In the Studio: Original Art | Megan Coyle: Artist & Illustrator

January 13, 2011June 16, 2024

Pink Coffee Cup

“Pink Coffee Cup”
Collage on mat board (coated paper)
7″x5″

Since I have focused a lot of time on my children’s book illustrations, I’ve decided to strive to complete a couple small collages every week. That way I can break up my illustration work a bit and continue to explore other subjects and compositions. The piece above is something I completed last night. Instead of working with magazine strips like I usually do, I used coated paper. The paper was pretty thick which forced me to work with fewer strips and it simplified the look of the finished piece. This exercise reminds me that I should start thinking about projects for the workshop I’m running in April. I know that April seems a ways away, although it will get here before I know it…

January 7, 2011June 16, 2024

Shelby

Here’s the finished piece. My client gave this collage to his wife as a Christmas gift. I was happy to hear that it was well received. This dog sure looked pretty cute – in all the reference photos the client sent me, Shelby had her tongue hanging out.

Anyway, I’m off to enjoy the weekend. I’m going to work away on my children’s book illustrations – and I must say, it’s pretty difficult being secretive about my book since I’m so used to sharing my progress pictures, etc. The only image from the project I plan to post is the cover art once I’ve finished it. I’m half-way done with the book – can’t wait until it’s finished and ready for print. I’m excited to share it – even though it’s got a ways to go.

December 22, 2010June 16, 2024

Happy Holidays

“Christmas Tree”
Collage on mat board. 7″x5″
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Happy holidays, everyone! I’ll be out and about during the next few days and won’t have a chance to post until next week. Hope you’ve had a chance to finish your holiday shopping – and that you’re keeping warm! It’s been quite chilly here in DC.

Anyway, I’m off to start a marathon of eating all week long. Hopefully I can get a little exercise in between bites.

November 30, 2010May 3, 2018

Claire

“Claire” is a commissioned portrait that I recently completed and shipped over to a woman in Texas. I have a couple of other commissions at the moment that are going to be given as Christmas gifts by my clients. Thus I’ll refrain from posting images of these projects until the holiday season has passed.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend. Mine was filled with family get-togethers and lots and lots of food. I didn’t bother with shopping on Black Friday – I think I’ll finish my shopping online so I can avoid the crowds. Anyway, I’m off to try and finish another commission – I’ve decided I won’t work too much on my personal projects until these commission are complete, however I’m anxious to get back to my children’s book illustrations.

Have a great end of November!

November 18, 2010February 10, 2018

Karim’s Father

And here’s the finished piece. You’ll notice that it looks much different than the last progress picture. My client supplied me with a low res photograph taken with a cell phone camera. After a bit of dialogue back and forth between us, the portrait began to change bit by bit as I merged elements from other photographs that the client sent. Eventually, this was the result.

Anyway, I’m off to continue working on another commission – when it rains, it does indeed pour. And sometimes I wish I could clone myself so I could work on all the projects that are on my “to do” list.

October 28, 2010June 16, 2024

Washington Monument

This is the last piece I’m posting from the NIH “Collage Scapes” exhibition. It was inspired by another stroll around DC in the fall. I’m realizing that I’ve only ever done collages of three distinct buildings in DC. I hope to do some more sometime in the future. However, for now, it’s time to keep focused and finish a few large projects on my plate. If you’re trying to do too many things all at once, it’s difficult to get anything done.

Anyway, I’m excited that Halloween is coming up. I’m not one who likes dressing up in costumes, however I still think it’s a fun time of the year. Lots of fun food and sweets. And hopefully no new cavities. I’m also looking forward to going to the Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert rally this weekend. Yes, there’s going to be a lot to do in the next couple of days. I might even sneak in a few more hours of art-making.

I hope everyone had a great week!

October 20, 2010June 16, 2024

Kitty in the City

Had another go at a cat collage. This one sort of fell together, which is always a good sign. I enjoyed putting together this little guy and adding the fragments of images of buildings in the background.

Recently I started watching quite a few animation video tutorials. I’m itching to get started on an animated collage. However, you can’t always do everything at once, so I’ll have to be patient and wait until I have some more free time to devote to a new project. For now, I’m off to work on a commission and a couple of illustrations.

October 19, 2010June 16, 2024

Downtown Cafe

Like “Old Town Townhouses,” this particular collage was inspired by a walk around Old Town in Alexandria, Virginia. It’s also another piece that’s currently on display in my NIH exhibit. I really like using reds in my cityscape pieces – with colorful brick buildings and brick sidewalks.

I’m still working away on my children’s book illustrations. I’m almost a third of the way done – I can’t wait to see what it looks like when it’s all complete. I’m also about to get started on another commission portrait. Things have been busy but good.

October 14, 2010June 7, 2024

Autumn Afternoons

This piece was inspired by a walk around a DC park in the fall. It was part of my recent scapes series, however I didn’t put it in my current NIH show. A lot of my landscape/cityscape collages are pretty abstract – I like focusing on using a lot of textures and bright colors. This piece is also reminding me that I need to get started on creating a background for the collaborative animation project I worked on with my brother.

October 10, 2010June 16, 2024

Dachshund Strolling in the Park

I decided to make another dog collage – another day another dachshund. I really enjoy making animal collages and plan to start creating more narrative scenes with animals. Often I just focus on the little critter and add a plain background. Right now the children’s book I’m working on is about a couple of animals. I’ve really enjoyed creating more narrative scenes for the creatures, and so I’d like to work on expanding this area of my art.

Anyway, I’m off to run some weekend errands, enjoy the lovely weather in DC, and then work on some more artwork. Hope everyone’s having a fantastic weekend!