Meet Meggie Bailey

Today we’d like to introduce you to Meggie Bailey. 

Hi Meggie, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. I studied Fine Arts at the University of Cincinnati, DAAP concentrating in drawing and printmaking. I graduated with my BFA in 2019 with minors in Fashion Design Studies and Spanish. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Creating art has always been an important part of my life. But, when it was time to make a college decision, the decision came between Veterinary school and art school. After a poignant conversation about the future, with sweaty palms and a lump in my throat, the reality of studying art professionally was pushed to the wayside. And just like that, my art club scholarship went towards my freshman year as a biology major. Two years into this program I felt lost, confused, and uncertain. I wouldn’t say I regret my decision though, because I don’t think I knew what I needed to do with my life until I was missing that key part of myself. When I took a drawing class at DAAP it all clicked. For the first time in almost three years and two university changes, I felt like myself. You have to listen to your body, what it is that makes you feel inspired, and chase that. Needless to, say, I changed my major for the third and final time. 

Fast forward to 2020, undergraduate complete, I was in a place I had never been before. Time and energy to create was sparse, the blunt reality of being an adult set in. Then, during the COVID-19 lockdown I finally had time, plenty of time, to get back to making. I was a barista when the pandemic struck and like most of us with service jobs, it took several months to be eligible for unemployment payments. I had a new reason to create now: to use my skills to survive. After not touching printmaking since graduating, I delved deeply into screen printing and commissions. With the help of my partner, I launched my clothing and accessories brand, In Dark Circles, in the spring of 2020. After launching my new website, I adjusted my focus to creating tangible art goods. In this process, I learned to be both an artist and entrepreneur. Now, I continue to practice art in the traditional sense as well as further develop In Dark Circles as an extension of my artistic vision. I’ll be forever grateful to those that supported my art in those stressful months. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Drawing has always been at the center of my work. I’m primarily known for working in charcoal and ink. Much of my work has do with exploring the female identity, the occult, and mental health. My artwork is heavily influenced and inspired by tattoo art. As my work focuses on the body, skin is a natural part of that. Tattoos are my way of claiming my own body, and so referencing this in my work is essential. I aspire to become a tattoo artist, so that is the next medium on my horizon. 

In my senior year at DAAP I began working with embroidery, as tedious and time-consuming as it is. The methodical practice of destroying and mending speaks to my work. I am fascinated by the idea of death and rebirth; in a way, I feel like I’ve reinvented myself many times over. Much of my imagery draws from the natural world, specifically plants and animals. I often think about the idea of personas and identity as performance, so many of these animals are repeated throughout the different mediums I work in. 

Regardless of the medium, charcoal drawing, watercolor painting or a screen-printed t-shirt, my voice is consistent. My work is always personal, whether in the form of portraying my own body in charcoal or making jokes about my struggles with anxiety in a screen print. Art is my form of self-expression and if it doesn’t resonate with everyone that’s ok. 

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Something I would say is that, as an artist learn as much as you can about business. When I was in art school many professors were astounded when we asked questions about how to price work, create artist contracts, or build retail websites. I’m not sure why this topic is so taboo, after all, the idea of the artist surviving off of momentous fine art sales is both outdated and unrealistic. Without treating our art degrees like our foundations as entrepreneurs, the process of us undervaluing and underselling ourselves will continue. I’ll be honest, I hate pricing work, it’s uncomfortable when it shouldn’t be. That extreme self-consciousness about pricing our work could be avoided if there was a movement to educate artists about business like the professionals we are. 

Also, don’t be afraid to go to art school. I firmly believe that not everyone needs to go to art school to be an artist, but for me it was important. Specifically, art school taught me the self-discipline I needed to continue my studio practice outside of college. And, having an art degree doesn’t mean you’ll never be able to find a job. When it comes down to it, the core of art school is developing critical thinking about yourself and the world around you. If art is your passion, follow that, if you are willing to put the time in you will succeed in any industry, I believe that. 

Lastly, you can’t expect everyone to like you or your work. If I changed my work to please every professor, colleague, or critic I wouldn’t have become the artist I am today. Focus on pushing toward the artistic path that feels right to you, and only listen to opinions of people you look up to. 

Contact Info:

• Email: art@meggiebailey.com
• Website: Artist Website: https://meggiebailey.com/ Artist Store: www.indarkcircles.com
• Instagram: @indarkcircles