Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Megan Eskoff. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Megan, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
I keep my creativity alive by showing up for my art consistently and following a daily routine of spending time in my studio. Creativity begets creativity. Inspiration rarely hits artists like a lighting bolt. However, the more consistently I show up for my art practice the more inspiration shows up for me. In times of creative block, I go to the art museum, I read poetry, I play with a different medium than I normally use. But I never stop. Creativity is a muscle, and the more you attend to it, the stronger it grows. So I make a lot of work. I make work all the time. I make work knowing that some of what I’m making I won’t show anyone. But art is a numbers game, and the more I create, the better chance there is that I will create something great. I allow myself room to fail, room to make “small” or “insignificant” work. I rely on the concept that people, just like the seasons, have ebbs and flows. All I can control is my commitment to myself and my artistic passion. Everything else follows.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I live in Andersonville, Chicago with my husband and my cat. I have lived in Chicago for 10 years, first moving here to attend college at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. I double majored with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Drawing. I have a home studio, where I go to every evening after I come home from my day job. My body of work ranges from the purely abstract to impressionist inspired landscapes. My primary medium is Oil Pastel, however, I learned to paint with Oil Paint, and my study of Oil Paints is what informs my art. On my website I currently have a selection of original Oil Pastel drawings on paper, canvas, and wood board for sale, as well a selection of fine art prints based on 6 of my most popular drawings. I have had two solo exhibitions to date, and have participated in a number of group shows. Along side my body of work, I work with clients to create custom made commission pieces. This process involves asking the client what colors they would like to see in their piece, if they have a photograph or specific location they would like their piece to be based off of, and if they are looking for an abstract piece, an impressionist piece, or an abstract landscape. I create a detailed “sketch” of the piece for my clients and then set up a phone call to discuss any changes they would like to see in the colors or composition. I always gift the sketch to my clients along with their final piece. In my spare time I love to travel and go on scenic hikes where I gather inspiration for my art work. I love going to concerts, discovering new music, reading novels and poetry, writing, watching a good movie, going for a long walk, and exploring Chicago’s delicious restaurant scene.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
hree of the most important pieces of knowledge I live by are:
1. Make as much work as you can. If you have an exhibit coming up that you need to make one piece for, make 10. The more work you make, the less intimidating creating work becomes. Failure is inevitable, but your chances of success grow with the number of pieces you make.
2. Don’t limit your art practice to the age old concept of A+B=C. The best and most exciting work comes from new ways of approaching your creative process. This takes courage and risk and sometimes will result in failure. But it will also result in work that you could have never dreamt of, and will grow your art practice.
3. Don’t wait for inspiration to make work. You may wait forever. Inspiration comes from hard work and discipline. Make work even when you don’t feel like it. Some days you won’t, but the practice of always showing up makes you a stronger artist.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
As a married person with a full time day job, a lot of friends and hobbies outside of my art practice, I need to focus as much of my attention on developing my strengths as an artist. Modern people understand that time is the most valuable resource. However, and this is a major caveat, marketing my art work through strategic social media posting is detrimentally important to my success as an artist, and where I am investing time and energy into improving my business. My dream and goal is to develop my art business into a full time career, and the only way I will get there is by growing my audience. I am deeply fortunate to be alive during a time when social media exists because I am able to use it as a tool for showcasing my art. It would be a wasted opportunity not to!
Contact Info:
- Website: meganeskoff.com
- Instagram: megan_eskoff
