Hi all! My name is Meria Ivy. I’m a multidisciplinary artist based in Fort Worth, Texas. I’m currently working as a copywriter at a marketing agency in Dallas. In my free time I offer a variety of creative services. A lot of people don’t know who I am or what I do. So, this post will just be a quick introduction.
Where it all began
The creation and appreciation of art is a recurring theme in most of my early childhood memories. These memories are truly countless. I remember laying on the cherry-stained hardwood floors gazing up at the ceiling as my mom replicated scenes from the Sistine Chapel. In turn, I laid below and tried to copy her.
Another time, I invited friends over for a sleepover, My mom drew our favorite animated characters on the bathroom walls and let us paint and craft all night. Events like this weren’t uncommon in our home. Anytime I had a creative inclination, my mom told me to act on it without hesitating. She only ever stopped to ask if I need her to get any supplies for me.
First, my mom taught me to use art for entertainment, expression, and communication. I was encouraged to draw on anything I could find. My shoes, clothes, and walls were always covered with doodles and sketches.
Then, she taught me to use it for education. In fourth grade, I couldn’t remember the states and their capitals for anything. Eventually, my mom grabbed chalk and drew a gigantic rendition of the United States in the parking lot outside of my grandparents house. She would call out a capital, and I jumped to the corresponding state until I’d mastered U.S. geography.
My experiences in childhood taught me that art is crucial to understanding the way the world works and bringing people together. These lessons can be seen in both my professional and creative work.
Where it led
After hours and months and years of frustration and practice I began to improve quite a bit. I started winning awards for my art in local shows and picking up the occasional commission from family and friends who wanted to support me. In 2016, I started school at the University of Iowa. I declared a double major in Journalism & Mass Communication and General Art. I took one art class and promptly dropped my art major.
After abandoning art for a year I realized how much I missed it. I found myself right back where I started before long. I spent the next two and a half years running between Art Building West and the Visual Arts Building to fulfill my art major requirements. During this time, I learned a lot of new skills and honed some old ones. Now, I dabble in drawing, painting, printmaking, jewelry-making, photography, and graphic design. When, I’m not working my day job, you can find me at my home studio fulfilling commissions and working on personal creative projects.
Where it’s going
I hope to expand my practice in the future. I want to continue making creative work and publishing it. Ultimately, I aim to have my work shown in a museum. I also want to lean into subjects I’m passionate about which is commentary about news and culture. I also enjoy creating human-centric work, and enjoy depicting people (especially minorities) in ways they historically haven’t been. For instance, I choose not to depict black pain and suffering. Instead, I want my body to show the beauty and excellence of black culture, and showcase black bodies in areas they were previously excluded from.
I’m currently selling artwork, offering commissions, and I’m also available to anyone with further questions. Feel free to contact me at meriaivy654@gmail.com.
Meria Ivy 