Over the course of my life, I’ve met some extraordinary people. People who have guided my writing, others who share in the process of writing, but I was lucky enough to meet someone who could bring my story to life through artwork.

I met Migi a few years ago. The first day I was introduced to her, she was painting a huge mural along my parent’s backyard fence. When we went to shake hands, she apologized because she had paint all over her fingers. She perfected her mural, and I was impressed with her talent.

 

 

 

 

 

A few months later, I reached out to her for a project of my own. I wanted to restore a bar I’d been given as a family heirloom. Yes, in my family, even a bar is considered a family heirloom! I don’t know how many parties we had with that old bar and how many old stories were told around it, but it had a history of its own in our family. I shared my vision with Migi. She, along with the help of my dad, completely restored the bar.

Drum roll, please. . .

 

It came out fantastic!

Once I’d completed Queen of Secrets, I reached out to Migi again, this time with a different ask. I wanted her to read my manuscript and sketch a few scenes. Migi agreed. A few months later, she presented me with six beautifully mastered watercolor sketches.

It was so exciting to see my book come to life through pictures. It made the story all the more real for me. Thank you, Migi, for helping me bring color and life to a world that existed in my mind.

 

 

Migi Oey is a visionary whose talents evolved through adversity. I invited her to share her story here.

My Artistic Journey

by Migi Oey

Growing up, I faced many emotional challenges. As a child, my home wasn’t a safe place due to domestic violence and alcoholism. I saw the violence as life-threatening and developed coping strategies to endure. As a way to escape, I let my mind create. That is when art became part of my life.

A life of adversity forced me to dream and create visual images and ideas without being constrained by my circumstances and limitations. My imagination that taught me how to solve problems, create new possibilities, and change my world. This is how I functioned in the real world. Never in my wildest dreams did I see myself as an artist.

My artistic journey began twenty-five years ago. I took a photography class at my local junior college and “with an eye toward fine art,” I began taking pictures and developing them in the college’s darkroom. I accepted a job as a product photographer and converted an empty office into a photography studio. I taught myself how to use Adobe’s Photoshop, as I knew it was essential during the transition from film to digital photography. Shortly thereafter, I took several drawing/painting courses, which resulted in painting large-scale murals for individuals and designing signage for corporations. My son’s interest in musical theater led to many scenic painting opportunities, and that inspired me to study set design and theatrical carpentry.

My need to create ignited an interest in other mediums, allowing me to experiment and expand my knowledge in different skills as, faux finishing, custom stencil work, water, acrylic and oil painting, charcoal drawings, airbrushing, staining, alcohol ink, illustrations, crocheting, quilting, sculpting, epoxy overlays, floral design and fabricating large props for immersive events.

Although I am versatile and adept at many things, painting is my specialty. Teaching others to paint is how I give that gift away.

~Migi

 

If you’ve ever thought about working alongside an artist to bring your world to life, please contact Migi Oey @ www.migioeyart.com and www.pretty-sit.com