Meet Artist, Meghan Bustard
Meghan Bustard
Artist
Riley Park
______
@meghanbustard_art
www.meghanbustard.com
Photos by Nicole Carter Photography
Meghan Bustard is a Vancouver-based mixed-media painter who caught my eye. Born and raised on Canada’s West Coast, she received her BFA in Visual Arts in 2011. Meghan now paints at her studio & showroom in Gastown where she invited us in to preview her newest collection. It’s apparent that at its core, Meghan’s work is an inquiry into the places she inhabits which she then translates onto canvas. Whether it’s combing shorelines with her children, exploring nature by herself or navigating cityscapes with her husband, her abstractions are a nod to the form, colour, and pattern in the spaces that shape her world.
I sat down with Meghan briefly to ask her about her art, her home and everything in between. What I loved about meeting Meghan was her calm sense of confidence, her inviting demeanor and the joy she has for life. This comes out in her beautiful, breathtaking paintings but also in her smile. Plus, we both have a thing for neighbourhood cafes & coffee… lots of coffee.
How did you find art? - or, better yet - How did art find you?
My mum is a very creative person who paints/draws quite a bit herself. I was introduced to art at a very young age. Because of this, art has played an important role in my life for as long as I can remember.
What inspires you?
Everything! (haha) But my biggest inspiration is nature. I’m very interested in the way being in a certain spot can make us feel. In some sense my work is always asking the question “how does being here feel?”
Do you have a signature palette, brush stroke, use of materials, etc. that makes your work uniquely yours?
I like to switch things up and am always trying new materials, colours, etc. But the layers of shapes, lines, and objects in varying transparencies are a commonality across all my work.
If you could be any colour, what colour would you choose and how does it best describe your personality?
I think a light ultramarine blue: a little frazzled, but always wishing for more calm and slowness.
Do you have a favourite story about how your artwork has complemented someone's space?
I often get messages from collectors, showing me how their paintings finish a space and bring so much joy to a room. I love seeing how the piece someone selects plays off who they are, what they’re drawn to in furniture, etc. Each one feels like such a special honour.
What's your favourite space?
My favourite space in my home is my living room, preferably when it’s full of family or friends.
On Sundays, where can we find you?
Having brunch at a nearby cafe, walking through the neighbourhood with my husband and kids, or on a hike up in the mountains.
Do you have any pieces in your house that have a special meaning?
We have a painting that my daughter did a few years ago. It was the first painting she asked to frame and put up on our walls, and I hope it’s a marker in her creative journey.
What does home mean to you?
Home is... warmth, beauty, serenity, a place full of friends and family, a space to relax and unwind, a place where you can be fully yourself and fully loved.
