Abstract Floral Paintings

Now that my solo show of New England coastal paintings is hanging up, I've found my cravings to paint abstracts again have taken over. I'm not finished with landscapes forever; I just like to explore the other side of my creativity. I get such satisfaction from painting scenery I love and recognize; and then I get such a free feeling from painting in an imaginative way that speaks to my soul. 

I have a love for sassy color, line, and shape...and opposites. Dark vs. Light. Massive vs. Delicate. Clutter vs. Open Space. Harmony vs. Dissonance ...making work that evokes botanicals (plants and flowers) really fits the bill. I get to use ALL the bright colors, delicate lines, biomorphic shapes...it's beyond fun. And working abstractly allows me the freedom to make my own choices...to let the painting create itself from my inner muse. It's always a surprise what appears before me on the blank panel! My goal is to make paintings that are statement pieces: sophisticated, unique, tailored, crisp, and PRETTY. (Yes! I said the "P" word!)

Coastal Conversations Art Show by Megan Carty

My "Coastal Conversations" art show opening was a true excitement and I'm so thrilled my work is hanging in such a beautiful space! It was amazing to see my landscape paintings hanging all together; you can really see my artistic painting style throughout the work. I am all finished with my landscape cravings for now and plan to revisit them in the future after I explore my abstract cravings for a while!

Visit  1200 Centre St. Boston (Roslindale), MA...The Hebrew Rehabilitation Center. Follow the signs to park by the visitors' entrance and the gallery is just inside and down the hall to the left. 

It will hang until August 3rd 2018; check it out while you can! Art is available for purchase in my art shop.

New England Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings by Megan Carty

Hot diggity-dog! Spring begins soon here in the States! (Of course, it stays snowy in MY neck of the woods until almost the end of April!) I don’t know about you, but I like spring because I start to “awaken” with energy as I leave hibernation mode and start ramping up activities to reach my goals. Are you revving your engine and ramping up too?

The idea of spring has triggered new growth for ME. As you can see (especially if you follow me on Instagram!) my landscape painting style is continuously evolving into my own…more toward abstraction…little by little. 

TICKLING YOUR BRAIN? WHAT’S THE DEAL?

Paintings are more interesting to look at and are more dynamic when you AREN’T given all the information.

*gasp!* 

This “tickles your brain” and allows your mind to fill in the blanks from your own experiences so you can make the piece your own. 

In that way your own memories and emotions allow you become an active participant in the art! 

Cool, right?

I’m not as interested in capturing the New England landscape exactly as I see it (we have cameras to do that!) and would rather challenge myself to capture the gesture, energy and mood of a place in as simple a way as possible (using color, shape, line and value).

You would be surprised how DIFFICULT this is! I’m trained to SEE with great detail and notice every little color shift as I try to record it. Now, I’m trying to turn OFF that fussy tendency and simplify, simplify, simplify. It takes me out of my comfort zone but makes the art more exciting and electric.

I’m trying to SUGGEST details rather than show them. It can be hard to let go, loosen up and trust. Kinda like the advice given to writers: keep it simple and say it in as few words as possible!

New work is flowing along and I plan on releasing all new paintings (both small and large in size) soon. Sign up for my email newsletter "Collector's Circle" to get news and find out about exact release dates in advance.  I’m so excited about these…I can say they are nostalgic, gritty, honest, and show the more fickle side of the New England land. They are close to my heart and I believe they will resonate in meaningful ways for others. 

I’m excited to share this evolution with you! As always, thank you so much for coming along on this journey with me. Please do reach out and comment if you have any questions about my process or the art. I’ll be happy to answer! 

Megan Carty Art for Anthropologie!

My longtime dream has come true! I year ago Anthropologie (my favorite store!) reached out to me to create a beautiful modern and cheerful abstract floral painting for them to use as a huge 3.5 x 7.25 foot paper tapestry! After a long wait, they are now available online to order! This was a wonderful and exciting experience and a huge honor for me. I so hope they do well!!!! I envision putting one in my daughter's room. Click the link to see the Zing and Swing tapestry art by Megan Carty.

My art is at Anthropologie!

Hey! Good news!!!!  I'm excited to have had 2 art prints included for sale at Anthropologie via Artfully Walls! I'm so honored to be able to get my work out to more people and hope it brings you joy and style for your wall! This is a real dream come true for sure.  This first print is available NOW, the last photo was available last season but can still be found on Artfully Walls. Click here for that one: (floral abstract art print)

Vintage-Inspired Nursery Art Prints/Floral Art Prints

I love unique nursery art, so I decided to show what my new floral paintings look like as nursery art prints/kids room art prints. These work great in vintage-inspired decor schemes and add a lot of color and zing!

