Art & Life with Merit Eads

Today we’d like to introduce you to Merit Eads.

Merit, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I’ve been drawing ever since, I was little. Three-year-old me would sit at the dining room table for hours and scribble monsters from one of the many How to Draw books we had at our house. Even at that young age, I would find myself frustrated with my inability to draw those monsters “perfectly.” I felt like I wasn’t worth anything if I couldn’t make something perfect. These feelings of anxiety and self-criticism have plagued me for my entire life. I’ve easily lost hundreds, if not thousands, of childhood drawings because I would destroy them once I made what I deemed to be a mistake. I don’t think I really dreamed of being an “artist” until maybe freshman year of high school.

By then, I had convinced myself that the only way I would ever be happy would be to land a job as a storyboard artist at Cartoon Network, a profession that I thought would prove that I had measurable, concrete talent. That’s still somewhat of a dream somewhere in the back of my mind, but after my first year and a half at ASU, I’ve found myself invested in so much more than that singular path. I’ve found that I absolutely love letterpress and that I’m fostering an interest in video art, two mediums I plan to continue exploring as long as I have the opportunity. I still struggle with being overly critical of myself, but the progress I’ve made in accepting how my work turns out has been beyond immeasurable. This is just the beginning of my story, and I can’t wait to see where I’m at even after just another short year.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I’m really just branching out art-wise for the first time in my life. Right now, I’m trying to build a repertoire of work dealing with (but not limited to) amateur taxidermy, intimate prose and text in letterpress, being able to look at oneself openly and honestly… There are many themes I want to eventually explore and communicate through my artwork. I don’t ever want to box myself in with topics I feel I “have” to stay true to, but there’s definitely an overarching amount of negative themes in my work right now. I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. I feel that people who spend a lot of time in a negative headspace walk a fine line. We need to allow ourselves to think awful things, or spend a day buried in bed and embroiled in a crisis of faith, but we have to get to the point where we know that’s not the end. I’m learning that it’s okay, that we all feel anxious or upset or hateful at times, but the reason we feel like that is that it’s a way to channel energy into change. I guess right now I’m focused on making work that reminds me that these things are okay, you know, thinking about death or feeling weird and scared or even just having a fit of rage every once in a while is all normal and it really is alright as long as you don’t let it control your life. I’ve worked very hard to reach a point in my life where I can actually believe that, and I hope that I can express that sentiment to other people who are still struggling with self-acceptance. Even with all this thought behind my work, I still know my art in five years won’t be the same, my art next year probably won’t even be the same. I’m giving myself permission to take my work in different directions as they hold meaning in my life.

We often hear from artists that being an artist can be lonely. Any advice for those looking to connect with other artists?
At the risk of sounding preachy or repetitive, I guess all I can do is urge you to go for it and reach out to the artists that truly intrigue you. I met my best friend through pure chance when I went to a community event in the art dorms at ASU. I wrote my phone number on the butcher paper covered tables next to some doodles and a note that said something like “if you like cartoons and drawing, hit me up.” I had been too scared , and that’s all that I could think to do. That may not be the best example, even though it worked out in the end, but I think it really attests to the fact that other artists are just as eager to network as you are. If nothing else, I know that I personally am fascinated with the collaborative process when it comes to art. I’d be delighted to work with anybody who’s interested in anything I can offer. I believe that art is a venue for positive change – when artists work together, we can spread our messages so much more effectively than on our own.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I’m terrible about staying on top of my social media and updating it regularly. That being said, I have an Instagram that I should really make better use of. Thanks to my pre-req classes, I’m finally building up a real portfolio. I plan to start applying for undergrad shows and any other opportunities I can find to showcase my work. As for support, I think there are many ways to support an artist – inquiring about commissions or buying work, getting their name out through word of mouth, anything that could lead to funding or further exposure. Emotional and moral support is just as important. I can’t tell you how much it truly affects me and my will to work when I have someone tell me that they enjoy what I create.

Contact Info:

• Phone: 4805932443
• Email: meeads@asu.edu
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meriteads/

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