Art to Outfit } Meg from Bow Ties Are Cool

Art to Outfit } Meg from Bow Ties Are Cool

I would like to introduce my new feature, Art to Outfit.

As a working artist/illustrator and Gallery Director I love finding new talent. One thing that was surprising to me and also not, was the amount of talented artists in the fashion blogging community. I think fashion and art go hand in hand, and many times at school I was completely jealous of many girl's and boy's clothes. So I want to showcase the art of some of these fashionable people, who you may know through their clothes but maybe not their art. I'm also going to get myself into gear with my own tribute illustration to them.

And now behold. Art to Outfit!

Above artwork by myself

What would be your pen name?

I don't really have one. Just Meg; I like my name. My Deviantart username is "rethe" because that's the name of my fictional elf alter-ego (full name Margarethe). So... I guess I don't really have a pen name!

When did you start putting a pencil to paper to create silly images?

 

Probably when I was old enough to grasp a crayon. I've always drawn pictures, although most kids do. I guess I just kept on doing it. For years I only drew horses and dogs and that sort of thing, but around middle school I moved on to people.

Did a fairy godmother give you all your talent, or did you find a magical place that sharpened your mind? 

 

I don't know how much I believe in "talent," so much as a predisposition for maybe acute observation, spacial awareness, and a desire to create. I just drew what I saw. I only took art classes when they were required of me (middle school and high school), and learned a few basics (like human body proportions) that I kept with me and still use to this day. I didn't pursue art as a career, nor did I want to take any more classes in college because they just make you draw pictures of fruit with charcoal and I hate that stuff. I'd rather just doodle all the time, so that's what I do.

Which artist do you think is dreamy?

 

Oh man, so many. Mucha is by far a favorite, but everyone loves him. I'm really into the Pre-Raphaelites, especially Waterhouse. I have his "Lady of Shalott" painting hanging above me right now, actually. I love the Medieval, fairytale influences from that era, and the very rich, almost sad feel of the pieces.

What period of art would you set your time machine to?

 

Probably sometime during the Renaissance, in Italy. I'd love to watch the David or the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel go from just a block of stone or an empty room to something magnificent. I'd love to see the Duomo in Florence under construction. So many amazing things coming to life at that time!

Some of my favorite outfits from Meg

What artist would you go camping with and why?

 

Probably Leonardo Da Vinci. He'd be good at rigging up some cool contraptions with a tarp if it rained, and he seems like he'd be a lot of fun. Although I may just think that because I've seen Ever After one too many times...

How does your art affect your clothes, and visa-versa?

 

I don't know if my art affects my clothes, but my clothes and sense of style definitely influence my art! I have a sketchbook with pages and pages of girls wearing outfits I wish I could wear. That's about as deep as the influence goes I'm afraid, haha.


Some (rather old) drawings from my gallery that illustrate this:

Do you plan on wearing a beret daily and becoming a professional artist?

 

Not at all. I love to draw for fun, as a hobby. I have nothing against making a little money on the side from commission work, but I have no designs on becoming a professional artist of any sort. I sometimes think about illustrating my own novel in the future, but the focus would be on the writing and not the art.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three pieces of yours would you take with you to decorate your mud hut? 

 

I would probably take this piece, because I'm very proud of the loose style with which I drew it, and it's of myself and my boyfriend very soon after we started dating. It brings happy thoughts and memories.

Then I'd definitely take along this one, because it's Greg with a baby panda. I like the muted look of it, and I'm particularly happy with my linework in this one.

Lastly I'd bring this one, because I love the bright colors and it's based on Greg's and my "song" -- we looove Bon Jovi. I know the anatomy in this is way off, and some of the execution is a bit shoddy and not what I'd imagined, but I spent tons of time on it and it's like Greg's and my dorky mascot picture of love.

As an artist, do you get away with crazy fashion like wearing a swan dress? 

 

I don't think a lot of people know I'm an artist outside of my friends, and I believe they'd love whatever weird outfit I chose to wear, regardless of whether or not I was an artist. So no, I don't think I personally have that life advantage. However I do think that in "society" people can get away with weirder sartorial choices if people around them know they're a crazy "artist" type. Artists are supposed to be eccentric, after all! (And they usually are.)

I'd like to thank Meg for participating, and being my first... featurette :) Make sure to check out her art (http://rethe.deviantart.com), and of course her blog (http://bowtiesare.blogspot.com/).

Huggles,

Lauren

Artwork and images (excluding banner) are copyrighted by Meg, images are used with her permission