).  I came to the knowledge that owning a business wasn't going to look much like the curated online Instagram version of life.   IT was going to look a lot more like a blooper video.  Yes, my career is a blooper reel.  And I LOVE IT! 

A quick "interview": 

Imaginary person: "So, Megan, how do you get to the point where you let go of the perfection and just enjoy the process and the risk and the scary uncertainties."

Me: "You get like 2407 emails denying you from opportunities.  Then you cry a little bit and whine about how hard it is to your husband or friends.  Then, you decided that it's all worth it still."

Imaginary person: "But what if you want to give up?"

Me: "Then you are not in love with it enough. I want to paint for the rest of my life.  I am in love with it.  I am not quitting.  I am willing to do the work, even when it's really, really hard or frustrating or annoying."

Imaginary person: "So, you are just a really stubborn person, aren't you."

Me: "No I'M NOT! (read: yes, yes I am!)"

So, what's next?  I need to go make a list in my bullet journal because I haven't set the bar high enough for myself.  I am not totally scared of my dreams, as they say, so they just aren't big enough!  

If you have questions as a business owner, please know that I am rooting for you!  Email me anytime and I will cheer you on.  And remember, RISK IS NOT SCARY.

photo by my studio mate Amy Frances of @amyfrancesphoto

My favorite 8x10 floral and beach prints are back in stock.  Click here to see what's back!  

A few of my favorites are below, take a look!! 

Montauk 8x10 Print

Summer Storm 8x10 Print

Flamingo Beach 8x10 Print

Bodega Tulips 8x10 Print

Hi there! 

Today I want to give you a little sneak peek into my new series inspired by my favorite oceans around the world.  "Waves" is a collection of 20 new abstract acrylic paintings on canvas ranging from 10x10 to 40x60.  The work is bold, textural, and full of happy memories of time spent staring at the edge of the ocean.  There are even some neutrals in there, too!  (Although, most are blues and shades of blue, obviously!) 

Be sure to follow along on Instagram and stories here.  I'll be posting sneak peeks and full paintings from today until release day on social media.  Be sure to share with friends!  

To hear updates about the release on Sunday, October 15 at 8am EST, sign up here. 

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required

Email Address *

Email Format

• html
• text

I will be hosting an Open Studio day on Friday, October 13 from 10 am - 2 pm at my studio in Brooklyn, NY.  I would LOVE to meet locals and share a cup of coffee and chat about some art. If you are local and would like to stop by, feel free to sign up here! 

Behind-the-scenes: Why I paint abstract vs. realistic

Ok, brace yourself for some serious philosophical thinking today on Art by Megan.  Recently, my friend Amy of Little Awkward Studio asked me “Why do you paint abstract oceans instead of "realistic" ones?”.  And my little mind was blown.  I had never stopped to think about this.

So, let’s think about the style of painting for a bit together, shall we?

One of the most interesting things to me about art, in general, is the style that an artist chooses for their work.  Why for example does Basquiat scribble and use what some consider “childish” strokes in his work?  Why did Monet use such a unique style that was considered to be “terrible” by critics back before Impressionism began?  Why are some artists so free in their large gestures (DeKooning, Jackson Pollock, and Helen Frankenthaler) and others so tight, precise and accurate? (Edward Hopper, DaVinci, Chuck Close...)

Some questions:

• Is it the artist’s personality that makes them paint a certain way?
• Does it have to do with their physical limitations or strengths? (Nope, because look at Chuck Close's work…)
• Does it have to do with skill?  (also, no.  Picasso is a perfect example of this.  He was a boy-genius and could sketch with amazing accuracy.  However, he abandoned this to pursue a new form and helped to create the movement known as Cubism.)

Ok, so it must boil down to artistic expression, philosophical thought, or intuition.

Yes.  That’s my answer, Amy.

For me, I have always been inspired by the art of the Impressionists.  I love chunky colors and texture.  I love traveling and seeing old buildings (think Old San Juan, Puerto Rico or Havana, Cuba) and the peeling paint.  I am attracted to imperfect and raw.  (Thank goodness, because that’s a perfect metaphor for my life, but I digress…)

So, in my art, I paint “imperfectly”.  I love playful lines, blobs of paint, brush strokes and texture, texture, texture.  Bring on the acrylic lumpiness.  I prefer to work on paper and canvas because they lend themselves well to creating texture and you can add on top of existing texture to create even more. 

Maybe I paint abstractly because that’s just how my brain works.  I like to add, add, add and I love learning about people and their many layers. 

There you have it.  That’s why.

Oh, and also, a lot of artists get the question of abstract vs. realistic because people want to know if they “can draw”.  I can draw, just not realistically.  You probably can too, just try it out sometime.  

Inspiration for future paintings - photo by Amy Frances Photo

A question that comes up a lot in the creative world is that of inspiration.

Where do you get inspiration?  How do you stay inspired?  What inspires you to paint?  What do you look at for inspiration?  What happens if you run out of ideas?  How do you deal with creative block?

