Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Desrosiers

Hi Megan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?

I started painting with watercolors when I was in elementary school. I’ve never asked but I assume my parents saw me spending hours coloring and decided art lessons were in my best interest. I’m not sure how they landed with watercolor lessons for someone so young, but I am thankful that they did. People often tell me how difficult watercolors are to work with. I think there is natural talent for sure, but over 35 years of practice doesn’t hurt either!

I stopped watercolor painting during my twenties. Along with various life circumstances, I didn’t have an outlet and was struggling to find my own style, what made me happy to paint. Sure, I did the pet portrait thing for a short bit, but it didn’t fill me up in the ways I needed it to. My art and, really, all of my offerings are about facilitating change and getting people to think differently. They are about healing in some capacity: for myself and for others whom open to receiving.

Fast forward several years to 2021. I had been contemplating pairing various animal skulls with plants for a few years but hadn’t acted on it. Up until that point they were simply ideas swimming about in my head with the multitude of other creative thoughts. The animal bones and skulls had been finding me since my archaeology studies in college and by this time I had amassed a small and varied collection. In June of 2021 I went for a hike in a local state park and had a “chance” encounter with a single pink lady’s slipper that changed my life.

I had never seen one before and I have not seen another in the wild since that hike. I looped on the same trails several times to extend my hike and kept looking for that same lady’s slipper. I knew she was around a specific area but try as I might, I could not locate her again. It was truly a pivotal encounter full of fairy magic. I painted this lady’s slipper in honor of our meeting (my first watercolor in years) and took a no-pick lady’s slipper flower essence over the next month. Shortly thereafter I began painting with watercolors in earnest and my business has continued to evolve and change as the years go by. Despite all my offerings, watercolors are still an integral part of my creative process.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

Opening my business has not been a smooth road. I started with paintings of animal bones paired with living plants, each one with its unique messages. I didn’t sell very much of my art, especially those pieces. People would reflect how much they liked the paintings but could not choose one to purchase. About a year ago I realized the reason people couldn’t choose is because they are not meant to have just one, and that the paintings are meant to be part of an oracle deck. I didn’t set out to create an oracle deck and have a strong belief that we don’t need physical tools to practice divination. At the same time, it was hard to ignore the greater work in progress. There are 16 paintings completed at this point, with many more waiting. I am taking a short break from working on the oracle deck while I focus on an illustrated book of poisonous plant poetry, but I look forward to continuing with the honoring of the different animal bones when my book is finished.

After the first year of being open for business, I began to offer cacao ceremonies and other healing and wellness offerings, and eventually added the “& Wellness”. The wellness road has been a bit bumpy as various offerings come and go, and I try to find my niche and community. Community is important to me and I feel like I am getting to a point where that is building in an organic way without me having to work as hard at it.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

I am known for my detailed and vibrant watercolor paintings of bones alchemically paired with plants. Our western society has a discomfort with death and the unknown. Part of my purpose is to help people become more comfortable with death, from the little deaths and transitions we go through during our lives to the big Death. I’ve been told my paintings get people to start thinking differently about both the plants around them and transitions; that maybe the plants aren’t as non-sentient as they once thought. I can see the wheels turning in someone’s mind when they stop by my art booth or display, pause with a contemplative look, and simply state “interesting” or “beautiful work” before walking away. There is a greater consciousness and oneness waiting for us to reconnect and be in community with.

What matters most to you?

Building community is the most important to me, though not necessarily as you might think. I think human community is important; it is incredibly healing to be seen and witnessed, to feel like you belong with a group of like-minded people. The other aspect of community that I feel is important is the natural world. We have lost our connections and community with non-human beings, which has resulted in a disconnect from the land and our ancestors. I want to help people rebuild those connections while also rebuilding my own community. My artwork, writing, and community circles and gatherings are aimed at helping to facilitate that reconnection and realization that we are not as alone as we might think we are.

Pricing:

• Prints: $24 – $50.75
• Originals: $320 – $750
• Cacao Ceremonies: $30
• Healing Offerings: $44 – $125
• Ritual Items: $9 – $28

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.herbalbonesart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herbal_bones_art?r=nametag
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herbalbonesartwellness/
• Other: https://insighttimer.com/herbalbonesart