Today we’d like to introduce you to Meredith Steele.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Meredith. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up in Virginia and loved sports as a child. All my time was spent at swim practice or on the Chesapeake Bay. Therefore, my first drawing/painting course was not until I had to choose an elective at The College of Charleston in 2009 and I thought it would be “fun.” Since then, I have rarely put the paintbrush down. After I graduated from school, I worked as a freelance artist during the summers at large music festivals including Bonnaroo and Electric Forest.
I created large art installations and paintings for the artist hospitality and VIP areas. I have always loved project-based work where I have creative freedom so the opportunity to work at these festivals really fueled my interest in large scale projects and paintings. I was looking for a new adventure after graduating so I made the decision to move to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Spending two years in the Tetons provided endless inspiration and kept me on a creative path.
In 2015, I made the decision to move back to Charleston in order to pursue my art and design career. I sort of fell into Floral Design once I moved back east – which I fell in love with. I learned so much from my floral design years and again, it provided me with a lot of new inspiration for my art. Fast forward a few years and I was finally able to become a full-time studio artist. After lots of side gigs and hard work, I opened “Meredith Steele Art” in June 2017. Since then, I have learned so much about running a business. My artistic path has become my business and I find it super rewarding to have the opportunity to do what I love. After a lot of thought and consideration (personally and professionally), I decided to relocate to Denver in August of 2019 and it has been amazing so far. I am excited to see what 2020 has in store and to stay put for a little while 🙂
Has it been a smooth road?
The short answer is, No. But, isn’t a “smooth road” kind of boring? The best way I can describe it is – the high points are higher and the low points are lower than any other job I’ve had. I think any entrepreneur or self-employed individual can agree – there are ups and downs and days when you think “I can’t do this.” But, what keeps me going on those kinds of days is remembering that I am doing what I know I was put on this earth to do AND I get to do it! Even if I fail at times or am struggling, I have to get back up and keep going because that’s the only option.
One of the hardest aspects starting out was making the transition from thinking “art is my hobby/passion” to “art is my business/career.” It took years to fully grasp that if I want to be successful, making smart business decisions is just as important as making a beautiful painting. Something else I’ve struggled with is the vulnerability factor of what I do. I am an introvert and can also be a pretty private person so putting myself and my work out there isn’t always easy or natural feeling.
I’ve struggled with how much to share, what to share, and wondering if people even care. I think that’s a struggle a lot of people can relate to. No one can deny that social media has drastically changed the way we are able to market our business but like anything in life, it has positives and negatives. My goal is just to come from an authentic place on my platforms and not worry so much about who “likes” it or who doesn’t. I’ve sort of adapted the mindset “I created it, I’ll share it, and I’ll leave it there. What’s next?.”
We’d love to hear more about your art.
When I started Meredith Steele Art I was primarily doing commissioned paintings. I still love commissions and always enjoy the opportunity to create custom paintings for people. But, as the years have passed my business has developed and I have completed multiple bodies of work, hosted several art shows in different cities, and started an eCommerce website for my artwork.
I am proud to have a website with different price points that make it easy for anyone to buy my artwork no matter where they live. I’d have to say I’m known for my mixed media style. I love using lots of different mediums and materials to bring each piece to life. I studied oil painting, but I prefer acrylic and gouache now. I use a lot of recycled materials including fabric, textiles, metal, wire, etc.
For instance, my series, ‘A Collection of HER’, and, “SPECTRUM,” are all about the relationship between women, textiles, and texture. Each figure is comprised of paint, fabric, and other found objects. I find it fun to include so many different materials on one piece. Using women as my main figure subject matter has just come naturally. Women are dynamic and depicting strong, confident women make me feel even more like one and I hope it inspires others too. That being said, I also really enjoy project-based work so I’ve started to pursue more mural projects this year. My background and skill set are diverse which allows me to do a lot of different things with my business!
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I have a love affair with the mountains and the ocean. So, I love the accessibility Denver has to the mountains and the active lifestyle here. Other favorite things about Denver – the bike paths, the people, the public art, and the Habanera salsa at El Jefe. My least favorite thing- where is the ocean? After living on the coast for so long, I really miss the beach and searching for shark’s teeth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.meredithsteeleart.com
- Email: info@meredithsteeleart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meredithsteeleart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meredithsteeleart/
Image Credit:
Minette Hand (6)
Josie V. – From the Hip Photo (7)
Soona Studios (3-5)
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