Well, today let's just tackle the idea of inspiration for an artist.  I love painting and I have the problem of "too many ideas".  I suffer from total inspiration overload.  It's amazing because I have a treasure trove of ideas to paint from at all times (especially in the spring and summer, because those are my favorite colors and subject matters - petals and oceans!).  However, I have learned to channel and organize my inspiration a little bit through social media and on Pinterest. 

I have recently been using Planoly to help manage my Instagram posts and it has helped me immensely with controlling my enthusiasm for all things visual.  USE PLANOLY if you need help with curating your feed, studying your brand colors, channeling your energy and sharing images that truly reflect your business.  It also saves a TON of time.  

For other visual inspiration, I would love to state here that I use all of my own travel photos, but that's just not the case.  I wish I traveled the world for a living and collected beautiful moments myself, but maybe someday?!  For now, I use Pinterest.  It has been an amazing tool to collect inspiration.  My boards are grouped by my biggest interests: Color, Travel, Nature, Cities I love, and Interior Design and Decor.  

Feel free to fall down the rabbit hole of Pinterest with me, will you!?  It's so fun! 

As an artist, I often get asked by other creatives what my favorite painting supplies are, so today I am sharing a little list to help you get started on painting your own abstract wonders! 

"Autumn Sky", acrylic on canvas by Megan Elizabeth of Art by Megan.

(photo by Kate Alison Photography) 

Here's my list of favorite art supplies for painting in acrylics:  

1. Paint: My favorite kind of paint and the best quality out there is Golden.  The investment is WORTH IT!  If you are just painting for fun, I recommend starting with a student brand paint, like the Basics line available through Liquitex. 

2. Art Supply Stores: My favorite art supply stores are Artist and Craftsman and Blick online.  Both have AMAZING deals and I usually shop when there are great discounts to help save some money.  Also, I secretly love trolling the aisles of A&C and just touching and smelling all of the art supplies. :) 

3. Brushes: I paint with Acrylic paints and I love to use a variety of brushes for my work.  This choice is completely based on preference.  I prefer to use flat brushes with strong bristles, as I apply the paints in a thicker, more "impasto" manner most of the time.  I like to use both synthetic and natural haired brushes, but I can offer the suggestion that it is worth pulling on the fibers a bit at the store to see if hairs fall off.  I HATE when there are rogue hairs in my paintings after the fact.  Insider secret: Ikea's kid department has AWESOME brushes.  

4. Canvas vs. Paper vs. Birch Board: This age-old debate (Actually, I guess the oldest debate was just stone, but I digress) is really 100% based on textural preference.  Most artists are really tactile people, so we all have our crazy idiosyncrasies based on them.  I am a canvas and paper girl for no other reason than just because "I like them"! 

5. Oil vs. Watercolor vs. Acrylic: Again, this choice is totally personality-based.  I LOVE acrylics because they literally match my personality.  I am quick, cheerful, bright, and stubborn.  We work well together.  Oil painting requires a bit more technique and ventilation as well as A LOT of patience (which is not my area of expertise!).  Watercolors are free-flowing and require a bit more control, but are LOTs of fun.  So, basically, just start experimenting and see what you enjoy the most.  

photo for The Rising Tide Society by Lauren Carnes and styled by Cake and Confetti. 

6. Water Jars: This is a relatively important issue.  It seems like any cup or jar will do, but that's just not the case.  (I know, it seems like I am taking this WAY too seriously!) Talenti gelato jars are literally the best because they are broad on the bottom and balance when full of heavy brushes.  Also, Mason Jars are perfect and come in both the short and tall varieties, which help with balancing really tall brushes.  The idea here is to pick a water jar that will not fall over and spill, which happens quite often if they are full of dirty brushes.  

Oversized Prints! 

Oversized prints!  pictured here: "Summer Storm" print in 30x40.  Selfie by me. ;)

An affordable option for decorating your home with Artwork by your favorite artist (cough, cough!) is to order a large, oversized print of their work.  So many people have been reaching out to me recently about this, so I wanted to share all of the details with you today.

Sizes and Pricing:

• 18x24 - $200 ("Montauk", "Summer Storm", "Bermuda" and "Blue Crush") 

• 24x36 - $300 ("Montauk", "Summer Storm", "Bermuda" and "Blue Crush") 

• 30x40 - $500 ("Summer Storm" print only) 

How do I order? Just email me.  

Arrival time: 2-3 weeks.

Will my print be signed by Megan? yes! 

Where should I frame my new print?  Framebridge!  (New Framebridge Customers: Use code ARTBYMEGAN15 to receive a 15% discount on your first order!) 

Hi friends! Here is a little round-up of some of my favorite places in NYC if you find yourself taking a weekend adventure here!  This list includes all of my favorite things to do in Manhattan.  If you're also visiting Brooklyn, here's a little post about Brooklyn, too! 

