Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Megan Gardner

Megan Gardner shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Megan, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Each day looks different for me in this season, as I am learning how to balance freelance commissions, teaching art lessons, staying engaged with my community, and working part time at Michael’s in the framing department. My favorite days are when I have nothing to do but paint all day. I get a nice cup of coffee and a cream cheese bagel. And after spending some time reading my Bible I can lock in and enjoy the process of layering colors in acrylic or gouache or whatever medium my heart desires.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Megan Gardner. I am a visual artist located in Northwest Florida, working as a freelance contractor and private art instructor in my community. I recently graduated from the University of West Florida with a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts, and have exhibited work at the Pensacola Museum of Art, Artel Gallery, Blue Morning Gallery, and TAG at the University of West Florida, experiences that have deepened my love for the art community as a whole and inspired me to stay connected with the artists around me.

My works depict nature, people, and domestic spaces through painting and drawing, using expressive color and mark-making to explore memories and emotions. My process relies heavily on decision-making as I respond to the medium I am working with. I often modulate the colors or textures mid-process until I am satisfied with the result, taking a meditative and experimental approach in my studio time.

I am fascinated with perception and the relation between the universal connection each person has to nature and the unique viewpoint that each individual holds because of their experience in life. My faith in Jesus offers a lens through which I view the natural world, and as I seek to understand new perspectives, I hope to share my ever-changing perspective with the world. God’s creative intention inspires the undertones of all of my art, and it is the ultimate comfort to know that I am created to be creative.

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’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I have a very specific memory of the sunset a few Thanksgivings ago. I remember being transfixed by the wall of orange and pink. The way the haziness near the horizon reflected on the ocean. My family had rented a house on the beach, and we were all gathered in front of the water waiting for our Nana to finally say we were done taking family photos. And then the final shot was taken, and the sun had dipped down below the land, and my family was already heading back in for their meal. And it was just me in the wind and the orange pink still bleeding through the clouds. All I remember thinking was how lucky I was to be made to see colors like this. That human’s didn’t have to have to ability to see beauty in a sky, but we could. And how the clouds didn’t have to be arranged in brilliance and splendor, but they were. That moment made me love God more. I know it is a simple thing that everyone has probably experienced, but now when I see a stretch of color across the sky, I am thankful for the intentionality of nature, and the gift it is to be a part of this world, not only existing as, but participating in creation.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell her that change isn’t as scary as she thinks, and that she is loved no matter what.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to think that in order to be accepted by the people around me, I had to be the absolute best I could at all times. I had a deep desire to present myself as always having it together. Over the years, I have been humbled in countless moments, and more and more I am realizing that I am never going to have it all together, and its okay to lead with my weak side, and accept help from the people in my support system. One of my life verses is 2 Corinthians 12:9, “His power is made perfect in weakness,” which means that I can depend on God to work in me especially in areas where I fail. My self worth is no longer found in my own performance, but in the fact that I am loved by Jesus, who made the whole world. I have so much more freedom in my life now that I am not always trying to get approval from everyone around me.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Graduating from college felt this way. At the beginning of my degree, I thought that I would be completely set up for life and a career once school was done, but didn’t realize that a career is something you have to build for yourself over time. When I finished school, I felt a bit aimless, like I was at the part of a labyrinth where there are 20 tunnels to choose from, and each one will lead an entirely different path. I didn’t want to choose wrong. Honestly, I still feel like that a lot of days, with so much life ahead of me and so many possibilities, but I have the building blocks in hand now, and am laying down the foundation for where the rest of my life will go. I don’t think I will ever be satisfied with anything if I’m doing it for myself. I know that true satisfaction is only found in having a relationship with God. I know some people won’t agree with me on that, but in my experience and countless others like me, I can say confidently that I was made for more than just what this world has to offer. I want to make the most of my time here, and love people well, and make good art, but my satisfaction comes from knowing that it’s not ultimate, but I am a child of the one who is.

Image Credits
Lani Noel Photography