We were lucky to catch up with Margaret Neill recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Margaret, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I first understood I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally as a young girl. I was completely focused and working diligently on a drawing for a class project and experienced magic of creating form on a flat surface. For the first time I felt connected and grounded in purpose. I knew then that this is what I wanted to keep doing. All the other tasks and jobs of life suddenly became secondary. Of course I realized I needed to further my education in all aspects of learning to become an artist and was excited to go on to college and then latter, graduate school. Many many skills were needed to further my goals but what was clear, my work as an artist was going to be long term and life long.

Margaret, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve been working as a professional artist ever since I finished a MFA two years after I moved to NYC from Ohio. A sense of freedom from cultural and familial limitations and a feeling of empowerment propelled me forward and allowed me to overcome my distinct limitations as a young woman coming to the big city for the first time. After a period of struggle I would go on to develop works that acknowledge that personal vulnerability and this human struggle.

I didn’t grow up knowing much about art or artists nor did my parents take me to museums. In fact being an artist was discouraged. But what my parents did give me is a belief in myself. Somehow I knew I would figure out a way. My hope is that others may feel that they too can discover within themselves a singular passion to create something new. And to go past their comfort level to do it. I hope also is that those who enjoy seeing my work can celebrate and feel this as well.

It was clear to me from the beginning that finding my voice as an artist was more valuable than any money I could earn to sustain myself. I could find a job, but becoming the artist I wanted to be took courage, discipline and work. This is a life long journey. that tested who I was and what I was made of.

In the beginning, I worked at my art any where I could. I took classes at The Arts Students League, I set up a studio in my small apartment. I was offered a show. I got involved in group shows. I met other artists and critics who encouraged me.

To support my work, I looked for ways to earn the most money in the least amount of time in various free lance jobs. Soon I had enough money to rent a bigger studio in an old industrial building in Brooklyn, which had many various artists working there. My work soon flourished in this new environment. I was included in a number of the open studio events which brought many people to see my work. Soon I was invited to show in a gallery, art consultants from around the U.S. discovered my work, I was awarded commissions, and sales started to happen. I was in the right moment and place for my abilities. And as my abilities grew so did my opportunities.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is that I am always solving a problem. I am usually working on something that awakens my curiosity. I am continually excited to make new discoveries and find something new about myself and the world around me. I learned to push past my limitations and struggle thru painterly roadblocks and failures. I did not give up. There were many times I thought I couldn’t continue and it felt like a worthless struggle. But I didn’t succumb to those feelings, I kept working. What helps is I am continually looking at art and reading about topics like physics, science, philosophy, history, mathematics, astronomy and the natural world. My ultimate goal is to make visible the mental and physical potential within me as a person. My intention is to look beyond my own limitations or my discomfort and to go toward something new.
The next most rewarding aspect is the people around me. Living life as an artist involves many hours working in the studio but also allows for connection to many wonderful artists and business partners all who are inventive creative and interesting people. Artists are the smartest people I know. These relationships are always inspiring and enlivening and make everything worthwhile.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to learn the lesson that the way one earns a living does not necessarily fully express who you are. It also became clear material goods are not what nourishes a life.

Opportunities to grow and change and live a fulfilling life of purpose arrive continually if you learn to recognize them.

What I needed to do my work as an artist was solid relationships with loved ones, and a place to call home. For me this was the foundation that allowed me to deal with the uncertainties and vagaries of working as an artist.

In the end, what was important to me went thru a lot of changes but what remained the same was my independence and dedication, core values I got from my family and where I grew up and which fueled the individual I eventually became.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.margaretneillstudio.com
• Instagram: margaretneill.1

Image Credits

Margaret Neill