Whitney Museum photo from my Instagram @artbymegan.  

The Best NYC Art Galleries:  

The must-see galleries in Manhattan for me are the Whitney, the MoMA and the MET.  They are all amazing for entirely different reasons, so pick whichever is closest to your other destinations and go wild! 

MoMA- for an amazing selection of Modern Art plus a super cute cafe and awesome kids' area.  My favorite part at MoMA is the outdoor area, which is so lovely for a little rest during a trip to the city.  

THE MET - for the quintessential NYC experience, go to the MET.  It's stunningly beautiful, but HUGE.  Take a section and enjoy it, instead of trying to see it all in one day.  My favorite wing is the Egyptian wing, where the reflection of the windows on the indoor pool are amazing.  Also, you can spot Jackie O's old Apartment from the window; this wing was designed by her architect that way on purpose!  Also, the MET rooftop in summer is perfection. 

The Whitney - My favorite museum experience in Manhattan is the Whitney.  It's in a hip, fun area called the Meatpacking District, right near Chelsea Market and some AMAZING restaurants, so it's a great afternoon during a weekend visit. Also, the architecture of the building itself is art.  It has terraces on each level, allowing you to go inside and back outside during your weaving through the galleries.  Also, they have my ALL TIME FAVORITE DeKooning Painting.  

@jgoldcrown mural / #lovewall

Best NYC Restaurants: 

Ok, picking your top restaurants in NYC is nearly impossible, but here are my top 10.  Here's another great list if you need more ideas!  Also, here and here. 

1. Fuku + (Midtown) - the most delicious Korean chicken on the planet
2. Burger Joint in Le Parker Meridien  (Midtown) - the coolest hipster (hidden) burger joint
3. Café Medi (Lower East Side) - my favorite restaurant of all time?
4. Eataly (Flatiron) - sit on the roof for amazing views and delicious food
5. The Smith (Multiple Locations) - I like the East Village location, but they are all delicious!  
6. Tiny's. Literally the cutest little pink restaurant ever.  Be sure to visit the Balloon Saloon next door, too.  It's a hilarious little balloon and gift shop.  
7. Chelsea Market (Meatpacking) - try Los Tacos No. 1.  Trust me! 
8. Jack's Wife Freda (Soho and West Village) - Brunch of the Gods.
9. Big Gay Ice Cream (East Village, West Village and Meatpacking) - no explanation needed.
10. Joe's Pizza (Greenwich Village).  Walk up and eat it at the window.  It's the NYC way. 
11. Cafe Habana. (Soho).  I legit can't stop thinking of the food here.  Get the corn.

Best NYC Parks and Adventures: 

Central Park is totally worth it.  It is a touristy spot, but it's magical.  Be sure to see the Sailboats Pond, Bethesda Fountain and wander around to see the amazing views of the skyline.

The High Line, over in Chelsea is an old railroad converted into an above ground park.  It's so breathtaking and has amazing views.  Be sure to walk all the way down to the Whitney Museum where it ends at the southern point.  

Bryant Park is one of my favorite parks in the entire city.  I love how it's a manageable size, has a grassy area, a carousel, cafes, walking areas, and board games all in one park.  It's worth taking some time to explore and you might just end up staying for hours!  

Battery Park is beautiful is spans all along the Hudson River with amazing views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and some amazing little spots along the water for resting, playgrounds, and cafes.  It's a really clean, gorgeous area and if you're up for it, take the Staten Island Ferry, too! 

Walk around Soho.  Be sure to check out the amazing shopping, cafes, and do some seriously fun people watching.  

Top of the Rock. Go to the top of Rockefeller Center for a beautiful panoramic view of the city and Empire State Building.  It's one of my favorite places in the city.  

Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge from Chinatown to Brooklyn.  It's one of my favorite things to do in NYC.  The skyline views and beautiful history and architecture of the Brooklyn Bridge is just amazing.  

Best NYC Bookstores: 

Rand McNally.  Bonus points for cutest cafe, too!  Also, an awesome kids' selection downstairs. 

The Strand. The HUGEST bookstore with literally any title you can imagine!  No trip to NYC is complete without checking it out.  

Further reading: 

• Untapped Cities
• Taza's NYC City Guides
• Timeout NYC
• Fodors NYC Guide
• Rick Steve's Weekend NYC Guide
• Anthony Bourdain

My favorite NYC instagrammers: 

• @andreannu

• @heydavina

• @whyilovenewyorkcity

• @timeoutnewyork

• @householdmag

Apps by for entrepreneurs and small business owners: 

As a mom, small business owner, volunteer leader of a group of growing creatives (TuesdaysTogether NYC) and contractor for an amazing start-up in San Francisco, streamlining, efficiency, and organization are really vital aspects of running a relatively stress-free life.  I have discovered a few apps and programs along the way that have completely saved me and I wanted to share them with you today! 

