Meghan Sims: Through Her Eyes
0Bio: Born on August 1, 1980 in Kitchener Ontario, Meghan Sims is a local self taught artist who was born with a visual condition called achromatopsia. This means that she is completely colour blind, extremely far sighted and painfully sensitive to light. To function in daylight, she wears red contacts to block the light. Because of this she has developed a nocturnal lifestyle where she can comfortably create art in dim lighting. Her paintings are impressions of her visual perceptions and are commonly described as mysterious and somewhat eerie.
Art Style: (currently) High-contrast abstract impressionism. Although, I would rather not be categorized into any particular art style as I am continually exploring and experimenting. Art is limitless, so I figure why put yourself into a box.
Where would you say the majority of the inspiration for your pieces comes from?
My inspiration comes primarily from music. On the back of each painting I record the musicians I listened to while completing that particular piece. Music has such a powerful ability to draw out emotions and literally, materialize them onto canvas. I am also largely inspired by the simplicity and beauty in nature, most specifically the moon. I could not give you an exact reason for why this is, except that I am completely captivated by it and could never grow tired of its wonders.
When faced with a blank canvas, do you prefer to start painting with an idea in mind, or do you wait for inspiration?
I can go either way really. Having structure helps to speed the process along which I think challenges my abilities the most. However, I prefer not to plan. Staring at a blank canvas, with no guidelines or directions, is intoxicating. The possibilities at that point are entirely endless. It is freedom.
How old were you when you first started painting?
Wow! Since I could hold a brush. Though, I really did not start taking it seriously until high school, and more so in the last couple of years.
Out of all of the pieces you’ve completed, do you have one in particular that stands out for you?
For one reason or another, every piece stands out to me. However, the pieces with mirror and glass (Broken in particular) are my favourites. Ultimately, I get more enjoyment from incorporating glass into my work. Since I am hypersensitive to light, the glass gives a luminous effect, transforming the image.
In terms of your art, what are your aspirations for the future?
My hope is to simply keep creating, exploring and evolving. On a grand scale, I would like to exhibit internationally and share my work with people around the world. There is something humbling about people in completely different countries, who speak completely different languages, and who feel the same emotions or have the same experience from a painted image. Art offers universal communication, which I feel is very powerful and important; It reminds us that we are all equal, no matter how we see the world.
If you were to paint a picture of your life at this very moment, what would it look like?
I do not know. I think someone would have to write the music first. Since my paintings deal heavily with emotion, I think it is safe to say that I am painting my life, moment to moment. Sometimes emotions stay with me for a long time, sometimes they are random and fleeting. The randomness can be observed in my more experimental, atypical pieces such as Insignificant Significance. The bulk of my works reflect my long-standing, recurring emotions, such as solitude, loneliness and tranquility. A good example of this would be the Sleepless Nights triptych.
Did you ever imagine that your work would be able to have such a big impact on other people?
It feels good to know that people enjoy my works and connect with them.
How does it feel to have your work displayed for the world to see and judge?
Ecstatic, Nervous, Anxious, Intimidated, Proud, Fulfilled, Purposeful. It’s a flood.
Why do you typically choose to work on larger canvases as opposed to small ones?
Looking back, I started extremely small and was encouraged to work on larger scales.
Without art and its role as an emotional outlet, where do you think you’d be?
I cannot say where I would be and I do not know that I would want to. Art is why I get out of bed each day and I am exceedingly grateful to have this love in my life.
What advice would you give the youth, who are creative, but have yet to find their output?
Do what feels natural and realize that the possibilities are infinite.
Galleries:
- Karma Gallery, Kitchener, ON
- Paula White Diamond Gallery, St Jacobs, ON
- Art Bar Restaurant and Gallery (Centre in the Square), Kitchener, ON
- Kuntz House Community Gallery, Waterloo, ON
- The View From Here. (private gallery) Waterloo, ON
Biography courtesy of Waterloo Arts Festival.
