Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal McCaughey.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I’ve always been interested in art ever since I can remember. When I was in the third grade, watching behind the scenes of Disney animation movies; I dreamt of being an animator for a very long time. I developed a love for paper and all types of colors of all mediums.
Growing up in a dangerous neighborhood, my parents kept a close eye on my siblings and me. We weren’t allowed to step outside much after the sun set and we were not allowed to hang out with our neighbor friends, go to sleepovers, or basically have a lot of innocent fun. At the time, we didn’t realize the precaution they were taking, but this caused me to want to be more social and I wanted to stay after school to socialize with other students in an after-school programs. One such program allowed me to use their media and I started to take art up as a hobby. Up until graduating high school, I was very in touch with my artistic side.
In college, I was very socially discouraged to continue my art journey so I put it on pause. My easel was collecting lots of dust as I studied my second favorite subject: crime. I learned to hate the subject, but I did enjoy the process of learning the way our social/economic/ criminal justice works, during these semesters I started taking many science classes. I had no idea how much I didn’t know and I just wanted to learn everything. Chemistry and Anatomy/ physiology became subjects that I love.
Today, I know that I love art and science just about the same, Once I became a stay at home mother, I needed something to help me move feel more useful, as I also had to put school on pause when my son was born. I decided to start handcrafting jewelry and I dusted my easel and started taking up art again. I decided to go back to school, and I am currently studying forensics. I now am able to be passionate about both subjects on my own terms. But it’s a tough balancing act.
Please tell us about your art.
I am an illustrator and a jewelry maker. Almost everything I create is based off nature and science. Though, I wouldn’t say that I’m limited to creating something that’s not connected to nature or science. My love for art has been growing the more I create and it somehow snowballs into other interests of mine. I end up learning more about whatever I had just drawn or painted, which leads me to more inspiration that will soon help me create more content/ items. Ultimately, my goal is sell my prints and jewelry to help some organizations to clean up our oceans by giving them a percentage of all sales. I am also trying to use packaging that limits the amount of plastic and other wastes that contribute harm to the environment. I try to be environmentally conscious because I feel like it is my civic responsibility to not create more harm to the rest of the ecosystems that are being continuously destroyed. The paintings I create are usually things I find beautiful in nature and it would be a shame to lose some of the species and geneses that add beauty on Earth.
We often hear from artists that being an artist can be lonely. Any advice for those looking to connect with other artists?
Honestly, this question is tough to answer. I am a mother of a two-year-old who happens to always be around so I’m never truly lonely. But let’s face it, two-year-old are not always great conversationalists. Emotionally, it can truly get lonely when my husband goes off to work and I have to be the head of the household, and with so much to take care of as a mom, homemaker, student, and a small business owner, I’ll take all the lonely time I can afford. Although I do many of these things on my own, my mind is constantly occupied and I forget that I’m lonely. When I am feeling lonely, though, my husband always encourages me to go out and I have the best of friends and sister who always take me out of the house to remind me to have a little fun. But sometimes your friends are not as passionate about art like you: Go to art/artist events, seriously.
Sometimes social gatherings are held where local artists meet and hang out, if you’re lucky, you can find some that are held weekly and people do often go more than once, so you’re able to make friends and acquaintances. I also go to life drawing sessions, many of these sessions have a fee for entry, but they are held on a weekly basis and it becomes a weekly routine to many of the artists that attend them. Another fun idea is to attend Art Walks/festivals, they seem to be growing more and more these days and Summer is close and we all know that Summer is full of art festivities. I still meet artists through these avenues and we become friends on social media. Eventually, social media becomes the place where you hear about many of these art events and sooner or later you’ll find yourself being a part of the art community.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Best way to see my work online is through Instagram. I also go sell many of my items in art walks, festivals, and Etsy (Unfortunately it’s under Vacation Mode because I’m updating much of my inventory).
But there will be some exciting announcement and will be launching something around beginning to mid-June and everyone will be updated on Instagram.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Etsy.com/shop/BeachPorchCreations
- Email: cmmillustrations@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crystallustrations/
- Twitter: Crys_Draws
Image Credit:
Images by my Husband, Michael and myself.
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