Note: I am not being paid to share any of this information with you.  I just like to share what I have tested hopefully help out another busy or stressed out small-business owner.  

photo by Laura and Rachel Hernandez from the Rising Tide Society Leaders' Retreat in January 2017 at Honeybook's HQ in San Francisco, CA.  

For social media organization: Planoly

Planoly has completely changed the way I see and use my social media.  I have become more cohesive in my messaging to my followers, my feed is more organized, and I can think clearly about what my weekly work will look like in advance, which is so helpful as a mom.  They are a lovely company and their customer service is LEGIT.  Go check them out.  

For business workflow: Honeybook

As a contractor for Honeybook, I am continuously amazed at the high quality of service that this workflow tool for creatives offers to their incredible and growing community.  When I began using Honeybook, it seemed too good to be true to have invoicing, contracts, billing, taxes and financial tools all integrated into one software that was attractive, customizable and easy to use.  And when I say user-friendly, I mean it.  It's intuitive and so streamlined and simplified.  I love it! 

For my website: Squarespace

I can honestly tell you that what I love most about my website is removing the guess-work in building my site.  I have such a limited time as a one-woman-business-owner and I want to be able to capitalize on my work as an artist when I can.  So, using the clean, well-designed templates that Squarespace has to offer has saved me time, frustration, and has given me the freedom to focus on other parts of my business as it grows.  

For finances and taxes: Quickbooks

I have learned so much about finances and managing money from running my business and it's all thanks to Stephanie at Steadfast Bookkeeping and Quickbooks.  I was originally very hesitant to master the money management aspect of my business, but I am thankful for this intuitive and user-friendly tool that syncs with my Workflow Tool to simplify my finances and help me to budget for future years of Art by Megan.  

For time management and scheduling: Calendly 

I have recently implemented using calendar appointments into my business in order to streamline my Admin days and allow for complete days of creativity in my studio.  If I can schedule 5-10 calls on a Monday, I know that the rest of the week I can remove the distraction of admin tasks and to-do lists and create, paint and experiment.  Freeing up my mental space for creative moments has been a HUGE lifesaver, and I am thankful for the email integration that Calendly offers.  

Let me know in the comments below what tools you use to help streamline your life and business! I am always on the hunt for something to give me more free-time with my loved ones or to paint, paint, paint.  Really, I just want a clone of myself so that I can paint all-day and she can run the business.  Is there an app for that?  

xoxo 

M

Let's be Pinterest friends, shall we?  Something that I love about both Instagram and Pinterest, is the ability to look at images that inspire me.  I love scrolling through the topics that I love like painting, art, interior design, architecture, travel, and street art to see what's new and fun.  Also, I am obsessed with finding the perfect sunsets and oceans for inspiration, so I am always on the look out for something gorgeous to start the painting obsession!  

Let's be Pinterest Friends, ok? 

Check out a few of my favorite boards below and let's get "pinning".  

Ideas for how to take a trip to Paris and see “it all” with a kid.

Recently we returned from a family trip to Paris.  It was an amazing experience and it was made even more special because it was our first chance to show our little one how awesome Europe is!  I wanted to share a couple of kid-friendly ideas, hints and tricks that made our time more enjoyable.  Paris, we are totally, head-over-heels in love with you and cannot wait to return someday.  

Idea: Get the Paris Lib Pass.  It is totally worth it if you expect to see at least 3-5 of the major sights and their website is super easy to navigate.

Seeing the Eiffel Tower in Spring = Heaven! 

Day 1:

Go on the Eiffel Tower Tour.  (Yes, it's totally a necessary evil, but totally worth the NYC style pandemonium and waiting.)  Reserve your tickets online and schedule ahead to help with the lines and only go to the 2nd level if you are a little (or “OMG MAMA, WE ARE WAYYYYYY TOO HIGH UP IN THE AIR) afraid of heights. Also, do this activity first so that you don't spend the whole week with a little person asking "When do we get to go to the Eiffel Tower.....".  

Then after the Eiffel Tower, hop on the Double Decker Bus tour (comes with your Paris Lib Pass) and enjoy some sightseeing that is super fun for a little one.  Riding on the top of the bus allows the little ones to see much more without having to walk too much.  Being a tourist in Paris is a truly a marathon, not a sprint, my friends.

Hop off the Double Decker Bus tour to see Sacré Coeur.  It was awesome.  The little street that leads up to the church is hilariously funny and reminded us a little bit of Canal Street in NYC.  We climbed the stairs halfway, stopped and listened to the cutest old man quartet play some Parisian jazz and checked out the view.  Note: the stairs themselves are the coolest part of this experience for a kid.  Why do they love hopping up and down them so much?  It was a great way to enjoy a sunny afternoon with amazing views of the Paris skyline.  

Views from Sacré Coeur 

A crazy but amazingly delicious and memorable dinner if you are in the Place Vendome area is Le Soufflé.  Soufflé for everyone for every part of the meal.  It may seem decadent, but we were in Paris, after all. 

