Meet Margaret Chiaro | Artist & Art Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Margaret Chiaro and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Margaret, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Success can be defined in so many ways. Does the outside world get to determine your success? Does accruing financial wealth determine success? Does an individual define their own success?

Growing up with two hardworking parents, getting my first job at 14, and working in a variety of jobs from my teens through my 30s, taught me just as much what I didn’t want to do, as what I wanted to do. Being a full-time artist was not in the cards if I was going to support myself, but it had been my dream since I was a small child.

After exploring a variety of jobs in the arts, I began teaching more and more. I love to assist budding artists in their pursuit of finding their own artistic voice.

For the last decade I have been working as an art instructor/mentor and professional artist. I am not a brand, my artwork is not a brand, it is me. I give my all to my artistic endeavors, my students, and my art community. I am grateful every day that I get to live my dream. That, to me, is success.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
For as long as I can remember, I have been obsessed with making art. My father would assist me in turning a project in any school subject into an artistic endeavor, such as sculpting a large clay dolphin and casting it in plaster. My parents took us on trips to every free art museum near us. My creativity and imagination were the driving force in everything I did.

I did not seriously consider pursuing art as a career until it came time to apply for college. I have had a job since the age of 14 and learned how hard it was to make a living. Being an artist had always been my dream, but it seemed to be just that, a dream.

When it came time to applying and choosing a college, my amazing family believed in me enough to encourage my pursuit of a career in the arts. I went on to major in the arts and attain a cum laude BFA from the University of Arizona and then my MFA from the New York Academy of Art. I wanted to learn everything I could about technique, process, and aesthetics, both to experiment and refine my own work, but to also have every tool in the toolbox when I began teaching.

I am now a working artist and art instructor thanks to my work ethic, stubbornness, and tenacity to reach for my dreams.

I would not say my life has been a smooth road. I have worked very hard to get to a stable place working as an artist and art instructor. Throughout college and for years after, I worked many different jobs… in the food service industry, data entry, gallery management, etc. to pay the bills while trying build my portfolio and seek exhibition opportunities.

It often feels like trying to lead two lives simultaneously. There is the side of me that must work hard, pay bills, and simply survive, and the other, which uses every spare second to expand my personal art career.

The logistics are just one component…

Pursuing a career in art can be intimidating. There are so many choices one can make between mediums, subject matter, and techniques. The studio process is like inventing a language and hoping it can be translated universally. After years of experimenting with every media I could get my hands on, exploring a multitude of techniques, and gaining enough introspection to know what I want to say with my artwork, I have found my pictorial language.

There is always struggle, but that simply reminds me how grateful I am to my family, friends, collectors, and students. Their love and support feed my soul and every minute making and sharing my art is a blessing.

My personal artwork is my sanctuary of expression.

I use figurative painting to invite the viewer to enter a unique world or moment. I love duality and opposition, balance over symmetry, and the idea of shared energy. Spending hundreds of hours on a single piece, painting everything by hand in traditional techniques, I obsessively render my subjects, caught in moments when they are open and expressive. Through my chosen genre, Magical Realism, I fuse reality with imagination to create a visceral new “world” for the subject to dwell in and the viewer to observe.

I am currently working on a series called “Nephology” that depicts people living in cloudscapes. “Cloud 9” is a sub-series portraying the inner child. “Head in the Clouds”, another sub-series, dabbles in psychological metaphors. I just completed a solo exhibition of this collection, thanks to Covet Art Gallery in Oceanside, CA. The response was amazing, and I am hoping to add to the collection for an installation on a larger scale.

This body of work is still expanding, but I refuse to be boxed in to a single theme. While Magical Realism is my genre, each collection stands alone. I dive deep into a concept, pour my heart into it, and at some point, there is an end.

I think about my work like literature. There might be a sequel, a prequel, or maybe a long series, but at some point, I will start anew with concept, characters, and ideas that will allow my work to continue to evolve.

If you love something enough, you will do it, whether it is hard or not. My advice to anyone searching for their purpose is to find the thing you love, can’t live without, and/or have endless patience for, and pursue it with everything you have to give.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have hosted many friends and family from the East Coast and, as most of us are nature lovers, my recommendations are based on the diverse landscape of Southern California. Near the urban areas, I would suggest Balboa Park, where the gardens and museums make for a wonderful day. I also suggest Torrey Pines, which I feel is the best hiking near the coast. We also spend a lot of time on the beach…swimming, surfing, shell and rock collecting, and long walks.

For more adventurous types (my husband and I love camping), I would suggest driving up to Palomar Mountain, Cleveland National Forest, Idyllwild, or Anza Borrego. You can see the ocean, the desert, and the mountains in a day’s drive.

As far as food, I love to cook from scratch, but when we want a night off from cooking, we love Wrench & Rodent Seabasstropub for delicious, creative, and beautiful sushi.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people that have made small and large impacts on my life. I even have gratitude for those who made negative impacts, as I learned more about myself, to trust my instincts, and to look for those who pursue kindness above all else.

First and foremost, I would like to thank my parents for being my guiding light. They have always provided love and support, even when I have not been my best self.

I would like to thank my amazing husband, who has always been so encouraging, helpful, and supportive of my artistic pursuits. I love and appreciate him so much.

I have gratitude for Steven Assael, Randolph Lee McIver, and Wade Schuman for making such an impact on my creative process both during and after attending New York Academy of Art. Randolph Lee McIver granted me the opportunity to be his teaching assistant in Artistic Anatomy. He gave me a wealth of information and kindness which will never be forgotten. Steven Assael graciously shared his wisdom and mastery of paint. Wade Schuman provided supportive instruction, levity, and many talents in art and music.

I have endless love and appreciation for Julia Fister, owner and director of Studio ACE. She is an amazing woman who has provided access to the arts to everyone in the community. Julia has provided multiple opportunities for me to teach and interact with so many budding artists. If anyone is looking to donate to an art-based non-profit that truly makes a difference, please consider supporting Studio ACE, in Oceanside, CA.

Also, I have great thanks for Chris Clevering, an incredible human being and donor that provides scholarships for art students that would otherwise not have access. It is rare and special to experience such humble generosity. I am honored to be the instructor of these scholarship students.

Another amazing human being, Laurie King, owner of Covet Art Gallery in Oceanside, CA has been a light in the world of exhibition opportunities for artists. I had been dreaming of an installation and painting exhibition for my series, Nephology, and Laurie graciously provided me with the opportunity to share my vision with the public. It was a wonderful experience, and I am now hoping to recreate my idea on a larger scale.

Finally, I have deep gratitude for all my students. They have helped me to become a better teacher, artist, and human being. It is my privilege to assist them in their artistic journeys.

Website: https://www.margaretchiaro.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaretchiaro/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaretchiaro

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/machiaroart

Image Credits
Studio Portrait Photo by Priscilla Iezzi