A master of negative space, we’re focussing in on the stillness and calm within the diverse portfolio of painter and textile designer Megan Galante…

Hi Megan! Can you tell us a little bit about your work and your journey to becoming a full time artist?

Sure! I started a path to work in the home textile industry after college by building a portfolio on my own time, which lead me to a variety of great creative roles hand painting patterns for different brands. I always made sure to carve out time to keep creating and sharing my work with the help of social media. I look back on the days of blogging and tumblr very fondly and am certainly grateful for the instagram artist community in more recent years.

There is so much wonderful movement and texture to your work. Can you tell us a little bit about how you put together your illustrations?

Yes, I think choosing the correct values in a palette helps certain shapes have more flow. I work within the constraints of a rectangle but I try to make it interesting by painting vines, cheetahs, birds, etc, with dramatic and whimsical gestures. I keep a sketch book handy to scribble ideas which typically come to me when I am just about to drift off to sleep or right when I wake up.

You are capable of so many different styles and techniques: we especially love the minimal way you capture nature and the use of negative space in your work. Your choice of limited colour palettes in these works also evoke a stillness and sense of calm. Talk us through you process and how you decide on a palette for each piece...

My work, especially in the conception and execution stages, are such a source of serenity and meditation. It’s hard to say what specifically drives my use of color, I’ve always been a minimalist in that respect because I think it gives such a voice to the movement and essence of the subject matter. I do create little color swatches and use what I’ve learned about color theory before I dive into a painting mostly because I find it extremely satisfying. I highly suggest it as a past time to anyone looking for a new, yet very simple, hobby.

You cover a wide range of subject matter in your work, from animals to people to florals and abstracts. How do you decide where to start with a new piece and is there anything you love to draw the most?

Its true, the subject matter is not very consistent haha. It really just comes from meditating and letting my minds eye have fun exploring the humor and beauty of the natural world. The very viney florals with birds are my favorite to paint because, to me, I see and feel a sweet narrative of the symbiotic nature between flora and fauna.

Do you have any upcoming projects you can share with us?

Yes! Im working independently to launch an array of small home textile goods like pillows and tea towels this year. I also have a very exciting fashion collaboration launching later this year which I will share with everyone soon!

Thank you so much for chatting with us Megan!