We recently connected with Deana McGarr and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Deana with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I get my work ethic from both of my parents. My father was an executive for Kimberly-Clark Corporation, and my mother was a “professional volunteer”. My father’s business sense and my mother’s desire to give back to her local community helped shape my thinking that we should work with excellence in mind.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I make uplifting designs using bright water color markers as well as bold colored acrylics and at times metallic nail polish to complete the piece so that it is luminous in nature. I have a great desire to create for those who would like to see happy art to brighten their day. After I make a design, I load it onto various products featured on Redbubble, Fine Art America/Pixels and Le Galeriste. These companies are nationally recognized print-on-demand sites that allow the customer to purchase an item, such as a pair of socks. My design is then printed through the company and shipped to the customer. I love knowing that my creations shine happily daily through mugs, socks, crossbody bags, yoga mats, and more.
The last time I was featured in a Voyage article, my designs on products were only featured online, but now they are available at two stores on the historic square in McKinney, TX. My prints, mini canvases, mugs, socks, journals, crossbody bags, yoga mats, and original art are at the McKinney Art Gallery. My cards are also at Rosas and Lavanda, a women’s boutique owned by jewelry designer, Mila Delfin, who created the McKinney Art Gallery. I also began doing in-person trunk shows and was overjoyed with the opportunity to do a show which included my scarves and kimonos at the Kendra Scott store in Southlake. It has been wonderful to connect face-to-face with those who are fans and collectors. I like creating at live events and encouraging people to find ways to express themselves through art-making.
Another exciting thing was that I was blessed to illustrate a Christian children’s book for Suzy McKinney, which will be available soon. It was so much fun to help Suzy, as I had always dreamed of this opportunity while studying illustration at the University of Oklahoma years ago. I also began creating chalkboards for Chick-fil-A CityLine. Learning a new medium has been fun. During the last few years, I became an accredited therapeutic art teacher and have enjoyed helping others heal their hearts through art. I look forward to teaching classes in the near future at the MAG Gallery.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
When reflecting on my life as an artist, it is essential to keep working on your art until you find a style that brings you great joy, not just in the finished product but in the creative process. I have found helpful the three following things:
Become passionate about learning
Be teachable
Create whenever you can, as much as you can
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
I have been very fortunate that my husband is both creative and supportive. He is a visual communications professor for Texas A&M Commerce, and we love bouncing ideas off each other. My mother is also an excellent source of encouragement as she has great style and common sense and is a thorough thinker. I am also fortunate to have many artistic and helpful friends, which I made through the Art Club of McKinney. One of these friends introduced me to Skill Share, and it has been a valuable resource in continuing my education, as many courses on the site have helped me learn how to improve upon many skills necessary to stay afloat as a professional artist. I love my profession and hope I bring joy to others when they own a piece of my art.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.deanamcgarr.com
- Email: www.deanamcgarr.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deanamcgarr.artist/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeanaDMcGarr
- Other: legaleriste.com/en/deana.mcgarr
deana-mcgarr.pixels.com
Deana-McGarr.redbubble.com
Image Credits
Deana McGarr
