TWD's Rio De Janeiro Top 10

Living Authentically

Good Evening My Loves,

I have a lot to share with you tonight, so let me start by saying that I have been marinating this post in my head and in my heart for the past week or so now, and I finally feel ready to sit down and write it. I'm here in my tiny little room in the West Village, cramped between fashion magazines, and yesterday's laundry, hovering over my computer in silence. I'm quiet because something big just happened today - frankly I should have expected it because the skies are calling for a very tumultuous April 2014. Regardless, I didn't see it coming. Today my team at work was called in for a huddle and our Creative Director announced her departure from our company, my company, and I was absolutely, positively, SHOCKED. Just when you think you know how everything is going to play out in life, a hurricane hits, and washes your sandcastle away.

Obviously I haven't known about this for even 24hrs yet so you're probably wondering how I've been conceiving of this post for a week then. Well I guess it came full circle when I asked her how she felt about leaving not only our company but New York as well. "Living here is like being in a constant swirl, inside the eye of a tornado, and now...I just want to be on the outside looking in" she said, along with classic, adorable hand gestures that only she can make. And suddenly it hit me, how much more of the madness can I take?! Clearly she is at peace to let it go, she's done her time here and she's ready to say goodbye. So after nearly 5 years here, what exactly am I still holding onto? What more do I feel like I need to prove in this city?

For those of you who don't live in New York, the only way I can describe it is like being in the most toxic love hate relationship you've ever had. It's the boyfriend (or girlfriend) you just die to be around, do anything you can to accommodate, just to have 5 minutes of their time (even if it means squeezing into claustrophobic subway cars or apartments), who only ever gives you just enough to keep you interested, but never enough to keep you truly fulfilled, is completely inconsistent (hello transit system!!), totally high maintenance, and expensive to date, and is always unfailingly wavering between the extremes (oppressively hot or cold, never in between). It's the relationship that should have ended years ago, but the chemistry is too much of a high to let it go.

Postcard from Rio De Janeiro

This postcard is inspired by my incredible journey through Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She is a curation of the beauty, sights, and colors I saw while being there. Referenced from the runway of Rio Fashion Week, she wears Cristo Redentor, Corcovado, and Sugarloaf Mountain in her hair, coconuts from her ears, and the boardwalks of Copacabana and Ipanema around her neck. She is a pure reflection of how my heart was perpetually marked by this extraordinary city, country, and the people within it.

We started our journey in beautiful Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro on the morning of Saturday March 15th leaving the frost of New York City behind us.

We drank cappuccinos at Terzetto Cafe and wandered through the trendy streets of Ipanema Beach. 

I blended with the Portuguese blue tiles of the city streets...

and discovered the chic store for all "Rio It Girls" - FARM RIO

At night, Cine Santa Teresa glowed for all to see and beckoned us to a Rio of the past. 

Greg & Jill

Good Evening My Darlings,

I've just returned from my trip to South America and I'm feeling totally and utterly refreshed!! Unfortunately, NYC is not matching my enthusiasm with its absolutely frigid weather. In any case, I'm pleased to share this painting I did for my very dear, sweet, beautiful friend Jill who got married this past September. We've known each other for 10 years now, and I can't believe that we once lived on the same residence floor in college, and that I got to watch her walk down the aisle with her true love this past Fall.

It took me a little while to get my gift together for them but I finally did. As the saying goes, better late than never. Jill's absolute favorite color is turquoise. When I saw both her and her hubby wearing shoes in said hue, I knew what I had to paint for their gift, et voila. I'm thrilled that they love it so much.

Anyway my loves, I'm SO excited to share with you illustrations inspired by my incredible trip abroad and promise to be back on the blog very soon.

Much love,
Meag xx

Rio de Janeiro & Buenos Aires Bound!!

Good Evening My Loves!! 

I hope you have all been well. I'm thrilled to be back on the blog and sharing this painting with you as it was/is inspired by my imminent departure to South America TOMORROW NIGHT!! I cannot believe after almost 3 months of dreaming and planning that we are finally taking off to brilliant Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires in less than 24hrs. 

This will be my first trip to South America and after so many years of fantasizing about Corcovado, Christ the Redeemer, Ipanema, Copacabana, Sugarloaf Mountain, and the sensual tango dancers of Buenos Aires, I'm practically leaping out of my skin!! I'm thrilled to be taking you all there with me and will definitely be sharing the adventure across my instagram.com/travelwritedraw. 

I've also challenged my boyfriend to a sketch a day while we are away and plan to share the results with you here. I hope to fill an entire book with beautifully inspired brush & ink illustrations from our observations. Colors, beaches, sun kissed skin, I can practically feel the sunbeams on my face right now!! If you've been to either Rio de Janeiro or Buenos Aires, I would SO appreciate your recommendations in the comment section below.

Until next time, wish me luck, and I'll be speaking with you soon. 

SO much love,

Meag xx

Illustrations for Latina Magazine - March Issue

Happy Tuesday My Darlings!! 

I hope you've all had a fantastic February (the month of love and FASHION WEEK!!). I cannot believe it is almost March already, apart from the fact that I was anxiously counting down to see the latest issue of Latina Magazine on newsstands now. I'm so excited to show you the accessories I illustrated for their March Fashion Closet Column. It was such a joy painting these back in January. A color palette of warm gold, peach, pink, and kelly green, had/has a girl dreaming of Spring.

I'm signing off to go search for my next illustration references but promise to be back soon!!

Much love,

Meag xx

#NYFW Illustrated Top Street Style Picks

Hello My Loves,

Happy New York Fashion Week!! Though I have yet to make my way back to the city that never sleeps, I've been watching from afar all the happenings of Lincoln Centre the past two days. Between attending Paris Menswear Fashion Week in January, and watching the influx of #NYFW Instagrams and Facebook posts, I couldn't help but notice the overlapping street style trends in these two cities.

When I arrived at JFK on January 17th for my flight to Paris, I stood behind a very stylish, quintessential French girl for check-in. She wore a bejewelled beanie, gorgeous pastel wool overcoat, and Nike Air Max sneakers. It was uncanny to me how similarly we New Yorkers and Parisians were dressing alike. Above is my illustrated roundup of fashion week street style trend picks from here and abroad inspired by the chicest ladies :

Carhartt Beanie

NIKE Air Max 90 Engineered Mesh iD Sneakers

3.1 Phillip Lim Browline Metallic Aviators 

FENDI Mixed-Fur Mini Bird Baguette Shoulder Bag

Dior Nail Polish iPhone Case

Chanel Headphone Choker 

Jason Wu Elaphe and Leather Pumps

Much love,

Meag xx

Paris Fashion Week Men's FW14

Happy Sunday Lovelies!!

I cannot believe it's already February 2014. January was such a wonderful whirlwind which brought the approval of my O1 Outstanding Artist's Visa, as well as a quick jaunt to Paris (photos here) to see my boyfriend debut his FW14 namesake menswear collection ABASI ROSBOROUGH. It was such an extraordinarily special trip for so many reasons and I feel beyond blessed to have experienced it with my love.

I've never been to Paris for Fashion Week before, certainly not Menswear, and it was so incredibly cool to see buyers from around the world zipping throughout the streets of Le Marais where we were staying. We attended fashion week parties at Silencio and the original Le Baron, and I even enjoyed my last brunch at the now infamous La Perle where I practiced my French with a zippy Parisian male server.

I'm back in Canada now for the obligatory visa switch, with the agenda of painting on the brain, so stay tuned for some more illustrated posts to come!!

Much love,
Meag xx