Story & Lesson Highlights with Margaret Stillwell

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Margaret Stillwell. Check out our conversation below.

Good morning Margaret, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I do three things in the first 90 minutes of each day and all three are set with intentions. First, I wake up with the sunrise. As I watch the colors spread across the sky, I breathe deep, filling my lungs, and I stretch.. Next, while I enjoy a cup of coffee, I watch three inspirational YouTube clips. The first would be a bible study and prayer. The second would be positive affirmations and the third is an art video of a new technique. And finally, I walk my dog. The fresh air and getting my heart pumping ensure a productive day.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Margaret Stillwell and I am a professional artist. I paint romantic narratives in a contemporary, expressionistic style. I use a variety of materials in the creation of a piece; charcoal, inks, collage, spray paint, acrylic and oil, rendering each piece in its own unique way. My favorite is finishing with a palette knife. I love the texture and edginess it adds to a painting. My artistic voice is bold in color, size and content, creating statement pieces.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I’m kind of going through this right now and am trying to unravel it- it’s a complicated question! I think betrayal; either real or perceived, causes a breach in a relationship. Even if it was an unintentional disappointment, the reaction may be the same. I’m not really sure how or if it can be restored because I can’t control the other person. On my side, I have faith and history in the relationship. I chose the wrong words and misspoke, causing unintentional distress. It is up to the family member to conclude I am human, after all, and therefore; not perfect. I will wait for the forgiveness.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
I think there are a couple fears that held me back. The fear of not being good enough is classic. The need to fit in to get approval from the masses is another classic lie. I always loved differences and uniqueness, but it took a great many years for me to be brave enough to shed the common misconceptions placed on girls, in order to develop my own person.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They would say that family matters most to me. That does include the four legged ones too obviously! If I get side tracked from work, it’s because family comes first.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people will say that I did my best in everything I did. I would hope that they look at my life and say that I was success in most of it. I would want them to know that I worked hard and enjoyed life. I want them to say that I was strong and independent, but wise and compassionate too.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.stillwellart.gallery
• Instagram: @latigolady
• Facebook: Stillwell Fine Art