After Le Soufflé, head over to the Ferris Wheel in Jardin des Tuileries.  The view is amazing and it’s such a fun late night activity for a kid.  We loved seeing the city from above and having a little "pod" in the Ferris Wheel all to ourselves.  It was only “a tiny bit scary” to be up that high, according to the little lady.

Day 2:

Do less. 

One thing we noticed while traveling was that we didn’t have a concrete itinerary for each day and it made the trip SO MUCH more fun.  We slept in, we ate 3 hour long lunches and played games and drew pictures at the table.  We ate bread and cheese until our bellies were so full we thought we would never eat again and then walked down the street and ate ice cream.  That’s vacation done right, we say.

If you need more advice on how to enjoy Paris without overdoing it, we loved Abby Grace’s post here.

So, after a lazy morning and midday, what does one decide to do?  Visit the Louvre.  Ok, here’s the deal.  The Louvre is BIG.  Like too big for a kid to enjoy, but you can totally outsmart it two ways: 

1.     Because you have your museum pass so you are super chill about walking in and out quickly because it was already “paid for”.

2.     Just walk around Egyptian, see the old castle walls of the original building and then pick 2 more things to see.  Take the elevators and get a map and pretend to be on a treasure hunt.  People always see my photos and think that my little one totally loves museums but let’s be real here people, they can only handle so much.  So, make a tiny little plan, bribe them with croissants and then promise them that if they let you find the Mona Lisa you will take them to the playground later.  #parenting

After the Louvre, play in Tuileries Gardens.  Wander, take silly photos and smell the flowers.

Dinner idea: Chez Monsieur in the Place Vendome area was great.  DELICIOUS food, (we had the veal stew and the profiteroles), the service was amazing and so friendly, and they were completely ok with having a happy little tiny woman in the restaurant.  We noticed that as long as she wasn’t roaming freely and shouting, Parisians were totally down with our little woman joining them for fancy meals.

Day 3:

Play in Gardens once more and then hit up the Musee l’Orangerie.  AKA MY FAVORITE MUSEUM EVERRRRRR.  Omg it’s so good.  I almost cried.  Ok fine, I cried.   As a little girl, I was totally enamored with the work of Monet and read “Linnea in Monet’s Garden” all of the time so seeing this was literally a dream come true for me. 

Then switch to Airbnb.  (link to our AWESOME apartment here)

We decided to stay in two totally distinct areas in Paris to really try and soak up the “tourist” area and the smaller cobblestone street vibes of Le Marais.  I would recommend doing this for anyone who wants to really see the area and feel a bit more like you are living there instead of just visiting.  PS – Le Marais is 100% kid friendly. 

Eat crepes at Le Breizh in the afternoon.  Wait in the line if you must, it’s worth it.  Also, some people hit up the Picasso museum afterwards but we were being ultra lazy and just played in the playground and then wandered around instead.  Both are solid options. 

The best part of the Airbnb experience was that we arrived, got some groceries (bread, cheese, wine, salami, etc.) and stayed in and snuggled and watched movies.  It was a perfect part of the trip to take it easy and it made the day so much more low key.  Also, we washed our clothes in the tiniest washer ever and it was awesome.  *and hilarious*

Day 4:

Go to Ile de la Cite.  See Notre Dame (climbing is cool, I guess, but I personally think it’s overrated…don’t tell my family I wrote that.)

See more about traveling in Paris from a person who is even grumpier than me (Anthony Bourdain)

Notre Dame is gorgeous from the outside, has a sick playground and benches, and the views alone are breathtaking.  Also, the gardens. 

Go to Shakespeare and Co.  TRUST ME.  It was awesome, complete with a beautiful antique bookstore, modern bookstore, café and more.  We wandered the aisles and shipped for hours.  Also, there are ladders for climbing to get books and if your kid is into Beauty and the Beast that is literally their dream come true. 

Take a boat ride on the Seine (it’s part of your Paris Lib Pass, but we mixed up where to get picked up so just bought tickets…it was still worth it!) 

Dinner idea: Literally any sidewalk cafe in Le Marais.  We tried out Camille (thanks to a recommendation from my friend Lauren), and it was yummy traditional food and service and totally chill vibe.  Nice for a kid because they make pesto pasta which is literally her life.  The grownups ate escargot and totally grossed out the kid.  It was a good, giggly time had by all.

Day 5:

Try a café for breakfast.  Literally any of them in Le Marais are delicious.  Order a “menu” which consists of orange juice, coffee and a croissant.  Eat outside if you can, it’s so fun to people watch and enjoy the morning feeling like a local.  

Get a picnic at Eric Keyser and head to Versailles for a day of adventure!

Note: The RER (Paris Subway) map towards Versailles is a little cray.  Head towards Versailles and make sure 100% that you are actually going to Versailles.  Or just embrace the fact that you might get lost and make some cute old lady friends in the process.  Whatever floats your boat.

