Featured Artist: Meg Jacovino

Words by Katie La Licata

Every person, we believe is an artist. Creativity fuels so many aspects of our lives.  Every artist then, has a story. We are beyond excited to introduce our newest story; a collaboration with many components close to our hearts, our newest initiative to celebrate female artists from all over the world, the Featured Artist Series, printed on Jungmaven hemp x cotton T shirts. The more we learn about the sustainability of the hemp plant, the more obsessed we become with it and we are stoked to be moving away from synthetic fabrics. 

Our first Featured Artist is the incredibly talented: Meg Jacovino.  Meg is a mother, a surfer, and a life-long artist. The third part of that equation, find it hard to believe or not, has always been a rocky relationship. As a student of life and art, she didn’t truly find her voice or style until she started surfing in her 30’s. Her work speaks resoundingly of the impact the ocean and it’s waves have had on her life and her creative process. As a believer of reducing consumption on this planet through diet, and now through fashion, Meg was a natural fit to partner with CTF for this launch. Her piece for CTF, entitled: 'Lady Slides Change Tides' tells our story perfectly. 

We sat down with Meg for some Q & A’s. Here’s a bit more insight into this amazing woman and what makes her inspired, as an artist, an environmentalist and a mother. 

Location: Ocean City, New Jersey

Occupation: Artist + Illustrator

Favorite Wave: 5th Street in Ocean City 

Instagram: @megjdraws

Q. How did you get into art?

A. I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember, but during my twenties and early thirties, was so full of fear and self doubt about myself and my work, that I didn’t dare to dream it could become my career. It wasn’t until my daughter was born that something inside me shifted, and I finally allowed my creative voice to start getting louder. 

In all the in-between moments of caring for a newborn, I began drawing again as a way to care for myself. I started slowly, creating drawings while she slept, mostly images revolving around surfing and the sea, which I missed so much being out of the water recovering from child birth. 

Much like my relationship with the ocean and surfing, drawing became a release, a meditation, and a return to myself. Looking back, I think the thing that shifted was a need to heal and love myself more so that I could be better and do better for my daughter. That need continues to fuel me and my art, and it’s a beautiful, constant work in progress.

Q. How would you describe your style/inspiration?

A. All of my work is drawn by hand, either traditionally with pen and paper or more recently, on my iPad. My style is clean, simple and maybe a little bit quiet, but in a good way I think.

I’m inspired by the unrivaled grace of women dancing on water. The sun, the moon, and the stars. My countless wipeouts, dreams of noseriding, and the indescribable feeling I get when sliding across the face of a wave.

I’m inspired by the tight knit community I live in - the talented surfers and creatives here really encourage and lift each other up, and it’s such an honor to be a part of.

Q. What do you hope to inspire with your art?

A. Hmmmm, good question. I hope when people, especially women, look at my drawings, they feel a sense of calm, a sense of belonging to the water and the cosmos, and a connection to their passions. 

And I’m really hoping this collab with Changing Tides inspires people to help raise money for the foundation and all the change they are effecting. :)

Q. Show us your favorite pieces 

A.

Q. What are your top 3 favorite places to travel and why?

A. Since becoming a mom, my favorite places to travel are a little less exciting than they used to be. I love taking my daughter to visit our family and friends where I grew up in PA. Watching her build relationships with the people I love is so so magical. I want her to be surrounded by as much love as possible, so she can really feel and know it in every part of her being. 

We went to Southern California when she was a baby, and this year, I’m hoping to go back there, and also to Maine, to visit dear friends, surf and maybe even do some pop-up events to show my work.

Q. What advice would you give someone wanting to pursue their artistic passions?

A. I would say to write your goals down and look at them every day. I would say to create as much work as possible, to really find your niche and your voice, put your work out into the universe (even when it feels scary), and surround yourself with supportive folks who dream just as big as you do.

I would recommend the book, Art Inc. by Lisa Congdon. She’s amazing and gave me the confidence to figure out what I wanted for my art business and a place to start.

I definitely don’t have things figured out. My business is still a work in progress, but I trust the process, and it’s been organically and steadily growing since I started showing up for myself a few years ago.

Most importantly Meg is stoked to be connecting surf to art. She feels it is an amazing time to be a part of the female surf community. Defining herself by motherhood, surfing, and making art Meg hopes that through these avenues she can continue to spread the important message of women’s empowerment to her daughter and girls and women near and far. If you’d like to purchase her art, or just cruise around her website you can find her at www.megjacovino.com

You can shop our Lady Slides Changing Tides T-shirts here and 100% of proceeds benefit CTF.

Meg will also have a limited run of these 12 x 12 prints available for sale on her website here. She will be donating 100% of proceeds from these prints to CTF!