Art Post! - Intoductions

Hi, there! It's me again...

So, today I want to give a background into some of my art, because like I said - art is a very important part of my life. My mom is an artist and an extremely crafty person, she is basically where I get my talent from. I have wanted to be an artist all my life, and I am still so surprised I have made it to college with this major (what sane person let me slip by with this?)

I designed this back in Jr. High!

I usually work art into every part of my life, and if there is a group project, I am usually the noob who says, "I'll make the poster! - done."

Art as a Junior...

As a Sophomore...

Honestly though, some people consider an Art Major, or Performance Major, to be too easy and pointless. Be real, guys. I have worked just as hard as most people to get where I am today, both into this college and into this major. It has been said countless times that natural talent can only take you so far. I have seen ok-artists grow far beyond my ability simple by putting in the effort to do so. And it's not because I have been sitting back and slacking off.

Inspired by Mucha

What should really matter, is that you do what you enjoy. I like art. I am pretty good at art. There for, I will do art. Some people enjoy science. They find science fascinating, or just worth their while. So, they will work in science. My current art teacher put it well when he said, that if you can picture yourself doing something else - you should probably be doing that. Art is kind of an all or nothing gig. It takes so much time and commitment to improve to a level that other people will appreciate, too. And all us arty-majors are just struggling to get to that level.

One of my favorite pieces from last year

 And after you struggle to improve your abilities and get notice - you have to see if you can get payed for it. You now have to put the demands of others before your own, which is something every human should endeavor to learn. You have to learn to bend your creative process to fit their ideas and be able to bring to life exactly what they imagine.

In many ways, learning to navigate the creative process can be much harder than other jobs, it's not just drawing a picture. Art is more than copy and paste. Real art involves putting a bit of yourself into everything you make. Art is time, and consideration, and brainstorming, and mistakes, and self doubt, followed by prayer, starting over, and never giving up - then, repeating the whole process when the next project comes around.

First semester of college

But for most artist, we aren't doing it just for the money - if we wanted money, we would go do something else. We do it for the love of it, it's as simple as that. We have tapped into our heavenly desire to create, and we don't want to let go.

Made from magazine clippings

Art is much more than what it is given credit for, and it is what I hope to devote a great portion of my life to. In the words of my mother, "You wish you were an art major? I wish I was a math major, because at least then I would know went the problem was solved."



So, I hope you guys enjoy my art, because there is much more where that came from! If you would like to see more of my past artwork, check out my Instagram - knutmegg.art 
If you are interesting in any commissions or wondering if any artwork is for sale - please shot me an email! 

That should be enough product placement for one night.

Fair-faring, friends!

(All images used in this post are my own, original art work. If you really  feel the need to post them somewhere - please notify me, and give me the proper credit. These images are not up for commercial use by anyone other than myself. Thank you!)

Doubt Your Doubts

So, yesterday in my Book of Mormon class, we were told that even though Spiritual Paradise is in the Kingdom of God, we will not actually get to see our Heavenly Father until after we are resurrected . . . I did not realize this before, and it kind'a, sort'a made me really sad. I mean, I don't think this is a topic I could argue, 'cuz their was a quote from one of the Prophets, and scriptural references (which I can not remember exactly, roughly in Alma 41-42) - but, I mean, it's sad, because even though I know the Spiritual World is better than anything I can imagine, I will not get to see my Heavenly Father until later. It's like - say you moved back into your childhood home, but for the first year or so, you never got to see your parents. Well, some of you might be ok with that, but for me it just would not be the same.

Ida'no, it is probably way more ok than I am making it out to be, but . . . it was a surprising thing to learn. Still, this does not change my relationship with my Heavenly Father, I know He still loves me, and I am sure He can't wait to see me every bit as much as I can't wait to see Him.

I know my Heavenly Father is constantly aware of me, and aware of my continual desire to do that which is right - even when I fail to see that desire. Still, I don't want to tell myself that that is enough - the desire to do right - because as soon as I do, I stop actually doing right. But, I wish that my desires to get things right did not fill me up with so many feelings of inadequacy. I seem to have this ever growing fear that what I am doing is just not enough. I fear that I am destining myself for mediocrity.

It seems like my goals are just too far out of reach, or that someone else is going to grab them all up before I do. I fear that everything I do will go to waste in a life of mediocrity. (that is my word of the day.) I fear that, although I have the desire to do good, nothing I do will ever be good enough.

Sometimes, I fear that my efforts are not even enough to be quantified by Christ's Atonement. Man, I know that is the furthest thing from the truth - but, I still think is sometimes. (though, this is the first time I have put it into those words) I fear that every sacrament meeting I miss, or scripture I fail to read, takes me miles and miles away from the Celestial Kingdom.

But here is where I stand up against my doubts.

I know that the reason I am always too negatively critical of myself is because satan does not want me too believe I am capable of greatness - he does not want any of us to believe we can do it. He would rather have us think we are just too far from the path of God, so we will stop trying to get there. It is like we are standing on the edge of a pit, but satan is distorting the distance to the other side. He makes every small, wrong thing we do seem bigger and bigger, until we think we are incapable of repentance. That is how he tears down the strong in spirit. Some of us, he takes from the path by small, meaningless steps - but others he tricks into thinking we are already to far away to ever get back - so we start to wonder further off.