At Versailles, go QUICKLY thru the inside because it’s abysmally boring for kids.  Then play, play, play all day outside and frolic and picnic.  The best thing we did at Versailles was rent bikes.  A bicycle and a bicycle-built-for-two, to be exact.  It was so fun to pedal around the gardens and stop to see fun things like Marie Antionette’s pink castle, beautiful landscaped gardens and race one another through historical ruins. 

Dinner idea: Le Petit Chatelet next to Shakespeare and Co.  We decided to head back over to Ile de la Cite after Versailles and it’s so fun to see Pont Neuf’s street performers and musicians and Notre Dame at night.  Note: aforementioned "super awesome" playground.  Le Petit Chatelet is an experience!  We sat next to the fireplace where they prepared the meats and the waiter was a riot.  We know 0% French and muddled through in a hilarious fashion.  He was completely down for the adventure and we appreciated how funny he was about it all. 

Day 6:

Off to Marche des les Enfants Rouges.  Oldest street market in Paris and full of delicious and beautiful international food options.  We enjoyed some wine, lentil soup, and a charcuterie board and then indulged in some Moroccan sweets for dessert.  Also, there are flower markets and we wandered through a bit and literally smelled the roses until the flower man legit shoo-ed us away.

Please pass all of the cheese my way.  

Then, off to Luxembourg Gardens!  SO, beautiful and awesome for kids!  Rent a sailboat and enjoy a seat next to the pond. The playground situation is amazing here, but bring cash because you have to pay to play.  Also, there is a marionette show on Wednesdays and Sundays.  We spent the whole day just relaxing in the Gardens and wandering around. 

Day 7:

Headed home but not without eating more chocolate croissants and stopping for a proper breakfast send off at Frenchie Jr. on Rue du Nil in Le Marais.  It was absolutely delicious and the entire street had little gems along it.  Isn’t it just cruel when you find little treasures on the day you are leaving?

Then we got some baguettes from Eric Keyser to take on the airplane and headed to Dublin.

Paris Highlights:

• Crepes at Le Breizh in Le Marias
• Bike Ride in Versailles
• Seeing the Waterlilies at Musée l'Orangerie in Tuileries Gardens
• Dinners at Le Souffle and Chez Monsieur
• Picnic in the Park at Versailles
• Riding the Ferris Wheel in Tuileries Gardens
• Macarons at Laudureé
• Musicians on Pont Neuf
• Sacré Coeur Musicians
• Espresso breaks midday
• Croissants all day every day 

Parenting highlights:

• Watching your kid soak up a totally new culture
• Watching them make friends at the park despite language barriers
• Teaching her to people watch and sit at a café for hours. 
• Teaching her to draw or play something silly when they get “bored” while mom and dad drink wine
• Watching her eyes light up when the Eiffel Tower “twinkled” each night on the hour for 5 minutes
• Hearing her happy squeals as she rode on the bicycle with her best friend, Dad.  

Part 2: The Ocean + why I can’t stop painting it…

photo by Laura Lee Creative

• “Megan, why do you paint the ocean?”
• “Mama, you should try to paint something else like a dog or a bird.”
• “Megan, what’s your deal with the ocean?”

I can’t really answer this question, but I will try to put this crazy obsession into words.

I think I paint the ocean because I am drawn to things and attracted to learning about things that:

1.    Scare me + I cannot understand.

2.    Are beautiful + powerful. 

• Enter randomly selected Spanish major in college. 
• Enter dating and marrying my best friend even though it scared the crap out of me. 
• Enter living in Spain and getting a MA I wasn’t qualified for but fighting hard for it.
• Enter love of travel and new adventures. 
• Enter not minding getting lost. 
• Enter love of oceans?  I think so. 

I love being adjacent to something that scares me a little and that I cannot understand or comprehend. 

Now, a little story…

When I was 12, I went to the beach with my best friends in 8th grade.  We were there for a weekend or something and it was great fun.  I even had a new two-piece bathing suit that I would be debuting and it felt so adult and daring of me.  Well, as we swam out to sea, we noticed that the waves were extra strong.  Like, “weird-strong”, as my 8th grade (or probably current) self would have described them.  So, like the responsible and thoughtful ladies that we were, we kept swimming out further and further.  Suddenly a wave crashed and I lost them.  And then another wave crashed before I could catch my breath.  And another and another.  And another. Then, I couldn’t breathe and I started flailing my luckily long and gangly arms around yelling for help from the rip tide that was swallowing me up.  And a handsome young, perfectly tan (as the story always goes) lifeguard had to save me and literally drag me to shore.  I lay there with my eyes closed utterly embarrassed and very grateful that I hadn’t drowned.   But also in complete awe. 

That was a day where I learned the power of the ocean.  I was scared and in love *with the ocean*, not the lifeguard.  Come on!

