Conversations with Megan Ryan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Ryan.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started Evergreen Studios in October of 2021, a week after I quit my corporate interior design job in downtown Raleigh, NC. I realized my passion for design went beyond interiors. I started painting again and creating jewelry. By starting my own business, I combined interior design with my visual art and jewelry. As a solo designer, I have done several residential projects this year, staging homes and completely furnishing homes. My dream to combine my love of interior design with painting came true this year when I got asked to paint the mandala and lotus mural at Cary Yoga Collective, located at 2425 Kildaire Farm Rd Suite 407, Cary, NC.

In addition to Evergreen Studios, I own and operate Freckled Hunnies, a maker’s market that sets up mostly in downtown Cary at Crosstown Pub. I started hosting markets through a previous job of mine in 2020, it was then I realized how much joy hosting markets brought me. In January 2022, I made Freckled Hunnies an official business. I host about 2-3 markets a month throughout the whole year.

Organizing markets and participating as a vendor has allowed me to connect so much in the art community and grow my businesses. I sell the majority of my art and jewelry through my markets and the ones I vend at.

2022 has been a big year of growth for me and making my dreams a reality.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It has not been a smooth ride getting to where I am. During the last year, I have learned a lot about who I am as an artist and how I want my art to speak. Your art is a reflection of you. When you look at the evolution of my jewelry, you see how much it has changed and improved. It’s symbolic of how much I have come as an artist.

There were lots of times of self-doubt, discouragement, and self-guessing. I went through a lot of trial and error with my art. I feel that I have finally found myself in my art and how I want it to represent me, BOLD as my personality, TEXTURED as my many qualities and COLORFUL like my SOUL.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in painting and jewelry making. I am known for my floral designs, and use of layers, textures, patterns, and bright colors.

With my painting, I paint with acrylic paint and commercial paint for interiors/exteriors.

For my jewelry, I use polymer clay, paint, and mostly gold-plated sterling silver (hypoallergenic).

I am most proud of my recent murals at Cary Yoga Collective. It is a dream come true to have my work in a public space. It is also so fitting to have it in a space where I have found a great community in.

What do you think about luck?
I wouldn’t say it is luck, but learning to put myself out there and network. Through my businesses, I have gained a lot of confidence and realized the importance of connecting with others.

Posting on social media is nice but putting yourself in front of people in person is a game changer. Doing markets and being involved in my community have helped make my businesses successful.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ryandesignsnc.com/evergreenstudios & www.freckledhunnies.com
• Instagram: @evergreen_studiosnc
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/EvergreenStudiosNC

Image Credits
Sara Joy Tiberio of Sara Joy Studio