But we need to remember Christ. Christ is our bridge across the pit. Literally, no matter how wide the distance gets, He will aways make the bridge longer. No matter how far in sin satan may make us feel, all we need to do is repent and take the leap of faith to the other side. Christ will be there for us.

It's just like the bridge in Indiana Jones - we can't always seen it,
but it is always there from us.

Also yesterday, we had a university wide forum with speaker Dr. Ed Catmull, The President of Disney and Pixar Animation. (Seriously, pretty cool, right!?) He talked to us about how art helps us learn creativity, and creativity is really the ability to solve problems - related to any situation. And, how we can't be afraid to fail, or we will never learn,

And then, in Book of Mormon class, our teacher told us, "You do not earn your way into Heaven, you learn your way into Heaven." 

I thought these two ideas worked well together, because we can't be afraid to get things wrong in life every once in a while. We can't be afraid to try new ways of problem solving, and we cannot be discouraged by past sins. Dr. Catmull also said that our goal in life should not be the easy way - but, we should strive for excellence. This is interesting for me to hear, because it made me recognize my tendency for easy; I am a very lazy person after all. But all together, I have come to recognize the only thing standing in-between mediocrity and excellence -is not talent or fame or popularity - it is just your ability to keep working for excellence, and keep learning to be creative. The only thing standing in-between us and Celestial Glory, is our ability to keep following Christ across all of life's pitfalls. 

Fair-faring, friends - and please - "doubt your doubts, before you doubt your faith." -Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Defining Art

Defining Art

Over time, my taste in art has changed, even grown - if you will. But still, the question lingers on - what makes art "good"?

To be put simply, art should be beautiful at first glance, intriguing at second look, and influential after some deep thought - that is what I think makes good art.

How would you define "good" art?

Food for thought

Introducing - Yours Truly! (that - that's me)

Welcome! To my blog! Ya! 
Incase you are not sure of what you have just stumbled across, this'here's a Blog for . . . well, what ever I happen to write about, I literally have no reason to be making this blog (I know, right? What a find!) You are welcome to keep reading if you feel so inclined, but if you were searching for a blog about the adventurous life of a Stay at Home Mom, I'm afraid this is not it.

So, this is a bit about me. This is my first real blog, so bear with me. (I am not counting the ones for school, or that silly blog that was made back in jr. high, when we all thought we were cool and had something important to say to the world - don't act like you don't know what I am talking about, we have all been there)

My name is Megan, and I am a 19 year old college student. I am currently living away from home as I attend school and what-not (though a 20 minute drive it hardly away...)  I am still trying to figure out the "real world." I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (jurst one of dem Mormons!) , and I am proud to be a part of this wonderful gospel! My room is usually a mess, 'cuz I have so much dang stuff. I am the third of four sisters in my family - this may be important in explaining why my life is the way it is - also my sisters are pretty funny, so you may be hearing form them at some point. I love my family, and our beautiful dog Eve.

I have a distinctive, usually classy sense of humor (I am not sure how much of that will be conveyed) and I can be very sarcastic sometimes (that will be all over this blog!). I am usually very soft spoken when it comes to my opinions and such - so I guess I wanted a blog to help me find more strength and solidity in my point of view. So, I will try not to be soft spoken on this blog!! But I will try not to be rude...

I am currently studying Illustration - and if you reeeeally want to, you can check out my art work on my instagram account -

knutmegg.art (please, please, hold the applause)

(ya' know, just incase you're interested *cough cough*)

I enjoy many typical things - reading, food, biking, TV, sleeping, the occasional video game, some social media.  My main passion is art, pretty much any kind of art. I have dabbled in musical theater, and I really like to dance - tap dancing is what I especial enjoy. I would love to get outside more, but...that involves moving....

I really like music! But I am not sure how your would describe my taste in music - like, 80s/Alternative/Indie-Folk/Random stuff from my sister and Spotify. . . . if that narrows it done. My favorite band is One Republic! Others include Walk the Moon, Coldplay, Nickel Creek, Billy Jowl, (ok, I feel like I am on a dating site or something - I will stop now)

I can also be described as a major geek, but I try not to obsess abundantly. Though, I will say my main squeeze is Percy Jackson. Please and thank you. Those books have been with me since I was 12, and they have carried me right though my childhood. I would say they are like my Harry Potter, but that might cause some confusion and contention about the hierarchy of book. But, I must move along, or we will be here all day.

As a quick over view - I enjoy TV shows such as Avatar: The Last Airbender, Dr. Who, Adventure Time, Sherlock, Gravity Falls, Psych, Over the Garden Wall, and Star Trek. If that is not enough for you, I also enjoy movies such as The Hobbit, Frozen, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, idk - there are a lot of them. Anyway, that should give us something to talk about. Right? Maybe?

TV! MOVIES! This is what I live for!!

Well, now that I have just proven to you that media runs my life, I literally can't think of anything else to write now...I guess if you have anymore questions about me, comment below and I will do my best to get back to you with an answer (or just write some completely ridiculous response)

Fair-faring friends, and I hope you enjoy the next blog you stumble upon!