And, to be honest, I love that feeling.  I love to be a little bit in awe.  Not always at the time (like whilst drowning and flailing and screaming), certainly, but the rush of adrenaline afterwards is amazing and kind of addictive to me. 

I love how beautiful and powerful the ocean is. 

One more little story…

In college, I studied abroad in Spain. (I know, I don’t talk about it enough, ha-ha.)  The ocean and beaches there are ridiculously blue, colorful, powerful, amazing, and gorgeous.  One weekend, we decided to road-trip down to a town called Cadiz for Carnaval (Spain’s Mardi Gras).   It was insane.  It was one of those moments that you look back on and think, “Man, whose life was that?” 

But, one of my favorite memories from that weekend was when our group was hanging out on the beach during a really windy day and the ridiculous boys decided to run into the ocean.  It was a chilly, wet 50 degrees out and the ocean was like ice.  But, I wasn’t going to let them get all of the credit.  I was going to go in too.  (Note: I HATE cold water and being cold in general, but I also have a fierce competitive streak and an even fiercer feminist streak.)  

So, there we were, running into the Atlantic Ocean in February in our *bathing suits* (I was, I promise!) and I have never felt more alive.  Yes, of course I was freezing my ass off, but it was such a beautiful and powerful feeling to be a woman swimming out further than the boys and doing what they could do without any fear or concern.  (Note: I went home and took a bath and drank some red wine and it was all-ok.) 

I felt beautiful and powerful thanks to the ocean.

• I loved that feeling of being BOTH that day. 
• I liked that a combination I had always convinced myself was an impossible contrast wasn’t. 
• I didn’t want to be beautiful OR successful someday.  
• I didn’t want to be pretty OR limitless. 
• I didn’t want to be in love OR free. 

I wanted to be both. 

That day at the ocean was a little awakening just like the day I almost drowned. 

I love that combination…beautiful AND powerful.  I like how it relates to being a woman.  I like how it makes me feel like that is a possible combination.  I like how scary it is.

So, I think that’s why I paint the ocean.  But, check back with me in like 3 years and my answers may be completely different. 

“One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.”

— André Gide

STUDIO SERIES: A new little blog feature offering a sneak peek into the wacky, colorful, nutty, and funny world of "Art by Megan".

photos above: left (my parents), right (Amy Frances Photo).

Part 1: Why I paint + a tiny biography + the time I colored the walls pink

A question that comes up a lot when I meet new people or talk to other creative is “When did you start painting?”.   I can honestly answer, never.  I never “started” painting.  It wasn’t a decision that I made one day to become artistic or creative, just like I can imagine that people who are really good at dancing (not me) or math (also not me) never consciously made a decision to start.  It was always just there.

I have mentioned in previous blog posts that my husband affectionately refers to me as “the exchange student”.  Meaning, that while most 80s/90s kids have memories of movies like “The Goonies” and “Babysitters Club”, I have vivid memories of Crayola’s new color collection release dates (anyone remember when Robins egg blue launched?  I do!) and worrying about it my built in crayon box sharpener was clogged again.  My family would watch “The Cosby Show” and I would color and sing to myself.  My brother and his friends would play pirate games and I would draw our treasure maps in crazy detail.  I would read (for fun) the atlas because I loved the shapes of maps and the colors blue and green.  Then I would draw real countries and fake countries and weird symbols and stuff that I dreamed up and hang them on my closet door. 

10 other weird things I used to do as a kid:

1. I used to collect rocks and color them cool colors and then place them around my house and garden.
2. I made maps of my neighborhood like everyday for a while.  It was intense.
3. I obsessively cut out pieces of paper from the Washington post, magazines, and other books when my parents weren’t looking.
4. I wore a lot of tie-dye from the year 1986-1996.
5. I enjoyed sitting on our deck and “painting it” with a bucket of water on a hot sunny day.
6. I loved the smell of a fresh pack of construction paper.
7. I ate some of the pasta from the summer camp class on making necklaces because it just seemed like such a cool idea.
8. I would draw little pictures on the walls with pencils and then act like I had no idea how they got there.  Cave paintings, maybe?  Magic?  I had no idea.
9. I loved ironing leaves between wax paper and probably ruined the iron doing it approximately 8 times.
10. I organized by Crayola box by ombre effect and got really annoyed at friends or my brother if they weren’t placed back into their designated spot. 

Now, a little story…

My uniform socks were red one year and I was so excited about the bright new color that I celebrated by laying in my bed with my crayons and notebook and put my feet on the wall. Well, much to my amazement the dye from the socks was actually like a faint pink marker when rubbed on my bedroom wall vigorously.  So, I lay there and listened to my record player and rubbed the wall dreamily turning it from bright white to “catholic-school-knee-sock” pink.  It was amazing.  My parent’s disagreed.

So, in answer to your question, I never started loving color, shape, making art, doodling, making a mess, or, yes, painting.  It was always there, just wishing and hoping to become a real-life job someday. 

