My name is Monica. I am originally from Memphis, TN and have lived in Philadelphia, PA, Charlotte, NC and now Charleston, SC.
I have been drawing all my life. As a child, all my teachers knew any work I turned in was mine without even having to look at my name—doodles everywhere! I come from a family of creative people and excellent artists too.
I recently began painting semi actively, and still learning all I can. I've taken two art classes in the past and enjoyed them! If I could I would paint and design full time.
All of my sketches and paintings are different - I'll see a canvas and the endless possibilities begin to swirl around in my head! The most difficult part is picking which amazing design to choose (though sometimes that is the fun part).
The challenges of learning and/or discovering skills I never knew I had fuels my creative thrill - what else is my inner art goblin hiding?! Since when did I know how to do this?!
What inspires you?
I gather inspiration mostly from the beauty of life--how colours, shadows and lights of nature and ever-fleeting candid moments seem to dance with each other perfectly. Vivid dreams of structures and landscapes I've never seen in the waking world, clouds painting the sky, and the sunlight waltzing through the leaves. I wish I could paint everything all at once!
I am truly inspired by the mysterious contrast between something that seems dark and scary and something that does not. For example, as a teenager I drew a picture of Dani Filth (singer for the band Cradle of Filth) who is inherently a scary looking man when he's all dressed up, and I added pink flowers all around him. I find something romantic and funny in softening what originally seems scary or evil (only in my art though!).
What do you think your art says about who you are?
I enjoy high contrast art the most. Black, white, and grey are mysterious and leave more to the imagination.
I have an extremely colourful personality in contrast to most of my art. A horse's head emerging from the deep darkness, a scary creature caressing a beautiful lady as if they are meeting again after a long time. Mermaids creating light in the cosmos.
I think my art shows moments in time—there was a big lead-up to this moment and an after, but I paint that mysterious split second in between before a grand reveal.
What is your favorite medium/what are your favorite materials and techniques to work with? My favourites are acrylic and graphite (not together obviously). I do love my mechanical pencils! I'm working on using charcoal to achieve those really nice dark, dark values and shadows. My husband got me an electric eraser for Christmas, which has been such a game changer and the most fun to use!
How does living here influence your work, if it does?
Whenever I take a stroll downtown, seeing all the colours and lovely people and art galleries certainly influences my creativity and boosts my confidence. I LOVE how art is such a historical staple here and a large part of Charleston's culture.
What do you hope people feel or think when they see your work?
I want people to come up with their own stories when they see my work - why did Monica choose THIS to paint/draw? Endless stories and possibilities! I want them to see exactly what I see in my head, allowing viewers to read my mind and sharing a moment in time together without ever speaking or meeting. There is a special connection and unique experience for the viewers that I may never know about.
Has someone’s reaction to your work ever surprised you?
Yes, people have asked about the faces I've drawn before and who they were but none of the faces I create exist. It surprises me that that surprises others.
I'm working on a painting that was supposed to be where you're looking through a rustic window to a gloomy (but pretty) morning on a coastal cliff. (This is one of those images I saw when my couch or table was casting a shadow on the canvas).
It started to come out pretty well until my husband said the cliff started to look like a dog. I couldn't unsee it, so I turned that cliff into a realistic cow looking in through the window with widened eyes.
This is my husband's favourite painting, and it makes him laugh every single time he passes by it. His reaction surprised me the most!
What would you like to make next, if you could create anything you wanted?
I had a dream a few months ago where I painted this HUGE landscape painting. I still remember that painting in great detail and want to work on that next. I don't know what it meant but It was beautiful: a morning sun rising above a distant valley and a Native American mother with her baby on her back was kneeling down next to her teepee and weaving a basket. I just need to save up for the right size canvas when I can. I'm not huge into painting landscapes, but this was so beautiful, I definitely want to finally work on it!Where does your work usually begin, with an image, a feeling, a question?
My work normally begins with an image and the feeling develops alongside it. Sometimes the feeling comes first, but not as often. The questions begin to emerge later, at least for me. Sometimes I see light or a shadow cast on one of my blank canvases lying around and immediately see an image. I have two of those I'm working on!
Are you working on anything new, or do you have any upcoming events?
I'm still working on the funny cow painting. I'm using oil paints, which has been an interesting medium as I am still getting used to oils. Can't turn back and use acrylics now, so I'm pushing through! I'm also working on another painting to challenge myself, trying to paint with acrylics to make it look like watercolour. It is turning out okay. It's been a month or so since I last worked on it, I'm afraid to ruin what I already have done by rushing.
For more information or to make a purchase or inquire about commissions, email the editor to have your message forwarded to Monica Thapar.
