Interview with Megan Aroon Duncanson of MADART

Colorful Spring Palette Defines New Series of Art
by Miriam Schulman, @schulmanArt.

Original Paintings for sale on etsy!

SchulmanArt: How long have you been an artist?

MADART: I’ve been a professional artist since 1997 when I first started doing murals in Orlando, FL, but I really became a full-time artist in 2005 and starting selling on the internet through eBay and haven’t looked back since!!  I have actually never taken any art classes, other than a half semester in high school.  I actually went to college, and have a Master’s degree, in Political Science.  I know, the two really don’t seem to have anything in common!  At the time I got out of High school selling on the internet didn’t even exist and I had to plan a future that would provide an income, so I chose to study Political Science because I love the analytical side of it.  I am very happy I did because my education has helped me to handle the business side of my art career in a way I probably couldn’t if I didn’t have the education.

"Lily" painting available on artistrising.com

SchulmanArt: How did the move from Alaska to Florida change your artwork? What gave you the idea to create the current Lily series? currently you have done the pink green colors. Are you planning any other paintings in "her" other palettes ( blue/turquoise?

MADART: I’ve been back and forth so many times between Alaska and Florida I don’t even know if I’m coming or going!  I grew up in Alaska and then moved to Florida and lived here for 13 years and then moved back to Alaska for three years and now I’m in Florida for the winters and Alaska for the summer, whew!!  Both places are so uniquely different and yet both are beautiful and full of nature.  I created the Lilly Series because a fan on Facebook wanted to commission me to create some inspired by the Lilly Pulitzer colors of pink and green.  I’m not currently taking on any new commissions but I’ve always wanted to use this color combination and so I decided to give it a go!  Before I could even post it for sale my Facebook fan bought the first and second one I painted!!  I think I would like to try some of the coral and turquoise combinations as well, I think those are just so complimentary and spring like, perfect for the current season.

Find more of Megan's art on her website!

SchulmanArt: How do you maintain structure and a schedule when there are so many competing demands?

MADART: It’s very hard to balance everything at times, but I’ve gotten to a point where I try not to stress out if I’m not able to paint every single day.  With licensing my art now, and having royalty checks come in on a regular basis, it has allowed me to have more free time than a year ago when I pretty much had to list new art on a daily basis.  I still need to learn how to stay off Facebook, Pinterest, and all the competing websites when I don’t really need to be on them, that’s the struggle.