In Her Father’s Footsteps: Meet Fine Artist Maureen Scullin
In the “Mad Men”-esque advertising world of the 1960s, Maureen Scullin’s father was well-known for his car illustrations. He was also a force behind Maureen’s art career, teaching her everything he knew about perspective, color, design, light — and perseverance.
Dad, Dancing, and “True Colors”
The most interesting paths take a few detours, and Maureen has lived that out. She apprenticed for her father’s ad agency, joined a national dance tour, and — having been among the first to learn art software programs in New York City — illustrated and retouched album covers for the likes of Michael Jackson (“Bad”) and Cindy Lauper (“True Colors”). These days, from her studio near Raleigh, North Carolina, she specializes in portrait and fine art, with commissions from clients around the country.
Light and Soul
In both her portrait and fine art work, Maureen masterfully applies what she learned from her father. We can especially appreciate the way she blends realism with whimsy in her “Brooke in Pieces” oil painting featured above. Maureen is a fan of our Canvas Floater Frame F131 Black, which she used to frame “Corner Kitchen,” also an oil painting, featured below. “I use [the floater frames] for my personal framing and for my client commissions,” Maureen tells us. “They are always beautiful, carefully wrapped, and make my art look professional and finished.”
See More of Maureen’s Work
You can admire Maureen’s portrait and fine art portfolio at MScullinFineArt.com or on Instagram, where you might even spy a photo of her green check conure, “Kiwi,” perched on her shoulder. She shares her story in this audio interview. And in my Q&A below, discover the artists who have influenced Maureen and whose voice she most often hears in her head.
Now for Artie’s Eight Q&A with Maureen Scullin...
1. What is your background; how did you get started?
The beginning of my art journey begins with my father, a well-known Detroit commercial artist. I inherited my artistic talent and dabbled with different types of art here and there through my childhood. In my early 20s, I was privileged enough to apprentice at a Detroit commercial art studio. Think “Mad Men” martinis and lots of “cool people.” In addition to cleaning artists’ water bowls, I made “dummy car ad books” for Detroit’s advertising car agencies, (getting gobs of rubber cement in my long blonde hair!). Best of all, I watched and learned from all the magnificent talent that surrounded me. Artists included: Max Altekruse, Chuck Passarelli, Gary Colby, Rudy Laslo, Don Weiland, Robert Kuester, and of course, my dad. When I finally determined art was the direction for my life, Dad was right there passing on all he knew about color, design, mediums, and the importance of light. He continually reminded me that “you will never flourish as artist if you stop learning and growing.” I happily pass on his legacy, trying to live up to my heritage and to continually grow as an artist. Today, I specialize in realistic fine art and portraits, with portrait commissions from clients around the United States. I am a member of the Portrait Society of America, National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society, Cecilia Beaux Forum, and the Asheville Arts Council.
2. What role do you think the artist plays in society?
I think art plays a pivotal role in society. A piece of art can bring out emotions and prompt discovery of one's own meaning. Art can be a means of meditation and separating yourself from all that is going on around you. This allows a person to delve into the painting in a thought-provoking manner. When volunteering and teaching art to cancer patients and survivors, I see them leave their current state, even for just a moment, and find themselves concentrating on painting. Even for a moment, art can make us forget the bad in the world or remember a special moment. Art is a powerful tool.
3. What has been a formative experience or the best advice you’ve received within your career?
My most formative experience and best advice has come from other artists in my life. They willingly pass on their knowledge and encourage you to keep growing as an artist. One of the best pieces of advice has been to never think that you know all about your art or you will never grow as an artist
4. What ways does your work reflect your personality?
My artwork reflects my personality in ways that surprise me. I'm realistic, but an adventurist. I'm playful, but very serious about my craft. My personality shows through my art in that it is always changing, and hopefully I am growing as a person and as an artist.
5. Creative blocks, do you get them? If so, how do you overcome them?
Creative blocks come for me when I'm frustrated with how my painting looks and when it is not going the way I've planned. I overcame some of this through the John Singer Sargent method of walking away for a minute or an hour and then approaching my work again. Most of the time, what's been bothering me jumps off the canvas. It was there all along — I just didn't see it. I was too much into the details.
6. What is your most indispensable tool? (Not counting the obvious, like paints, brushes, canvas, camera, etc.)
My most indispensable tool is my father’s voice in my head because he was an artist and he spent so much time teaching me about art.
7. Do you have a new project you are working on, or a new passionate idea?
My latest projects are a series of portraits and a painting of a little girl frolicking at the beach or in a forest...not sure yet!
8. What is your favorite paint color name?
My favorite paint color is cerulean blue.
All artwork and/or photographs used in this post are subject to copyright held by the featured artist.
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Last Updated February 25, 2022