I made them so they come in many sizes from small to large to suit your space needs. They come printed on flat canvas (so they look like the real thing!) and they come to you rolled in a cardboard tube (they don't come framed so you can pick your own AND it saves money in shipping.) The cost of shipping is built into the price. You can check out all the prints I offer here.

Painting through Intuition

I'm digging the direction my work has been going lately...abstract but looks like a landscape...I try to convey a sense of time and mood through my use of color. They are like vignettes or memories of a space in time. When I sit down to paint I am usually in a peaceful state where I just finished meditating and I continue that peaceful energy into my painting practice. I look at my colors and then start with whatever I'm most drawn to. I don't plan ahead usually; although sometimes I will see a color palette I love in an inspirational image and I will aim to use those colors. I like to just let intuition take control and see how the piece unfolds on its own. Sometimes working this way makes me nervous, but it's my way of practicing faith...faith in my intuition and in my vision.

Experimenting with Acrylic Inks

The other day I bought some acrylic inks to experiment with and I'd say I'm in love with them. It's the joy, permanence and vibrancy of acrylic paint, but the flow of a watercolor. They take some getting used to so far, but I think they are satisfying my artist spirit perfectly. Monday (today) is the day I get a lot done since the kids are in school or with a babysitter until 3:00. So, I have a few hours where I can focus on creating and doing business stuff. I got to sit and paint...just BE so I could work out some ideas that have been collecting moss in my brain. This painting is one of those. I even found time to list several new pieces in the shop and boy, does it feel good to add fresh work! I feel like I can breathe again now that I've cleared out the cobwebs inside myself.

The 100 Day Project 2016

Hi friends! If you follow me on Instagram (@megan_carty_art) you will see I've been participating in the 100 Day Project where I post a small painting study every day for 100 days. I'm learning so much about my art and what I love to make...it's been so eye-opening and valuable! Here, you can take a tour of the sketchbook I filled up the other day. I've had to start another one! Enjoy taking a peek!

Megan Carty Art featured on Little Blue Book blog

Hi friends! 

My floral bouquet paintings were featured recently on seasoned New York City event planner Roey Mizrahi's blog "Little Blue Book" ! You can view her post here. Thanks so much for including my work in your wedding keepsakes list Roey!!!

Taking time to smell, um, PAINT the roses

Here's a little sneak peek of my latest floral bouquet painting. This one is a small one at 11x14 size but it really packs a colorful punch if I do say so myself! You'll see that even when a flower is pink you can look closely at the colors and see reds in the shadows. I love that about color. It's so sneaky! I hope to have this one up for sale soon; along with some other smaller pieces. Subscribe to my newsletter if you would like to know when these are going to release ahead of time.

My art has been licensed with METcolors!

I’ve just signed a contract with a large art manufacturer called METcolors to license my paintings with them for wall decor and other home goods for sale in retail stores AROUND THE GLOBE! This is something that came to me by luck and chance; but it’s something I used to wish for back when I thought it wasn’t possible. It’s funny how we sometimes close the door on our biggest dreams because they seem so unattainable. What makes us stop trying?

Not all that long ago, I started daring to dream again. I started writing my biggest wishes for my work on a piece of paper that I have taped on the wall next to my desk. One of the notes says: “Get art in stores...wall decor, pillows, purses, etc.”  About a week later I got an email from a stranger asking me if I was interested in considering licensing my artwork with her company for wall decor, pillows and a few other items. WHAT?!

Contracts and many questions on my part later, I am now a licensed artist and my scrawled note on my wall has come to life. Soon you may see my work in a store near you! What are your biggest wishes for your life? Make sure you put them out there…write them down so they have a chance to grow where you planted them!

Here I am doing my cheesy victory dance! Ha!

Custom Bridal Bouquet Paintings by Megan Carty

I am now offering custom luxury bridal bouquet paintings! I'm realizing that couples move into their new spaces together and find big sad blank walls staring at them. Now, they could put any old piece they find from a discount store on that spot and then loathe it later OR they could commission a piece of art that is sentimental, stylish, AND an heirloom.

That's where I come in! A happy couple provides a photo or two of the wedding bouquet or a floral arrangement they love and use my own abstract painterly bohemian style on a large canvas or wood panel to create their stunning one of a kind painting. It makes a colorful and uplifting impact on their home decor while helping them celebrate their marriage each day. Not to mention, it is a fantastic show-stopping conversation piece and heirloom the family can treasure for generations. These custom bouquet portraits make amazing and unique anniversary gifts, parents-of-the-bride gifts, bridesmaid gifts to the bride, or special birthday gifts. Click over HERE to learn about this exciting new offering. Be sure and sign up for my newsletter; only subscribers get special deals on commissions periodically! (there's a mint-green "sign up" tab right up there on the header on your desktop machine or at the bottom of your screen on a mobile device)

Megan Carty interview with Silver Shade Group

Hi friends! Today my interview on being an entrepreneur went live on the Silver Shade Group's website! It was a wonderful experience to participate and share information on a topic I'm quite passionate about! Read the interview here, and have a great day!

