**[Meredith Walker](https://www.cohart.com/meredithwalkerstudio)** is a multidisciplinary artist and designer based in Columbia, South Carolina. She began painting in 2019 as a therapeutic practice during early motherhood and has since built an international collector base. Described as ‘contemporary folk art,’ her work explores the idea of physical and spiritual rootedness through repeated imagery inspired by nature, vintage textiles and historical folk art illustrations. Meredith also collaborates with independent designers to create art-focused soft goods & accessories, and has licensed her artwork for use on an international scale.

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##### Can you walk us through your creative process? Which materials and techniques have become integral to your work?

I often begin my larger works outside, incorporating rain or soil into the first layers of my paintings. I enjoy the feeling of physical groundedness this brings to the process. Moving forward, I use a combination of acrylic paint and textured mediums to build image and texture simultaneously. My imagery and composition are created directly on the canvas, working somewhat intuitively. I really love the combination of loose, textural mark-making with bold, symmetrical compositions. In any work of art it’s the imperfect, human moments that I find most interesting, so I try to maintain a level of unrestrainedness in my larger works. My smaller works have become almost a catalog or vocabulary of repeated imagery— they almost feel like a disassembled sketchbook because it’s in these small pieces that I experiment with new ideas and color palettes.

##### What emotions or responses do you hope viewers experience when engaging with your art?

I hope my work evokes a sense of calmness and joy— an opportunity for people to visit moments of simplicity in their childhood.

##### How do you approach starting a new piece of artwork? Is there a particular routine or mindset that helps you begin?

Because I’ve been a  full-time mom as long as I’ve been a painter, my work process has always been somewhat sporadic. I’ve found that I truly have to wait for that ‘spark’ of inspiration to come because I don’t have hours to spend in the studio waiting for it to arrive. So when the mood strikes, I dive into the studio, even if it’s only long enough to finish a layer of gesso.

##### How do you handle moments of doubt or insecurity about your work?

Get off of Instagram. Tell myself that my work matters because I matter. Make work that sucks until it doesn’t.

##### Do you envision your artistic journey evolving in the coming years?

I often think about and wrestle with the tension of art making and business building and how those two can work together. I always want to be creating and selling original work, but also love collaborating with brands and designers. I would love to continue doing both while building a sustainable practice and art business. 

##### What lets you know a piece is complete? Is it an instinct, a feeling, or something else?

This is always the hardest part of the process, but I’d say it’s usually just a feeling. 

##### Does being part of an artistic community impact your work or connection to the art world?

Absolutely. Creating a network and community has been essential for me. I’ve learned so much from other artists— the way they work, the way they sell work, their experience working with galleries and building partnerships. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the openness and encouragement from other creatives. In a world that can feel, at times, exclusive and hard to navigate, relationships are so important.

##### Have any social expectations or family influences shaped or challenged your identity as an artist?

I grew up in a family of creatives, but with no connections or insight into the art world per say. I’ve always felt very supported and encouraged to pursue a creative life and career but nobody to really guide me into what that would look like practically. It has been a lot of trial and error, and continually coming back to my gut and asking myself “Ok. What do _I_ actually want?

##### If you could change one aspect of the art world to better support artists, what would it be, and why?

I think accessibility is huge, and it has been encouraging to see more and more of this since I began painting. There has always been a figurative veil of exclusivity over the art world for artists and collectors alike. I think the more people in the industry can do to share information and provide insights the better! Art is for everyone, and accessibility for collectors and artists is essential for getting great art into the world. 

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Art is about connection and unrestrained creativity—Meredith Walker blends nature with acrylics in intuitive and textured works.

Spotlight: Meredith Walker’s Artistry at the Intersection of Modern Folk and Nature

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