In summary, thank you for supporting Art by Megan.  It’s my little dream come true. 

Sign up for my newsletter here, if you want access to more fun stuff! 

We just recently celebrated our 2-year-anniversary as New Yorkers and I can't fathom how time has passed so quickly but also feel kind of like we have lived here forever.  Our kid officially sounds like a total Brooklyn kid and says the following phrases with confidence, "I'm wahhhhlking here", "Whattyatalkkkinngbout", "Get online (instead of in-line)", "Ma, I'm taking out the Gaahhhhhbage", among other hilarious Brooklyn phrases.  Also, we have a serious laugh developing here.  Just trust me that it's a tiny bit like Fran Drescher on "The Nanny".  

a little subway notebook / sketchbook entry by @artbyipa 

A 2017 interview with my favorite little lady (LL):

(Read last year's interview here.) 

Me: What's your favorite thing about NYC?
LL: The playgrounds, the food, and the museums.  

Me: Where's your favorite place in NYC?
LL: "Gino's (Pizzeria in Bay Ridge)."

Me: What's better, Brooklyn or Manhattan?
LL: "Manhattan because there are lots of parks there.  Brooklyn because there's stores nearby."

Me: What's the best food in NYC?
LL: "The pizza."

Me: What's the coolest part of riding the train?
LL: "That man who plays music on his guitar or any instrument" 

Me: Do you miss Maryland?
LL: "Kind of."

Me: Where should we go next in NYC?
LL: "To all of the parks and the playgrounds and some new museums" 

Me: What's the best part of living here?
LL: "That we can scoot around and can ride bicycles instead of driving in the car. New York City has lots of good museums and lots of questions to answer."

Me: Do you remember the day we moved here?
LL: "Yes. Hard.  We didn't find any of our plates or silverware or forks or anything!"

Me: Who are your best friends in NYC?
LL: "June, Amina, Lukas, Jude, Teddy, Nicholas, Violin Nicholas, Miss Sotiria, Ivo, Nessa, Louise, Vesper, Alessia, Eli, Esteban, Cody, and Adam."

Me: Do you like New York?
LL: "Yes!"

A list of things that will never, ever get old about NYC: 

• When the nice Mariachi guys come on the train and serenade us on our ride home.  
• Ordering any cuisine or wine online and having a nice guy on a bicycle bring it to you like a genie.
• Hearing 25 different languages at the park and wondering what everyone's unique story is. 
• Being asked if I speak English.  Do I look like I am from somewhere else?  I am still confused. 
• The food: OMG. 
• Coffee Shops: The hidden, secret good ones. 
• Family adventures all over the city: Picking a spot on the map (or subway map) and just going! 
• Central Park & Prospect Park.  Every single time we walk through them, we find something new and awesome to explore. 
• Christmas in NYC.
• Springtime in NYC.
• ok, fine, I am completely in love and there's literally no day I hate in NYC.  Except the days where the snow has melted just enough to create ENORMOUS puddles of slush.  Those days are gross.  Oh and the days where we catch mice in the mousetraps and I have to call neighbors and ask them to come rescue me like Rapunzel in her tower. But otherwise, yea, it's amazing here! 

But the biggest lesson learned in 2017 is as long as we are all together, anywhere feels like home!

photo by Chi-Chi Agbim of Two Twenty 

“Home is wherever I’m with you.”

— Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes

I love working with clients to commission an original piece of artwork for their homes based on happy memories, favorite color schemes and fun travel experiences.  Here are a couple of photos of my recent commissioned art pieces from Manhattan, Boston, Florida and Brooklyn!  Enjoy!  M

If you are interested in talking more about commissioning a painting for your home, feel free to reach out to me at megan@artbymegan.com or on the "Commission a Painting" widget on the homepage.  

What do Celia Cruz, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Paula Abdul, Beyonce, Julietta Venegas, and the cast of Pitch Perfect have in common?  They are all active members in the production of Art by Megan paintings.  Lady Jams playlist....here. 

I cannot explain exactly how the magic happens but there is a special shoutout to Spotify + coffee in order.  

photo by Laura Lee Creative

I love teaching and during my transition from full-time High School teacher to full-time artist I missed the teaching part of my life A LOT!  

Recently I have started to teach painting classes ("Abstract Oceans" and "Abstract Petals") at Kristen Coates Gallery in Newport, RI.  I just love watching hesitant adult artists turn into confident beginners in the course of an hour or two, it's so much fun and empowering.  Plus, there is champagne and that always helps too.  

Here are some photos that my awesome friend Kim of Kim Lyn photography took during my most recent trip to Newport for "Abstract Petals".   Kim, these photos are so gorgeous, you are such a talented photographer!  And I have begun to notice that I look like my sweet grandma when I teach + it makes me so happy! 

I would love to host a painting party someday in my future amazing backyard (Brooklyn problems) and am always up for an adventure, so contact me if you know of any fun opportunities!