Portland Art Gallery

Hi friends! Tonight is "First Thursday" at the Portland Art Gallery in Portland, Maine...and I'm pleased to say I have 4 vibrant minimalist abstract paintings hanging! Everyone is welcome to attend; there will be refreshments and wine of course! It's from 5 to 7 pm.  I'm so thrilled to be able to share my colorful work with others; it's a dream come true! Come by the gallery this month and check out all the lovely work by so many talented artists! 154 Middle Street, Portland, ME. 

Colorful Coastals are coming along!

Hey friends!

I've been busy caring for the kiddos and squeezing in my paint time wherever I can! The coastal pieces I'm working on are a bit more time consuming than some of my other work; but I'm so excited by them. They have so much fun color and pizazz! Does anyone use that word anymore? I just did! Owning it!

I've got a few small pieces finished and now I want to work on some larger ones for variety. Challenge can be the spice of life, right? I'm planning to release just over a handful of these at the beginning of December; be sure to get on my newsletter list for the exact time and date! These are originals and once they are gone...they're gone!

Gifts of love

"The Green Camp" 12x12 " 1.5 inches thick, Acrylic on Gallery-wrapped canvas.

This year I decided to make my brother a painting as a gift for his birthday. We have many fond memories of this camp we used to rent on Togus Pond in Maine when we were children; it had been built by my great-grandfather and was handed down in the family. My Mom would rent it from her uncle for a week in the summer (and my Dad's parents would rent it too; so we would stay there!). All of my formative summer memories are of this place; it's also the place where we tearfully found out my sweet Grandmother had passed away on the night of July 4th when I was about to turn 5. 

Anyway, eventually those who cared for it passed away leaving it to relatives who DID NOT care for it. It currently sits in ruin by the lake...the lawn filled in with trees, brush, and poison ivy. The house is rotted and caving in. It is truly so heartbreaking for us. I often have dreams about it in it's former glory; it weighs on my heart like a cold stone. I wanted to capture it as I remember it and share that with the one who understands. I'm happy to report he loved his painting and I couldn't be more thrilled. It's not the STUFF in our life; it's the MEMORIES that make meaning. Nothing can take that away.

Meditation, Stress and Depression: Painting Abstracts helps!

Hi friends!

I have a new line of abstract paintings that I'm so thrilled with. I definitely plan to make more. They are 18x24 watercolor on watercolor paper. I made them during times of meditation...I would clear my mind and focus on music that had chimes in it (the sort of thing you might listen to while having a massage) and I would just sit. Then, I'd dip my brush in the paint that "spoke" to me and just let it work on the paper as it wanted. I would watch the water and the paint dance together as it flowed down the page. It was quite relaxing. I would introduce another color that called to me and see how it would work itself into the mix. It was a slow process but a deliberate one. It can be hard to sit and watch when you just want to get your brush in there and smoosh things around! The magic is in the stillness.

When I am feeling stressed it can be a trigger for my chronic depression. So, to be proactive, I try to dial down my stress level through calming meditation. The paint, paper, and water help my brain go silent (and take a nice break!) while I focus on the painting process. My mind becomes still and the chatter becomes silent. Let me tell you, it is a real life-saver for me. Does it replace my depression medication? No. But, it addresses my symptom of stress head-on when I need it to. It's good as gold. 

If you suffer from anxiety or stress, I highly recommend you try a soothing activity that will keep your brain still...painting is one way. Adult coloring books have become popular for this reason. Knitting, sewing, embroidery are other things that soothe too! Quieting the chatter in your mind is essential to a productive and steady life. I hope you'll give it a whirl and let me know how it goes!

30 Paintings in 30 Days: Day 17

Okey Dokey, today's painting is a favorite of mine...I'm happy with how all the strokes came out and I love this color combination! It's so soothing and relaxing. And that's my signal that I MUST go to bed. The kids have all been getting me up in the night several times and I'm past spent! See you tomorrow!

30 Paintings in 30 Days: Day 16

Hi friends! I didn't get home from a meeting I had yesterday until super-late at night; so I never updated my blog with the painting I did, so here it is! This one was an experiment with really filling the canvas with an interesting floral composition. I don't normally love purple, so I wanted to try it out to see...and I kinda like it! It's a small 8x8 canvas and it's about 1.75" thick. Classy!