Monica is an award-winning artist, oracle deck creator, and online art instructor. Her work resides in private collections around the world. Her inspiration for creating is to provide a connection to magic, love and healing. Monica grew up in the interior of Alaska, where she graduated from high school and eventually moved to the “lower 48”. Her love of nature is deeply connected to the state she will always consider home. Monica refers to herself as a late-bloomer and didn’t pursue a formal art education until she was in her 30’s. She studied Illustration at the Academy of Art University, a private school based in San Francisco, California, while working part-time and raising two boys. Prior to attending school, Monica was a self-taught artist and learned what she knew from books and workshops. She started her creative journey with soft pastels and went on to enter local and national exhibits and street painting competitions, winning several awards for her work. Monica also worked professionally for years as a graphic designer and creative coordinator at a Public Broadcasting Station, and as a freelance graphic designer. After years of creating as a side hustle, Monica eventually resigned from her full-time job to pursue her love of art. Shortly after resigning from her job, Monica lost her oldest son Nicholas to suicide. This was a transitional point in Monica’s life, and was the catalyst for the type of artwork that she now creates. She feels that creating is a way in which to connect to the divine and her son, it also offers her healing and a quiet place for the mind. Her themes of spirituality, nature, meditation and magic are all a result of this turning point. Her hope is that her artwork and teaching helps to provide others with healing and a way to connect with their own voice and creativity.

Monica continues to pursue new methods of creating and loves to learn from her fellow artists. Her endeavors in honing her craft led her to new opportunities in the online community and eventually to teaching to students worldwide. For Monica, teaching has been cathartic and a way to give back to the community that supports her and her artwork. Her oracle deck, Muse - The Artist’s Oracle, was created very much with this same thought of giving back to the artist community. The deck provides inspiration, quotes and even meditations for any creative that seeks to stay in alignment with their creative flow.

Currently, Monica is working to continue her Mudra series, which was published in the December 2020 edition of Happinez Magazine (German edition), and creating online classes for those interested in art and spiritual topics.

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What does Art is Magic mean to me?

Art is Magic is a beautiful community of artists and what I love about being here is that we get to take our creativity to a new level. I’ve not only learned techniques from other artists, but how to more effectively express myself, without fear, in my own artwork. I love the different perspectives, the deep dive into other worlds of symbolism and archetypes and being able to infuse my own artwork with another layer of meaning and magic.

What do you wish you had known at the beginning of your creative journey?

Reflecting on it, I realize that my journey started with a sense of innocence, approaching each new endeavor with a beginner's mindset. Surprisingly, I'm grateful for that lack of knowledge because it fostered a willingness to experiment and explore creatively without constraints. So, my advice? Embrace that sense of curiosity and openness as you embark on your own creative path. Stay unafraid to take risks and delve into uncharted territories of expression.

Why do I create art?

For me, it's all about stepping into that special zone where nothing else seems to exist, where I can just lose myself in the act of creation. It's like entering a meditative sanctuary, a space where I find peace and healing. There's something truly magical about diving into my art supplies and getting lost in a world of color. It's time well spent, every single time.

What is currently inspiring you?

Right now, birds are taking center stage in inspiring my art. Their gracefulness in flight, the intricate patterns of their feathers, and the freedom they represent all fuel my creativity. Birds embody a sense of connection to nature and the skies above, sparking my imagination and encouraging me to explore new techniques and themes in my artwork.

Tell us about your journey to become an artist?

My artistic journey began in childhood, where I found more joy in coloring books and crayons than in playing with dolls. However, it wasn't until my late twenties, amidst the responsibilities of marriage and parenthood, that I truly embraced drawing as a form of creative expression and escape. Self-taught through books, I gradually honed my skills and eventually discovered the beauty of soft pastels, which became my primary medium for several years. During this time, I actively participated in street painting competitions for about a decade, sharing my experiences and insights through a blog post, which also featured images from the events. Alongside these endeavors, I explored acrylic mural painting, delved into graphic design, and experimented with fabric art, finding fulfillment in each medium's unique challenges. Despite pursuing formal art education in my forties, I found it somewhat restrictive to my natural creative flow. However, in 2017, I made the bold decision to leave my full-time marketing job and fully commit to my artistic business. Tragically, just three weeks after this career shift, I experienced the devastating loss of my oldest son to suicide, forever altering the trajectory of my life and artistic journey. In the aftermath of this profound loss, I've been driven to infuse my art with deeper meaning and to share its healing power with others, fostering a safe space for self-expression and healing through creativity.