Featured Artist: Megan Colwell

Megan is the creator of HappiCamperKC (formerly GypseeKC)! Born and raised in Kansas City, Megan Colwell's home is reflected in her work: nature, kindness and a vast appreciation of beauty. It is her goal to become a self-sufficient wandering creator, traveling the country with her husband and fur family.

Artist & Craftsman Supply: Who are you and what do you do?

Megan Colwell: Mostly, I am a pyrographer, a wood-burning artist. Although, I have been making art my entire life, I began pyrography in 2011. I also enjoy watercolor and acrylic mediums.

A&C: Did you go to school for art/what is your background?

MC: I am a Grassroots artist or one that is self-taught. In 2013, my husband took me to Lucas, KS where I discovered and heavily identified with the movement. Art has always been my passion. Only recently did I decide to take the plunge into professional artistry. It has been a wonderful whirlwind!

A&C: Do you have a favorite artist/piece of art?

MC: Art of all kinds fascinates me! With painting, I adore impressionism and appreciate Monet. I am inspired by the words of EE Cummings and Charles Bukowski. I also pull inspiration from the scientific community such as Neil deGrasse Tyson, an astrophysicist.

Claude Monet, The Water-Lily Pond | 1899 | 36 ½” x 29” | oil on canvas

A&C: What drew you to art initially? How did you get into wood burning/pyrography?

MC: This is going to sound painfully cliché, but I’ve been a creator for as long as I can remember. As a young child, I would watch my father work carpentry and drew early inspiration from woodworking. A few years back, I decided to make some wood-burned Christmas gifts for friends. They were a big hit! That grew into a hobby, which has since grown into the base for GypseeKC. While all art is my passion, pyrography is my favorite. The smell of the burning wood. The smoldering flow of the pen. This medium helps me be present and creative.

A&C: What is your go-to album/artist right now (in the studio)?

MC: On rotation in the studio is always The Black Keys, The Avett Brothers, and Bob Dylan. Here recently I’ve really been digging First Aid Kit and a singer/songwriter named LP.

A&C: What do you like most about Artist & Craftsman Supply?

MC: I can always get what I need in your store! There is always someone there to help me, someone to bounce ideas off of. It is a great place to feel creatively supported.

A&C: What’s one thing you can’t leave an art store without buying?

MC: Paints! Something always catches my eye. Either a new color or a sweet sale on an essential like gesso.

A&C: How has your practice changed over time?

MC: In the early days, I would burn whatever I could get my hands on. Since then, I’ve learned a great deal about wood types and their associated grains. Now I steer towards birch, poplar, and basswood.

A&C: What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given (not necessarily art related)?

MC: “Be nice to everyone on the way up, because you’re going to see them again on the way down.” Professionally speaking, this advice has been invaluable. I have run into so many people through my creative journey and continue to see them at various subsequent events. That is why I always conduct myself with kindness, love, and respect. Must be the Midwest in me!

A&C: What inspires you?

MC: Nostalgia. Love. Natural beauty. And manifest destiny. The last one may sound odd so please let me explain. I believe in the power of positive thinking; that you can create exactly what you want in your life with your thoughts. Oftentimes with my art, I create pieces that inspire me, that evoke happiness or make me laugh. Because I want more of that in my journey. For me, it is all about thoughts fulfilling actions, and ultimately fulfilling my life.

A&C: What is your favorite place to visit where you live?

MC: My favorite place is Sunday morning. Laying lazily in bed with my husband and pets. A hot cup of coffee warming my palms. The only sounds are sweet sighs, free from responsibility and judgment. That is the life, man.